Amateur Radio Station WD8RIF | NPOTA Activation James A. Garfield National Historic Site

The James A. Garfield House -- click to enlarge

Two members of the Southeast Ohio Radio Adventure Team succeeded in activating James A. Garfield National Historic Site as part of the ARRL's year-long National Parks on the Air (link). Eric McFadden, WD8RIF and Miles McFadden, KD8KNC activated James A. Garfield National Historic Site, NS39 (link) on a cold, snowy, very windy late December afternoon.

Upon arriving at the Visitor Center, Eric spoke with the ranger at the desk and stamped his Passport 2016. Eric had already jumped through the necessary hoops to procure a Special Use Permit for a previous activation and the ranger allowed Eric free-reign to set up and operate within the park.

Eric's station was his now-standard NPOTA station: his Enhanced KX3 Travel Kit, an MFJ-1910 33' fiberglass mast, and a custom clipboard.

Because of the cold temperature, Eric chose to operate within the car which he parked at one of the parking lot, with the 28½'end-fed wire antenna supported by the 33' fiberglass mast; unlike at most previous operations, Eric strapped the mast tripod to the front wheel of the car instead of securing it to the ground using spikes. Eric was on the air by 1852 UTC.

Eric began operations on 20m and his first QSO came at 1856 UTC with NO2D. Despite having to change frequency to avoid QRM, QSOs came steadily on 20m and Eric's 12th QSO came at 1908 UTC with CU3AA. Eric changed frequency on 20m to work N6YEU who was activating Point Reyes National Seashore (SS10). Eric then changed to 40m and his first QSO there came at 1914 UTC with KA3SJK. QSOs on 40m came quickly with Eric's 26th and final QSO coming at 1931 UTC with K4DJ. All of Eric's QSOs were CW made at the 5-watt level.

Hightlights of the operation were the aforementioned park-to-park QSO with N6YEU

Miles did not operate but helped Eric with set-up and tear-down and did much of the activation photography.

Miles and Eric would have enjoyed touring more of James A. Garfield National Historic Site but had a third activation yet to go before their return to southeast Ohio.