Amateur Radio Station WD8RIF | NPOTA Activation William Howard Taft National Historic Site

Two members of the Southeast Ohio Radio Adventure Team succeeded in activating William Howard Taft National Historical Site as part of the ARRL's year-long National Parks on the Air (link). Eric McFadden, WD8RIF, and Miles McFadden, KD8NKC, activated William Howard Taft National Historic Site, NS78 (link) in Cincinnati, Ohio, on their to Nicholasville, Kentucky for a family Thanksgiving celebration. They were accompanied by Eric's daughter and Miles's sister Kate, KD8KNB, and Kate's dog, Bo.

Upon arriving at the park, Eric spoke with the rangers and stamped his Passport 2016. Eric was given permission to set up in the overflow parking area behind the historic Taft house and Education Center.

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. Eric and Miles quickly erected the mast, deployed the antenna, and set up the rest of the station, and Eric was on the air by 1618 UTC.

Because it was CQ World Wide CW weekend, Eric operated only on 30m. His first QSO came at 1622 UTC with K9YKL. Signals were relatively weak and there was a high noise level but QSOs came slowly yet steadily until Eric's 13th QSO came at 1641 UTC with N5KEP. All QSOs were made at the 5-watt level.

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

A highlight of the operation was having another eyeball-QSO with Hank Greeb, N8XX, who arrived at the site for his own activation as Eric was finishing up his operation.