[MRCA] [MMRCG] Fort Miles / Delaware Goes to War Event

Mon Apr 25 18:36:17 EDT 2022

Thanks for the AAR Ray, good to see the milcom out and mobile.

Mark
k1HF

On Mon, Apr 25, 2022 at 5:23 PM Tim <timsamm at gmail.com> wrote:

> Great job Ray!  Well done fun....Tnx for the report & Pix...
> I'm looking forward to some mountain ops as the snow starts to clear out
> here.  Maybe even a trip out to the Coastal Defense sites near San Fran -
> maybe set up a sked with you guys next time...  Cheers!
> Tim
> N6CC
>
> On Mon, Apr 25, 2022 at 10:23 AM Ray Fantini <RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu>
> wrote:
>
>> Additional information, attached is a picture from the Friday location.
>> Wonder if having the antennas in the pine trees make a difference? Although
>> the 40 meter net was solid and the sixty meter net out in the open was
>> sketchy?
>>
>> Also liked the sign just behind the mutt, and extra credit to who ever
>> finds the Howitzer in the background.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Ray F/KA3EKH
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* MMRCG at groups.io <MMRCG at groups.io> *On Behalf Of *Ray Fantini via
>> groups.io
>> *Sent:* Monday, April 25, 2022 10:50 AM
>> *To:* mmrcg at groups.io; Military Radio Collectors Association <
>> mrca at mailman.qth.net>
>> *Subject:* [MMRCG] Fort Miles / Delaware Goes to War Event
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> What was supposed to be achieved by this project?
>>
>>
>>
>> The Annual Delaware Goes to War event was last Saturday at Fort Miles,
>> Cape Henlopen State Park Delaware.
>>
>> The last two years it was canceled due to Covid, but they did have the
>> event this year featuring a large group of WW2 reenactors that occupy the
>> center of the complex along with a number of period correct vehicles and
>> equipment. Outside of their perimeter we have a Military Vehicle show of
>> M-38, M-151vehicles and other post war vehicles.
>>
>> I always try to take every opportunity to drag out the mutt and operate
>> from the field and the Fort Miles site is a favorite because it’s only a
>> hour from home and also the site of the annual AA83 event in November.
>>
>>
>>
>> What was actually achieved?
>>
>>
>>
>> I arrived Friday and unloaded the mutt. Did not have anything scheduled
>> for Friday but did set everything up and had an opportunity to test all the
>> gear. Set up across the parking lot from normal location to try something
>> different this year being the old location is right next to the 3-inch
>> guns, they do a couple blank shots on Saturday and that requires having to
>> leave the vehicle because of the proximity, also very loud!
>>
>> The new location was not bad, was able to get local power from the
>> bathroom building about sixty feet away but the new location did result in
>> having all antennas in the trees.
>>
>> Did try a couple CQ calls on forty and sixty meters but no success. Also
>> monitored six and two meters while on site but no activity there.
>>
>> On Saturday I did check into the MMRCG Net on 7.296 and talked with a
>> couple stations before the Net, good copy on all stations on that net and
>> looks like no one had any issues copying me.
>>
>> After the Net was asked to move over to the old location with the rest of
>> the post war vehicles, we only had four or so vehicles show up and think
>> they wanted us to look like a larger group so they gave me a space right up
>> next to the gate and I moved over to the other side of the parking lot. No
>> big deal being I had to drop the inverted V that I use of forty and swap it
>> out with a V cup for sixty anyway.
>>
>> Worked the Moose & Squirrel Net on 5.357 without much issue although copy
>> not as good as the early net on forty. After the net spent most time up on
>> seventeen meters working Ham stations using the vertical on the mutt.
>>
>> The event ended at four that afternoon and don’t know why because Friday
>> was warm to hot with lows in the seventies with Saturday being cooler and
>> got cold later in the afternoon so that was a incentive to pack up and get
>> out as soon as the event ended.
>>
>> Packed up and was clear of the site by five thirty.
>>
>>
>>
>> What aspects of the project work?
>>
>>
>>
>> For once every radio worked. The GRC-106 with external inverted V
>> antennas for forty and sixty and the onboard whip for seventeen. The big
>> RT-524 along with the PRC-77 and the URC-110 for VHF/UHF all the power
>> distribution and all that stuff along with the mutt running well. Did have
>> to change the water pump over the winter and also installed a new rocker
>> arm cover and think I have finally fixed the oil leak over the top of the
>> engine.
>>
>> Antenna mast, set up and tear down have gotten to be almost second nature
>> and relocating from one location was both quick and easy.
>>
>>
>>
>> What didn't work and why?
>>
>>
>>
>> Think the biggest failure was not getting any contacts on Friday. Maybe
>> if I played around with seventeen or twenty meters could have done some
>> regular Ham QSO but would have been good to have some mill radio people
>> active.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> What would you change if given a second chance?
>>
>>
>>
>> Work harder on getting others active. Try to develop a Coastal Fort, or
>> Field Operation Net that operates when these events take place. Always a
>> good turn out for the regular scheduled nets on sixty and forty but not
>> much interest beyond that.
>>
>> Also, I now know that need to set time and frequencies, have been told
>> several times that on Friday people were looking to work me but without
>> setting a schedule in advance and just relaying on maybe nothing happens.
>> So, for Hagerstown next month will try to do better.
>>
>>
>>
>> Submitted by Ray F/KA3EKH
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> _._,_._,_
>> _._,_._,_
>> ------------------------------
>> Groups.io Links:
>>
>> You receive all messages sent to this group.
>>
>> View/Reply Online (#2533) <https://groups.io/g/MMRCG/message/2533> | Reply
>> To Group
>> <MMRCG at groups.io?subject=Re:%20Re%3A%20%5BMMRCG%5D%20Fort%20Miles%20%2F%20Delaware%20Goes%20to%20War%20Event>
>> | Reply To Sender
>> <RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu?subject=Private:%20Re:%20Re%3A%20%5BMMRCG%5D%20Fort%20Miles%20%2F%20Delaware%20Goes%20to%20War%20Event>
>> | Mute This Topic <https://groups.io/mt/90686448/246984> | New Topic
>> <https://groups.io/g/MMRCG/post>
>> Your Subscription <https://groups.io/g/MMRCG/editsub/246984> | Contact
>> Group Owner <MMRCG+owner at groups.io> | Unsubscribe
>> <https://groups.io/g/MMRCG/leave/3821265/246984/2123290315/xyzzy> [
>> timsamm at gmail.com]
>> _._,_._,_
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
> MRCA mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/mrca
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:MRCA at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/mrca/attachments/20220425/579c5a44/attachment.html>