CQP 2024

My first time calling CQ in an event - what a rush!

My goal for the CQP was to get 100 CW contacts. Mission accomplished.

105 QSOs, 34 states, 9 DX zones = 10,710 points
Didn't even pick up the mic.

The most DX I've worked - USA, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Slovakia, France, Hungary, Lithuania

CW stamina is thing.
Something I don't have a lot of.
1 hour and I was done. Worked 4 hours, in total, on Saturday.

Have I mentioned these events are addictive?

 - U

Ouachita Mountain Goldenrod

 Keep on keepin' on

 - U

DX and pile-ups at POTA US-0839 John Muir National Historic Site CA

Headed out with a short activation in mind but stayed a little longer to run through 10 - 20m.
First time being hunted by a DX station!

FT891 @ 50W; 1/4 wave vertical; Faraday cloth; CW Morse single lever paddle

No joy on 10m; radio was being weird on 12m.

15m was money - KY, KS, AK, FL, Argentina, TN, NJ, VA, WV, NC, IL

17m was quiet - TX, VA

20m went slightly longer than I was expecting - WA, IN, CT, TX, AZ, BC, NE

I heart the Faraday cloth! The bunches of radials might get relegated to emergency use.

As good as the 17' whip works, changing bands is annoying. I need to get an EFHW built and figure out a portable multiband 1/4 wave vertical.

First time being on the receiving end of a pile-up, minor as it was. There were probably only two stations but they were right on top of each other and I couldn't make out a thing.

LOL, that gave me a rush.

 - U

Antenna futzing at US-1176

Total fail with the truck mount - maybe I should I have tested it out at home before going to the park? :facepalm:

FT891 @ 50W; 1/4 wave vertical; bunches of radials; SP4 N0SA dual paddle

15m took me cross-country - ON, IN, FL, CT, LA, TX, IL, OK, NY

20m hunts to round out the activation - BC, CO, WA

Bunch of stuff to figure out.

Why am I being stupid with the truck mount? That thing's supposed to make it easier.

Can I be lazy with the radials and still tune the higher bands? Maybe I should try the magic carpet.

Why did I get zapped by the key? This one I know - I need to put a choke on the coax.

Fun fun as always.

 - U

Salmon Run

 29 CW, 6 SSB, 99 QSO points, 22 county multipliers, 2 bonus stations = 3178 total points

I was not expecting the CW speeds in a state QSO party to be this high.

Good practice for the CA event in a couple of weeks.

 - U

Hunting Japan (finally)

 

Woo hoo!

That was a tough copy - 22 both ways.

 - U

Enrubio

Beepin' and boopin'

 - U

 

Birdies galore

 

82 at Hiddenbrooke.

Man, those greens were quick.
Also, might have been a good idea to go to the practice range first with the Tensei White back in the driver.

Only took the first 9 to figure out what I needed to do differently.
Took full advantage after that to BIRDIE ALL 3 PAR 5s ON THE BACK 9.
Should I expect this to happen every time now? Yes, I think so.

 - U

Oasis at Chalco Hills

 

Thanks WB0RLJ.
Legend.

 - U

Almost breaking 80

 

80 at Blue Rock Springs West. 

Smart golf = boring golf.
Consistent across the board. The slight change with my right hand grip seems to be working.

Psyched myself out on 17 and 18, and made 2 dumb decisions trying to force the score :facepalm:
Didn't get any breaks going my way which somehow makes this almost-broke-80 feel better? :shrug:

 - U

DX Hunting

 

Big chungus throwing its weight around

 - U

Across the pond

 Got some help from auroras

 - U

The other side

Big chungus making this look easy

 - U

QTH EFHW

Big chungus

 Strain relief for the big chungus

Strain relief for the heckin' long wire

Pulleys for the heckin' long wire

Old vs new - Cousteau for scale

 - U

UA -> CA

 

My goodness ...

 - U

13 Colonies

 

Rhode Island remained elusive

 - U

Arizona Agave

 

POTA hunting with beeps and boops is fun

 - U

ARRL Field Day 2024

1D EB - IC7300 @ 100W; 50' EFRW 9:1 inv V @ 20'; SP4 N0SA dual paddle

20 CW, 11 SSB, 51 QSO points, 2x LP multiplier

QRS AGN PLS?
Yep, all day :)

Hit my mental fatigue cliff after 90min of CW QSOs - pretty happy I got this far on my first attempt.

Yeah.

Another thing to get hooked on.

 - U

POTA US-1176 Mt Diablo State Park CA

 Attempt #1 was a success!

IC7300 @ 100W; 50' EFRW 9:1 inv V @ 20'; SP4 N0SA dual paddle
20m CW, 12 QSOs - GA, AZ, CO, WA, FL, AK, TX, BC, AR

Yeah.
I see how this gets addicting.

 - U

CTTP

 

Practically a pro

 - U