I activated K-2424 Callahan State Park on 04 April 2023 15:05 EST. This was my first park activation attempt. I set up a table and chair just off the parking area and deployed my QRP Boys 40-meter End Fed Halfwave antenna. Using an arborist throw bag and line to put the antenna in a tree, I got it about 30 feet up and configured the antenna as an inverted-v. The radio was a Xiegu X-6100 with an external battery giving me 10 watts SSB. I did not need a lot of power, QRP worked just fine.
Equipment used:
- Xiegu X-6100 HF transceiver
- QRP Boys EFHW antenna with 66’ of DX Engineering high visibility wire
- Arborists throw bag and line in a storage cube
- Microsoft Surface Laptop 4
- USB GPS Unit
- Anytone AT-878UV HT
- Phone for internet access
- Portable table and chair
- POTA Sign
- Clipboard with scratch paper, backup paper log, US Band Plan, copy of license
I spotted myself on the POTA.App website and started off on 20 meters SSB. My first CQ call was answered by WN8SCI a mobile station. Unfortunately, I was unable to make any further SSB contacts and since it was late in the day, I switched to FT-8 (8 watts). I was able to make nine additional contacts on 20 meters and one on 17 meters using FT-8. Two of the contacts were Park to Park, and one was DX (Latvia). I had one SSB contact and 10 FT-8 contacts, 11 contacts, a pretty good first activation.
Lessons learned:
- Develop a workflow for an activation:
- Before activation (scheduling, make sure batteries are charged, and your go bag is ready)
- During (equipment setup, logging configuration, internet access, spotting)
- After (site cleanup, log submission, charging batteries)
- Make sure you have everything you need (and you can find it in your bag). I couldn’t find my USB hub, so I was unable to connect both the radio and the GPS to the computer. I had synced the time earlier that day and it wasn’t a problem
- Try to set up your station so the sun is not on your back, I had trouble with both the computer and radio screens being washed out by the sun
- Bring and use insect repellent (Tick and Mosquitoes) and sunscreen (no foliage protection in springtime)
I had a lot of fun with this deployment!
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