[NLRS] N0HJZ QRP Portable Score

[N0HJZ@aol.com]

Hi All -

With the usual multi-op not available this year, I thought I'd try something 
different.  I thought I'd go for QRP Portable.  I hadn't done it since 1992 
and had a ball that year.  I have a nice park across the street so I thought I'd 
try it.

I set up the equipment in our van and set up the antennas on 20 feet of mast 
attached to a large pole on a tennis court.  I had the generator and was set 
up at 10:00 am on Saturday.  A crowd of young guys stopped by at 11:30 and 
asked about the equipment and what I was doing.  We talked for a bit when one says 
"so you're going to be out here all night alone with thousands of dollars of 
equipment?"  I'm not usually spooked but this got me feeling funny.  

I proceeded to take down the antennas and walk across the street to my back 
yard.  I set the antennas on the 20 feet of mast and attached them temporarily 
to my deck.  I set up a tent and set up the rig on a card table and ran the 
generator from the back yard!  I felt much better!  My 20 feet of mast looked 
great at the park but only seemed to get me half way up the back of my house 
(more on that later).

Six was hot.  I worked a bunch to the west and south on Saturday.  There were 
even short runs to the southeast and east.  My 10 watts was tough on six.  
I'd call and call and call....  Someone once said "grab the QRP station" and the 
guy asked who the QRP was.  I bagged him quickly.  Not sure who you were but 
thanks for the help!  The other bands were pretty good and lots of local 
activity.

Six was open until amost midnight and I was hearing a K6 and an XE2 as I shut 
the rig off at 12:30 am.  I got up early at 4:00 and worked two guys on 
scatter.  After that it was sloooooow.  My big disappointment was not finding Gene, 
N0DQS.  I heard him once but couldn't get his attention before he ran off 
with KM0T.  My other disappointment was being near my house.  Being only half way 
up the house, I couldn't hear anything to the north and northwest.  Not a 
peep.

On the bright side, I worked all the way to CHicago on 222 MHz with 10 watts 
and a 3 element W0ZQ yagi (thanks Jon!).  CW sure helps!

At about 11:00 am I shut the rig off and tore the equipment down.  I enjoyed 
a fun day with the family and got in a nice nap!

Here are my totals.  Not huge but I had a lot of fun!  Ten watts is fun but 
tough!  I think I like the KWs at 'GGM!!!

50 MHz - 104 x 53
144 MHz - 56 x 10
222 MHz - 25 x 8
432 MHz - 33 x 9
TOTAL - 218 x 80 = 22,080 points.

73 & THANKS to everyone who listened for my peanut whistle!
Rich N0HJZ