Ham on a Hot Thin Island

by Steve, AA1IZ
Part 2

A James Bond taxi ride through the streets of Athens brought us to our harbor side hotel.  A quick supper and to bed.  One problem - the heat required that we open the windows.  The social custom of Athenians is that they go out to eat around 10pm and those who party stay out hours more.  Around two o'clock we finally fell asleep.  Around seven o'clock the ever present city construction workers lit off their compressor and within minutes we were serenaded by jackhammers.  Oh well, we wanted to grocery shop early anyway.  The family shopped while I walked over to the marina to check out the boat.  After waiting an hour the marina offices came to life.  Seems that not everyone wakes up early.  Finally I met Costas.  We sat down to discuss the trip.  "Why are you choosing to go to Elafonisos?"  Patiently I explained again the contest, and the strategy that had brought us to the decision.  "Do you have a place lined up?"  "Not yet, but I have friends working on it"  "Resourceful", I mumbled to myself.
Soon a van arrived with our food, luggage, and radio equipment.  My wife had convinced the market owner to include our personal possessions in with the free food delivery.  We loaded everything aboard, bought six bags of ice and another few gallons of water and finally got under way.  The temperature on the water cooled to about 95 from the 100 plus that we had been experiencing in the city.  Water was consumed by the liter as everyone did their best to cool off.
By Wednesday we were well on our way south to Elafonisos. Costas had been proving his skills each day with his ability to sail (Greek Olympic silver medallist), to cook (the best tzatziki any of us had ever had), to tour guide (groups of Greeks walking the ancient sites joined us to here Costas explain things), and to express opinions (especially his), but still no word on accommodations for the weekend.  I decided I could legitimately break my promise of radio only on the weekend to "test" the equipment that night.  Using the boat batteries and an 8 foot ham stick mobile antenna mounted on shore I went up on 14.260 (the unofficial IOTA frequency for 20 meters) and called CQ from he island of Poros.  ACTION!  In a few minutes I had a

small pileup.  The equipment seemed to be OK.  The voice keyer was getting mixed reviews - modulation seemed distorted to some people.  Also I thought I could hear a slight feedback in my headset, but I wasn't sure.  After an hour of operating I felt I had spread the word enough for people to know I would be on during the contest and it seemed all was OK with the equipment.
Friday morning we headed off for the last leg of our voyage to Elafonisos.  We had been sailing south to reach the bottom of the Peloponese and now it was time to turn the corner and head west to our chosen island.  This section of water can be very rough due to locally heavy summer winds and we were prepared for a good bounce.  Although the winds came up they were not too bad and by mid day we were alongside the concrete dock used by the fisherman about a tenth of a mile from town.  By now Costas had a full understanding of what I needed: power, space for the equipment, a platform for the beam, poles for the wire antenna, and a clear shot to the north west back to Europe and the US.  So in the mid-day sun we walked into town and first checked with the local police force to announce our presence.  Again the official letter smoothed all ripples.  From police headquarters (and also the chief's home) we walked another 100 yards to the northwest side of the island.  As we walked along the narrow beach road we looked at the small, tightly packed two and three story concrete homes that were facing the water.  Finally we found one with a room to let.  Up the narrow outside stairs to the third floor mini apartment.  It was perfect.  A small kitchenette, a bathroom, a bedroom, a small terrace looking out on the water, and best of all, the roof of a two story house under construction abutting part of the terrace.  Costas negotiated for a two-night stay and an understanding that we would not interfere with the neighborhood.  It was time to get organized.
We walked back to the boat and while I moved everything up on deck Costas inflated our rubber dinghy.  "Much easier than carrying everything to the north side of the island".  In minutes he was motoring the small boat around the northeast tip of the island to meet me at the beach in front of our newly found radio headquarters.  I was wondering what the buoyancy factor was of an FT-890AT and associated equipment.
Continued Next Month...

FARA Thanks...

by Peter, KA1AXY

We wouldn't be able to accomplish a lot of what we manage to get done at the club without the donations. You know what I mean, the people who come by and drop off stuff we have said we're looking for. So, in this season of giving, I thought it would be nice to thank some FARA members for their generosity.
Ed, W1NXC for answering all those phone calls about License in a Weekend
Dick, K1KTK and Marsha, K1NGI for the thermostat, the filing cabinet, and all the stuff Dick didn't want to move
Sharon, KC1YR and Lee, KA1USL for the TNC, amp and cash to help pay for the freon recycling
Danny, T93M for being our man on the "inside" when it comes to antennas
Anne, N1ECI and Paul, N1DGT for the new shack computer, laser printer and web maintenance
Bev, N1LOO for the mailing labels and the new hot water pot
Jim, N1XAS for the TNC, and the radio
Jim, W1EQW for the storage space in his barn
Dennis, KE6DPL for maintaining the repeater
Martin, AA1ON for the space in the garage, and allowing us to invade his personal life whenever the node goes down
Bob, W1RH for the radios, the drill, the foam and for having the best junkbox in the club
Robert, N1UVA for his truck and his muscles, and the great job he does on the Circuit
Peter, W1VAB for the freezer and the relays
George, N1XAN for the relays, resistors, and taking one last crack at the amp
All the people who bring food!
And, of course, to all the others I don't know about or couldn't remember.
Your offers of help and equipment make FARA a better club. You can all take pride in what we have accomplished, and give yourselves a pat on the back!