W1T lighthouse activation

Started by madball13, August 03, 2013, 12:31:39 PM

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madball13

I'll be participating in a lighthouse activation this weekend. I'll be kayaking out to the island today at 6 and I will be staying overnight. If you go to caara.net there is a list of freqs we will be on. I post some pics here of the trip later Sunday or Monday.

KK0G

Looks like I'll have to try tomorrow because my best band for propagation to there - 20 meters, is filled wall to wall with contesters.
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety" - Benjamin Franklin

KK0G

cockpitbob

#2
at 10:00am (eastern) I worked them on 7,042.  Larry is going nice and slow at 13wpm and will happily slow down more.

There are 2 lighthouses on the island.  I'm not sure you can claim both by working W1T, buy you'll get at least one.
All the details wid frequencies here.

Earlier I tracked Madball13's APRS signal as he made the kayak trip to the island and we talked on the local repeater while he was mid-ocean.  I told him the kayak meant he had to add "maritime-mobile" to his call  ::) .


gil

Just tried on 20m, no luck...

Gil.

madball13

Quote from: cockpitbob on August 04, 2013, 10:11:40 AM
at 10:00am (eastern) I worked them on 7,042.  Larry is going nice and slow at 13wpm and will happily slow down more.

There are 2 lighthouses on the island.  I'm not sure you can claim both by working W1T, buy you'll get at least one.
All the details wid frequencies here.

Earlier I tracked Madball13's APRS signal as he made the kayak trip to the island and we talked on the local repeater while he was mid-ocean.  I told him the kayak meant he had to add "maritime-mobile" to his call  ::) .

Bob, I didn't even make the connection that that was you!

Had a great time out there. I got my first satellite contact on my HT via SO-50.

cockpitbob

Matt, congrats on hitting a bird!  I used to do a lot of that from my back yard with a hand held antenna from Arrow.  The neighbors probably think I talk to UFOs.  It's a pitty but SO-50 is the only healthy FM satellite left.  There used to be 4 or 5 FM birds we could work with just an HT.

So.......how did the gear work.  It sounded like you were loaded to simulate a kayak bugout.  Any lessons learned that we could benefit from?

madball13

#6
My mind set was to head out and not have to rely on the house or equipment that was available. But when i arrived there was an extra bed and i was able to work SSB all i wanted with the clubs Icom 706 so i didnt really get to use my gear at all. One of the guys working psk had a KX3  with a juma amp and i was able t use that for a bit. One lesson learned for me was that i have to much junk. It would have been nice to have a radio like a kx3 and a buddipole or an end fed wire and that would have cut the weight down a lot. Overall it was a good trip and i will try to go next year and for more than just one night. If i do go next year i plan to camp on the south side of the island a few hundred yards away from everyone else.

Couple of pics. First is the ride out there. Second is the welcoming party at the boat ramp and third is one of the light houses.

KK0G

I also learned the too much junk lesson. I now have my field equipment narrowed down to my KX1, a piece of wire for the antenna, another piece of wire for a counterpoise and ear buds. It's SO much easier/lighter to pack and way faster to set up/re-pack only four pieces of equipment.

Cool photos, glad you had a good time.
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety" - Benjamin Franklin

KK0G