by William Eric McFadden
Pictures
- A views from the operating site.
- Eric operating the station; photo by Victoria McFadden
- A view of the Tom Jenkins Dam pumping station
Description
One member of the Southeast Ohio Radio Adventure Team
participated in the 2015 NJ QRP Club Skeeter Hunt operating event. Eric McFadden, WD8RIF, operated at
Tom Jenkins Dam in Burr Oak State Park as Skeeter #20. Eric was joined by his wife, Vickie, KC8MAJ who helped with setup and
teardown but didn't operate.
Eric and Vickie arrived at Tom Jenkins Dam about an hour into the four-hour event and set up Eric's KX3 Travel Kit on a table in the picnic shelter. He and Vickie quickly hung the 28' end-fed wire from a suitable tree and made his first QSO on 20m with AD0AB at 1811Z.
A solar K-index of 3 caused very poor band conditions on 20m and 40m. Most Skeeter Hunt stations were weak and QSB was very fast and deep. In addition, the SKCC (link) Weekend Sprint (WES) was taking place right on the 20m QRP calling frequency, causing QRM.
Eric operated about 90 minutes and managed to work twelve stations on 20m and two stations on 40m.
| WD8RIF Log | |||||
| Time (Z) | Freq. | Callsign | Name | SPC | Skeeter Number |
| 1805 | 14062 | NE5DL | QSO incomplete — QSB | ||
| 1811 | 14059 | AB0AB | Jim | KS | (WES) |
| 1820 | 14063 | K2WO | George | FL | 5 |
| 1828 | 14063 | N4KGL | Greg | AL | 18 |
| 1829 | 14063 | NE5DL | Dave | TX | 141 |
| 1833 | 14063 | WB5BKL | Nick | TX | 84 |
| 1843 | 14061 | KX0R | George | CO | 161 |
| 1855 | 14063 | N5GW | Gene | MS | 69 |
| 1859 | 14063 | K4BYF | Jack | FL | 2w |
| 1902 | 14061 | AB9CA | Dave | AL | 101 |
| 1929 | 14064 | K4UPG | Kelly | FL | 80 |
| 1934 | 14064 | K2UFT | Dick | GA | 147 |
| 1937 | 7030 | N3CU | Ken | PA | 64 |
| 1942 | 14061 | W4QO | Jim | GA | 162 |
| 1946 | 7032 | KM4IXK | David | NC | 133 |
Eric enjoyed the 2015 Skeeter Hunt and is looking forward to participating again next year.
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