Blue Lake Info spacespaespacespacespace Event Info spacespaespacespacespacess Contest Info

UPDATE 03-17-08
Happy Saint Patricks Day!
Contest page has been added, all rules and scoring criteria will be posted at the park. Many local hams have been emailed an invitation to participate. Please pass the word, I sure would hate to be setting in the park by myself. hmmm... I guess that would mean I win all the prizes.

UPDATE 03-11-08
Additional web pages have been either added or updated. Photos of park location have been added to the Blue Lake Info page. The Event Info page has been expanded. Tthe Contest Info page will be updated by the 15th.

UPDATE 03-07-08
A final decision has been made as to location. The first Portable in the Park will be held at the Blue Lake Regional Park in Oregon. This park is located just off of Marine Drive at 223rd Avenue near Gresham, Oregon. A covered shelter with picnic tables, electric power and a barbeque will be provided, so if it rains, we can still operate without getting equipment wet. There is no cost to participate, but the park does charge a $4.00 entrance fee to each vehicle entering the park. Parking will be near the shelter as well.

UPDATE 02-17-08
Last week we had only two locations suggested. Now we have at least 10 locations. On Monday the 24th of February I'll be visiting several locations to pick one suitable for the first rally.

Original Annoucement January 2008

Hi All,

Here is my idea on the subject.

In April, I am thinking of hosting a ham event. Nothing spectacular, just a get together event for people that like to operate or want to try to operate portable. I am calling it "Portable in the Park" The idea being that anyone interested in portable operation meet up at a specified park and operate. Bring along a picnic lunch and the family too. Right now I'm thinking that a Saturday would be the best day. My first choice is the Saturday April 26 from 10am till 4pm, with anyone interested stopping by at any time between those hours.

I'm thinking of having a little contest to see who could get the most "miles per watt" QSO. This would allow the QRPers to compete with the QRO guys. How, some may ask, well 1,000 miles divided by 100 watts equals a 10, but a 55 mile contact with 5 watts equals a 11. The 5 watt station had more miles per watt than the higher powered station. But lets say that 5w station made a CW contact on HF 1,500 miles away, that would be a 300. Got the idea about miles per watt? The potential advantage goes to the QRP station that is running on HF using CW.

For the event I am wanting to operate ATV for local coverage through the ATV repeater. Plus have a station setup running 100 watts on HF. With a QRP rig running around on HF/VHF. Hmmm, I'll need to get a generator or a couple more marine batteries.

What I need is feedback on the idea in general as well as suggestions for location. While I say "Park" it could be just a spacious field (with the owners permission of course). It should be within less than a one hour driving range within the Portland-Vancouver area. A local community park might fit the bill as well.

If there were only 23 QRP entries in the last VHF contest, probably not that many adventurers in the Portland-Vancouver area. But who knows?

Anyway I await your input.

73
Marv, WA7MLD