[ILQSO] Activity Encouragement ILQP

[Carl Buehler]

I was QRT the past two years.  Here are my observations from Portable
operations.
1) First timers need to adjust their expectations. It can be hard to find a
county line that is safe, accessible, out in the clear, and close to trees
for antenna support. Compromised antennas make operating difficult
especially with generator noise, passing vehicles, neighbor visits, public
visitors, and an occasional local law enforcement officer.  You inevitably
get a 'run' going only to have an interruption, then work at getting things
going again.
2) Each of my outings involved advanced planning with the attempt to
activate dormant counties.  It is such a downer to go into it anticipating
some pile ups only to hear a home station operating from the county(ies)
you are in. Perhaps all stations that operated the year before could be
contacted with the request to express their intent to operate?
3) You can struggle for a while before someone spots you. It would be nice
to have the ability to self-spot when we begin operating from a new
location.  This may increase activity for the portables and home stations.
4) I appreciate the "wet county line" limitation and strongly believe
everyone should play by the rules. Sometimes a three county operation
including a "rare one" can be prevented by a rather small flow of water.
Apparently this is a County Hunters requirement, but relaxing this would
help portables attract more attention.
5)  Let's not even think about the technology of running a laptop logger
with internet accessed through a cell phone hot spot!  Not a strong point
of mine!  No suggestion here as to what the group can do to help.
So there it is.  Hats off to all of you that have this portable
operating downpat.  I really respect what you are able to accomplish.  With
a simple dipole type antenna perhaps I can do better than this Huster
mobile mount does.   I plan to review the results from this year and
explore where to operate here Southwest Illinois.
73, Carl- K9ZA