[MRCA] On Patrol with the Moose and Squirrel Net

[mstangelo at comcast.net]

I do lots of portable operation when the weather cooperates and enjoy this aspect of the "Clandestine and Long-Range-Reconnaissance-Patrol" net. In addition, with the high QRM noise levels present at home these days, especially on the lower HF bands, I look for quiet spots to operate. During the summer I do most of my operation from Sandy Hook. Most of my operation is from quiet shady areas away for the waterfront. My primary antenna is a Hustler Whip but I use a quarter wavelength wire if I can deploy it at the site.

Since I have to fit the operation between chores and appointments my most important criterion is to be able to set up the station or knock it down within 15 minutes. 

Last year conditions were better and I could communicate using my 10 pound 20 watt Xeigu G90 setup. This year conditions are poor and I need my 22 pound Yaesu FT-857 setup with the heavier battery.

I like to operate on the beach. Backpacking the Xeigu pack was bad enough but the Yaesu pack is too much for this Senior Citizen.

My wife suggested we get a beach cart for the times when we bring an umbrella and lunch to the beach so I picked one up.  I noticed with the cart handle extended I could install a wooden pole mount, originally used years ago to install the Hustler on a sailboat stanchion, to install the Hustler on my cart.

I tested the setup in the driveway last week with good results. Today was cloudy so I did not expect crowds at the beach so I loaded it up and to it to the beach to work the net. 

The set up went well; practicing in the driveway helped. I always install four short radials to my antenna setup. I have two sets, four 10 foot and four 20 foot radials. I use the 10 foot radials since I was in a populated area of the beach so as to not have people trip over wires. I've attached a picture of the setup.

I connect the four radials to the antenna bracket using a sta-con connector. I tilted the radio face up by leaning ot on the LiFePo4 battery. My radio bag has soft sides so I use half of a priority mailer box to carry the radio and keep the shape of the bag. You can see this box stuffed into the top of the chair being used as a sun shield.

The setup went well, power and swr looked nominal, but band conditions were poor today and we had a short net. Pre-net I heard W2HX and K1QAR testing but they apparently could not hear me. I heard WA3YRE. He heard me weakly in the noise but could not hear the net.  KW1I assumed net control today and heard me. I received him 54. K1QAR and KD2WYY also participated, they were both 54. Tim KD2WYY was at Ken's KD2GFM(SK) QTH and was using Ken's FT-DX-10. Ken will be missed, I ran many propagation tests with him

To recap, my setup went well and I intend to try it again in the future if the beach is not crowded. I just wish 60 meters would cooperate.

Mike N2MS
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