by William Eric McFadden
Pictures
- The station, with the Visitor Center in the background; photo by Miles McFadden
- Eric's station; photo by Miles McFadden
Continued Insanity in the Face of a Polar Vortex!
Two 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, and Miles McFadden, KD8KNC, activated Hopewell Culture National Historical Park, HP15 (link)
at the Mound City Group in Chillicothe, Ohio on a cold (32°) December morning.
Upon arrival at the Visitor Center, Eric stamped his Passport 2016 and spoke with ranger Rod who readily gave him permission to operate.
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. Because of the cold temperature, Eric chose to operate inside the car and he chose to power the transceiver using the car's power socket instead of his 5aH gel-cell. Eric was on the air at 1445 UTC.
Eric began operations on 20m and his first QSO there came at 1452 UTC with KA7T. QSOs came slowly on 20m with his 2nd and final QSO on 20m coming at 1453 UTC with W6ZQ. Eric switched to 40m and his first QSO there came at 1502 UTC with KB3MHB. QSOs on 40m came steadily and his 15th and final QSO come at 1522 UTC with K0JE. All Eric's QSOs were made at the 5-watt level.
Miles did not operate but helped with set-up and tear-down and did all the activation photography.
Eric recorded a temperature of 32°F during the operation. Set-up and tear-down were uncomfortably cold but the interior of the car remained comfortable.
The highlight of the operation for Eric was the QSO aat 1517 UTC with KG0YL in North Dakota; this QSO meant Eric had worked all 50 states while operating portable for NPOTA>
Map:
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