[SixClub] Follow-up Operation from FM-13 North Carolina Coast

[kenyon lenart]

IM SURE THAT EVERYONE THAT GOT A CARD SURE APPRECIATES YOUR EFFORT....WISH I COULDA GOT ONE....KENYON.....KD5GQF.....73S

Jerry Gault <jgault at nc.rr.com> wrote:On July 9th 1600 UTC - 2100 UTC, I operated portable in Grid FM13 near Fort
Fisher, NC. The primary goal of this trip was to operate on 6 meters and 2
meters from a somewhat rare grid.

I chose FM13 since other operators indicated that the grid was needed and
it's not active very much. The location is also only three to three and a
half hours away from my home on the sandy beaches of North Carolina. The
weather was cloudy, and over the water I could see some rain and darker
clouds. The temperature was in the high 80's and humid.

I had 16 visitors to my little out of the way operating position, all
curious and asking many questions.

My setup consisted of a Yaesu FT-897, FC-30 Yaesu auto tuner PAR Omni
OA-50, PAR Omni OA-144, a military fiberglass poles with a base and guy
rope. I had 40 feet of poles but could only safely manage 25 feet. The 2m
antenna was put on a second mast at 20 feet but unfortunately the antenna
mast and cable were damaged by a teenager just as the operation started so I
operated only 6 meters. I had two Yaesu FNB-78 4500mAh batteries and a
couple larger gel cell batteries as backup. I had a 4 foot ground rod in the
ground, not sure if that made any difference. I had GPS and a laptop with me
but logged on paper since I forgot a flat surface to use a table other than
my clipboard.

It took me about 45 minutes to setup and get organized before my first
contact at 1627 UTC, a mobile station in FM04, the same station later
contacted me when he reached FM03. There was... what sounded like lightening
static noise for the first couple hours, I contributed that noise to the
dark clouds over the ocean but I could be wrong.

Good propagation on 6 meters is never guaranteed, I did consult a crystal
ball but that didn't work. There were two good bursts of activity. Most of
the time, conditions were marginal.

The last contact was at 2100 UTC before I packed up and headed home. I
worked 25 stations in a total of 13 grids. Not too bad for the short time I
was there, I would have liked to have worked longer and with a partner. This
was my first time working away from home other than Field Day. I will do it
again...

Grids Worked from FM13: FM03, FM04, FM05, FM06, FL20(Cuba), EL29, FM14,
EM30, EM13, EM12, EM04, EM15 and EM60

I suspect I would have worked more stations with a small 3 element beam and
the Par up higher.

What I learned from this short trip:

Setup would have been much easier if I had pre-cut the guy rope and measured
it when I had the poles erected in my yard prior to the trip.
Don't do it alone and advertise a 12 hour operating time frame. Its way too
long without restroom breaks, a partner on these little expeditions would
have been most welcome.
Bring a larger flat surface or a portable table.
Streamline what you need to bring, leave everything else behind. I brought
way too much stuff... I did forget an important backup... I had no spare
cable with me.
Confirm permission to operate on someone elses property before you go and
get it in writing or in an email. Don't use what they say over the phone.
If your going to use Omni angle antennas, stack them.... or have a 3 element
with you or something that will get your signal out better.
Don't setup near fire ants.
Put on lotion to protect you from the sun and don't forget your hat.
Bring lots of bug spray. 

This type of mini expedition is fun, I would like to do it again with one or
two other operators. If anyone is interested in doing some mini-expeditions
let me know. 

All QSL Cards went out July 11th.

73
Jerry, N4AVM


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