Activity in the #SKCC Straight Key Month activity seems to be down from previous years. I’ve worked K3Y/_ stations on all bands except for 80m, so it’s not a case of poor conditions. I’ll keep tuning.
Kent, AE4Y
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First licensed in 1968, I spend most of my time on CW running 100 watts from a TS-590SG to a 41ft. longwire antenna made necessary due to stringent HOA restrictions. I’m an enthusiastic non-competitive contester, DX chaser, and POTA activator/hunter.
I managed to find time this morning for an overdue #POTA activation in the Pisgah National Forest, K-4510 here in North Carolina. I picked up 42 contacts (40 CW, 2 SSB). As good as conditions were, (particularly 20-10 meters), I was surprised that I made no contacts on 15 and 10m. I was hoping to work into Europe, but no luck today.
Started today with a Labor Day morning activation on the Blue Ridge Parkway, K-3378. 70 contacts, 60 CW, 10 SSB; mostly on 40 meters with a handful each on 30 and 20 meters. Xiegu G90 at 15 watts to the 41 foot long wire.
The highlight of the day was a P2P exchange with N4JAW.
I almost bailed out on an activation this morning due to an approaching thunderstorm, but when radar showed the storm dispersing, I headed out to the DuPont State Recreational Forest, K-4854.
Conditions were fair to good. I managed to log 103 contacts combined on 40, 30, and 20 meters; 73 on CW and 30 on SSB. The Xiegu G90 at 15 watts and the 41 foot sloping long wire performed well again.
Conditions were okay during this morning’s activation of the DuPont Game Land, K-6902, in N.C. Today, I used the Xiegu G90 at 15w to a 41 foot long wire. I collected 63 contacts, mostly on 40m cw, with a handful of others on 30m and 20m. I did briefly experience some unexpected QRM generated by a park ranger on a tractor grooming a trail just below my operating position.
After a 6 month hiatus, I’m planning on activating the DuPont Game Land, K-6902, here in western N.C tomorrow, Monday August 21st.
I should have everything up and running by 1300 UTC and will probably start on 40m CW somewhere around 7.060.
The weather was perfect today, so I took the new SOTABeams Carbon 6 mast out with the Xiegu G90 and activated Holmes Educational State Forest, K-4856 (NC).
The Carbon 6 mast was lashed to an agreeable sapling and supported my 41 foot long wire. I made 108 contacts, spread coast-to-coast in the lower 48 states and worked EA1FIC and IK4IDF on the other side of the pond for good measure.
Thanks go out to those who took the time to give me a call.