KA1AXY's QRP to the Field - 1998
"Run for the Borders"
KA1AXY at the border!
This year's theme was "Run for the Borders". This contest
seemed to be the perfect excuse to visit the "triple
point", where three states meet, only about an hour from my home.
I stopped by and scouted the site a few months ago. I piled all my
gear into a backpack, strapped a beach chair and a piece of plywood to
the back, and hiked in about 3/4 of a mile from the road, down an old railroad
bed and a dirt bike trail to the monument. Plenty of trees to use
as antenna supports. I think I chose a spot "close enough" to the
border, but I made sure to locate my inverted vee so that one end was in
Rhode Island, one end was in Connecticut, and the apex (and the operating
location) was in Massachusetts. It was a bit brisk, probably around
50, and you get very cold just sitting and doing
nothing, so I only operated three hours of the contest.
W1RH came by on a family hike and took these pictures.
Here's a closeup of my operating table.
I didn't use any fancy logging software, my antenna tuner is not exactly
small, and the keyer is only outweighed by the two Vise-Grip clamps I used
to hold my table. I also developed a great deal of respect for N6KR's
SST. I operated on 7040 +/-, and made 10 contacts. I had lots
of fun, even though my code was a bit rusty. Next time, I'll bring
lots more warm clothing, so I don't have to dress in a trash bag.
The head net is to discourage the black flies, which were plentiful.