by William Eric McFadden

Pictures

Description

A View from the Operating Site -- click to enlarge Two members of the Southeast Ohio Radio Adventure Team participated in the 2014 NJ QRP Club Skeeter Hunt operating event. Eric McFadden, WD8RIF, operated at Lake Hope State Park as Skeeter #8. Eric was joined by his son, Miles McFadden, KD8KNC, who helped with setup and teardown but didn't operate.

Eric and Miles arrived at Lake Hope about an hour into the four-hour event and set up Eric's KX3 Travel Kit on the same picnic table Eric used last year. He and Miles quickly hung the 28' end-fed wire from a suitable tree and made his first QSO on 20m with KX0R at 1824Z. (KX0R was Eric's first QSO at last year's event, too.)

Band conditions were very poor and few Skeeter Hunt stations were heard on 20m and none were heard on 40m.

In the 50 minutes (or so) Eric had to operate before the rain arrived, Eric managed QSOs with five numbered Skeeter Hunt participants on 20m and he worked one non-Skeeter on 40m.

WD8RIF Log
Time (Z) Callsign SPC Skeeter Number
1824 KX0R CO 86
1829 K2WO FL 1
1854 K9DXA WI 78
1907 W8BJO OH 75w
1914 AB9CA AL 59
1916 WV0H CO 89

Eric enjoyed the 2014 Skeeter Hunt and is looking forward to participating again next year.

Unfortunately, Eric managed to drive over his Yaesu FT-60R HT while leaving Lake Hope. The result was not very pretty (photos: 1 | 2 | 3).

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