QRP TTF is a Norcal QRP Club sponsered event which encourages QRPers to trek out to the field and operate. This year's theme was 'Run to the Borders' so operating from state borders gave a multiplier (based on the number of states your border has). The extra twist this year was to count a Taco Bell restaurant as a 'border.'
I went to the border of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia for a great 3x multiplier. On the Maryland side of the border is Maryland Heights in the Harpers Ferry National Historic Park. I was able to get some height (~300m) while having a great view of the Potomac river and Va & WVa.
Hiking up to the site took a bit more time (and effort!) than I had hoped. I finally made it to the site around 16:30 utc. I pulled out my trusty sling-shot to get a line in the trees but then realized that I forgot to pack the low weight string! I tried to tie the antenna wire to the fishing weight, but I was only able to shoot it about 20 feet. So, I was reduced to tying a rock at the end of the antenna and hurling it into the trees. I did pretty well and got an end about 40 ft up. I then laid a counterpoise on the ground, hooked up the tuner fish, battery, headphones, and paddles to the Sierra and was ready to go in 30 minutes. So, I missed the first hour of the contest.
I operated for about 4 hours and logged 25 contacts. What fun! 20m had some major qsb/fading, 15m was weak, and 40m provided the bulk of the qso's. I worked stations all over the US (heard EG1AN but no joy). I packed up when I ran out of Fig Newtons and my butt had had enough of sitting on the portable stool.
The qso count is a bit low, but I had too much fun to let that bother me -- and I now have a number to surpass next year. At least I worked the 4 corners (KK6MC) and one Taco Bell station (K8IQY).
I like the Maryland Height park so much that I may go back there for the Flight of the Bubblebees in July (I am bee #29). I wonder what the other bug situation will be like in July in the woods...
The log:
KD3FG QRP to the Field! | ||||
April 24, 1999 | ||||
Maryland Heights -- MD/VA/WV Border | ||||
Harpers Ferry National Historic Park (x4 Multi Field Location) | ||||
time | call | rec/sent | state(s) | freq |
17:15 | W4DEC | 559/559 | AL | 14.059 |
17:32 | N4DD | 559/559 | TN/NC/VA | 7.043 |
17:36 | AE4IC | 229/559 | NC | 7.040 |
17:50 | AA8PJ | 439/559 | OH | 7.045 |
17:54 | K1CL | 449/559 | MA/NH | 7.041 |
18:15 | K8IQY | 519/539 | MI/TB | 7.038 |
18:23 | WB0WQS | 579/559 | MO | 14.060 |
18:28 | W5ON | 559/559 | AR/MO | 14.059 |
18:36 | KC0M | 449/579 | MO | 14.058 |
18:52 | N5OE | 559/559 | MO | 14.061 |
19:15 | N7KE | 559/559 | WA | 21.061 |
19:20 | W7TAO | 339/539 | AZ | 21.060 |
19:30 | W3BTN | 559/559 | PA | 7.041 |
19:40 | KO4WX | 559/559 | GA/SC | 7.040 |
19:45 | KT4KS | 559/559 | VA | 7.040 |
19:50 | N1PWU | 559/559 | RI | 7.043 |
19:55 | KE4IZH | 559/559 | VA | 7.043 |
19:57 | K1EYY | 569/559 | CT | 7.043 |
20:04 | W8TIM | 549/549 | ME | 7.043 |
20:09 | AE2T | 579/559 | NY/VE2 | 7.043 |
20:35 | W5ON | 559/559 | AR/MO | 14.060 |
20:43 | KD7AEE | 599/599 | UT | 14.061 |
20:55 | KK6MC | 559/539 | CO/NM/AZ/UT | 14.060 |
21:07 | K8CV | 559/559 | MI | 7.044 |
21:11 | N0UR | 599/559 | WI/MN/IA | 7.043 |
Total: 195 (QSO Points) x 4 (Field) x 28 (Unique
SPCs) x 3 (MD/VA/WV)
== 65,520