[Elecraft] KX1 to the North Pole

[W0rw at aol.com]

   If the roads are open, i plan to operate FYBO again this year from the 
'North Pole', the coldest place on earth. This isn't exactly a different 
continent like  Antarctica, but there really is a North Pole, Colorado (NPCO). The 
North Pole is closed after Christmas because Santa is taking a break. It gets 
very cold at Santa's Workshop and always has lots of snow. It's always winter at 
NPCO just like in Narnia and only about 100 miles from the 'Never Summer 
Mountains'. 
   You  have probably never heard any stations (other than mau) on the air 
from the North Pole because it is located in a deep canyon. The sun comes up at 
9am and sets at 2pm. There was an avalanche a week ago only 5 miles away that 
closed the road. 
   i will be operating CW only for a few hours starting at 1700z, Feb. 3, 
2007. This will be a 'Freeze Your Boots Off' Pedestrian Mobile operation.  i will 
be hand holding my Elecraft KX1, running 4 watts, on 14060 kHz +/- QRM. i 
might also switch to 7040 kHz if the conditions are good, but 40 meters is very 
difficult when you are using a 10 foot whip and a drag wire counterpoise. i 
will be using my special North Face "Vestenna" and my Cuff log.
 
   This is a great time to check out the temperature characteristics of your 
battery pack. i will be using one of those 'exploding' Sony US18650's (1.5 AH, 
14oz) hard carbon LiIon cells as an external power source. My internal KX1 
NiCads are charged and ready to use if the external LiIon battery dies or ?.
   There is an article on "How to operate the KX1 Pedestrian Mobile" on the 
KB6NU Blog at http://kb6nu.com/?p=765.

   There will be special W0RW/pm NPCO QSL cards, just like last year, with 
the North Pole post mark. No SASE's required. i worked over 50 Q's last year.
   You can see a 360 degree summer time picture of the 'Pole' at  
http://www.santas-colo.com/North.html

Hope to see you during FYBO from the Pole. 

   FYBO is the premier QRP Winter Field Day sponsored by the AZ ScQRPions.
It is on Feb 3, 1600z to 2400z.
You can get more information about FYBO at 
http://www.azscqrpions.org
   The exchange is: RST, S/P/C, name, power, and temperature in degrees F at 
the operating location.
   Paul
w0rw/pm  NPCO
QSL via 
2007 NPCO Pedestrian Mobile Expedition
PO Box 6069,
Colorado Springs, CO 80934