by William Eric McFadden

Pictures

Description

Three members of the Southeast Ohio Radio Adventure Team succeeded in activating Hopewell Culture National Historical Park as part of the ARRL's year-long National Parks on the Air (link). Eric McFadden, WD8RIF; Miles McFadden, KD8KNC; and Tom Witherspoon, K4SWL, activated the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, HP15 (link) at the Mound City Group on their way home from the Dayton Hamvention.

The trio arrived at the park about 2100 UTC as the ranger was getting into his car; the Visitor Center had closed at 5pm but the park grounds remain open until dusk and the ranger gave permission for the stations to be set up.

Tom operating -- click to enlarge As at previous activations, Eric's station consisted of his Enhanced KX3 Travel Kit, his MFJ-1910 33' fiberglass telescoping mast, and a custom clipboard.

Tom's station consisted of an LNR (link) LD-11 transceiver Tom is reviewing for his blog and an LNR "EFT Trail-Friendly" 10/20/40m end-fed antenna he had purchased at the Hamvention. Tom powered his station with a Hardened Power Systems (link) QRP Ranger power-pack.

In an attempt to have a bit of shade, Eric set up his station just outside the canopy of a tree and was ready to go on the air about 2114 UTC. Tom set up under a friendly tree which he used for shade and to hang the EFT antenna; he was on the air about the same time as Eric.

Eric gave 40m to Tom and operated only on 20m. His first QSO was with N1AM at 2117 UTC. Thereafter, QSOs came steadily until Eric's 15th QSO with K6VIA at 2134 UTC. All of Eric's QSOs were made at the 5-watt level.

Tom operated only 40m SSB. His first QSO was with K0FD at 2119 UTC. Tom's 12th and final QSO was was KQ9H at 2130 UTC.

Miles did not operate but helped both Eric and Tom with set-up and tear-down and he did most of the activation photography.

(In working through his logs later, Eric found that he had worked AE5X at all three of his activations that day.)

Map:

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