[TVARC] FlQP K3WT/K2PS Cnty ExpedMixed LP

[K2PS Pete Stafford]

Tom, K3WT, and I decided to do a portable operation (called Expedition
class) this year.  We assembled a station with an Icom-7300, a laptop, an
antenna, a 25-foot mast, a couple of batteries, a table and two chairs (and
a bunch of other stuff too).  The plan was to drive to a number of counties
each day, and find an appropriate spot to be able to stretch out the
inverted vee (40-meter length) without drawing too much interest from
passers-by.  I think that worked out pretty well.  We operated mostly from
parks and out of the way parking lots, with some seclusion and lots of
shade.  It was hot out there.  

I think we succeeded in carrying out our plans, but were way too ambitious
in activating more counties.  We ended up getting on the air from six
counties, three each day.  The driving time, plus setup/tear down, took time
but we did manage to get some pretty good pileups in the time we actually
spent operating.  CW was the main mode.  Sideband just never generated any
runs and, at least for times we tried it, 15 meters also was not very
productive.  20 and especially late Saturday 40, were the main bands for
QSOs.

The equipment worked pretty well, except for late Sunday, when the laptop
stopped charging.  My guess is that either the inverter or the laptop just
got too hot.  But we were able to operate until the contest end.

Heard Rusty, W3US, on SSB and tried breaking his pileup, to no avail, but he
did call in late Saturday night, when we operated from a little parking lot
near the archery range at Paradise Park (and could hear the band playing at
Spanish Springs)!  That was it from club members.

Hopefully, we'll be trying to get an all-mobile station up and working for
2026, but this year was lots of fun!

73, Pete, K2PS


                    Florida QSO Party - 2025

Call: K3WT
Operator(s): K3WT K2PS
Station: K3WT

Class: Cnty ExpedMixed LP
QTH: 
Operating Time (hrs): 8

Summary:
 Band  CW Qs  Ph Qs
--------------------
   40:  118      1
   20:  473     20
   15:   15      0
   10:    0      0
--------------------
Total:  606     21  CW Mults = 52  Ph Mults = 14  Total Score = 162,756

Club: The Villages Amateur Radio Club

Comments:

6 counties activated


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