I ran out to Sam Lewis, US-1418, to activate when the rain stopped.
I took a few minutes to setup my normal EFHW running North-South to operate more to the East and West, though I did get a contact to Colombia.
I operated mostly low-power FT8, 1-4W, but mostly 2W. I chased and got 1 CW contact before it started getting cold and dark.
I played a little FT8 at US-8834, State Game Land 136, with only 2W on my 40M EFHW in an inverted-V. I made 26 contacts, and looked for some CW, but barely heard anything.
I headed to US-4356, Boyd Big Tree Preserve for an activation. I took my time and med 51 contacts: FT8, FT4, 2 SSB, 2 CW. I stretched my 40M EFHW from pavilion to tree to the East. A bystander hung out for 40 minutes to see what I was doing, so I showed him around the bands.
I activated the Conoy Wetland along US-4567. I used the 40M EFHW running to the South East. I stayed on 40m, using FT8 and 4W. I got my 30+ contacts calling CQ POTA, and didn’t chase anyone.
I experimented with the counterpoise:
I activated Chino Hills State Park, US-1139, twice while in Los Angeles. I hiked in 1.5 miles for one activation, and biked half way up one of the hills 5 miles for the second.
The home antenna wire comes down every once in a while. I soldered and re-hung it, and it looks good. It seems to need a little power put through it, and then the SWR looks good. I wonder if some static accumulated, and that is causing higher SWR for a moment.
The activation at King’s Gap Environmental Education Center, US-4361 was tough-going, even though I was at the top of the mountain. I used the GRA vertical whip with tapped coil. Internet access flaked early, so successfully spotted myself on APRS with APSPOT.
Rain was predicted later in the weekend, so I headed out to Marietta Riverfront Park (US-4567) for a quick activation to beat the rain. My initial plan was to rebuild my EFHW antenna, but I cut the new wire six inches too short, and I didn’t have enough wire on the spool to start again.
I opted for my 12.5m EFRW instead. It was 7 PM, so I focused my efforts on the 40m. I successfully got about 18 contacts before I packed up for the evening.
I setup at US-1418 for an activation. I tried to setup the 40m EFHW in a nearly vertical configuration, but my throw wasn’t high enough, so I went for a vertical 25-foot Rybakov instead. I used my 4:1 balun.
I got my activation working 10M and 15M FT8.
