The sun was shining bright today. So bright that the caravan was like an oven. My Chinese paddle could not withstand the heat.
Paddle melted by the sun
Ameland on the air. Campsite QRV
Today I finally managed to put up my mini end fed antenna for 40, 20 and 10 meters. First QSO still to be made. Waiting for the bands to get back alive after a weekend full of Aurora.
Travel case for Rigexpert Stick 230
Something that really was bothering me was the fact that the Rigexpert Stick 230 was not protected while traveling to a POTA spot. I came across this protective case for an electric toothbrush at Alie Express. The Rigexpert Stick fits nicely in the hard shell case. There is even room for some small connectors or cable.
Perfect POTA Pole
Perfect POTA Pole
Did I really find the Perfect POTA Pole? I already have this 7 meter long fishing pole which I tend to use when going out for POTA or WWFF activations. Collapsed for transport this pole is 114 cm. At the same company where I bought this one they also have a 6 meter travel pole with a transport length of 56 cm. I really like the decreased transport length since I will be using this pole when travelling either by bike or foot. It can easily be attached to my backpack. Check the pole out here.
The tip of the pole
Did I mention the orange tip? Not yet so it seems. The orange tip on top of the pole has a sliding tube where you easily can attach your antenna wire and securing it just by sliding it back to the top. Might come in very handy.
Guying the pole
And you know what’s best? My guying set (see my previous post) fits like a glove to this one as well. Happy HAM.
Guying ring for POTA use
I tend to use a 7 meter fishing pole from Decathlon as antenna mast when being out in the field for POTA or WWFF. Until today I was using a parasol herring as base pin for the mast. Today I finished this project consisting of a guying ring with a 32 mm hole in the middle and three additional holes for guy lines. This ring slides over the second part of the pole and thus resting on the first part. Guying it of to three places with lines and pegs and you are good to go. The item is made of a piece of cutting board bought at the Action for € 0.69. The guy lines and pegs were bought at Gamma.
Altogether this is lighter solution for travelling.
Some additional photo’s:
PAFF-0073 Ameland, March 11 2023
My third activation. This time walking 1 kilometer to end up in the forest area of Ameland. PAFF-0073. A strong wind wiped over the island when I found a reasonably sheltered spot in the woods next to a lake.
Determined with the help of Google Maps and Easy QTH locator (iPhone app) that I had ended up in the designated area. After I set up the antenna and set up the set found a frequency. Ian, G7HFS/M was kind enough to relinquish 7,144 to me. After a few calls, Kurt, ON4CB came back for me. Then it was eerily silent. While explaining to an unsuspecting passerby what I was doing I changed frequency and ended up at 14.244. There neatly asked if the frequency was in use. I received no response to that. After a number of calls, a station 9++ came in to tell me ( instructed me) to stop transmitting because he had been on or around that frequency for 9 hours. When asked for his callsign I was only told to stop transmitting. So much for the gentleman in amateur land. Because no one had come back in the meantime and I also had something better to do, I broke things up again and went home. I enjoyed being in nature.
Lessons learned. Do not activate in a contest weekend…….
PAFF-0160 Solleveld Kapittelduinen, 8 February 2023
My second activation. for the WWFF program. This time 16 kilometers by bike to end up in the dune area of Monster. PAFF-0160. A sunny day, 3 degrees but in the dunes in the sun just nice and warm.
At the location, of course, I first checked whether I had ended up in the designated area. Set up the antenna with a view of the sea. Adjusted my EFHW with about 20 meters of wire and a 49:1 UNUN with the Rigexpert Stick and then put the XIEGU X6100 on listening mode to see if I could get a free spot. This was on 7.135 kHz. After calling CQ a number of times, an offer came. A small pile-up soon followed. After half an hour I went to 20 meters. Tuned to 14.244 kHz, the pile-up was slightly larger. After an hour of work I was able to log 55 stations.
Worth repeating again.
WWFF | World wide Flora Fauna | Make nature your shack
This one is for me. I like to be out in the open and I like to play radio. Best of both worlds in WWFF. Despite cold (or hot for that matter) weather bugs and sand all over the place I really enjoy putting up an antenna in the field ,on the beach, in a park and make nature my shack. And if not outside hunt other activators for some “awards”. But why not one program that fits all? I mean POTA, VOTA, IOTA, MOTA, WWFF and probably a lot more. C’mon we can do better!
PD0RZH/P, PAFF-0162, Meijendel & Berkheide, 4 october 2022
Today I did a WWFF activation for the first time. First 20 kilometers by bike to end up in the dune area of Meijendel, PAFF-0162. Super nice weather, beautiful skies and a nice sun were my share.
Arriving at the location, first set up the antenna. A 7m rod with the EFHW attached was in a poop and a sigh. The set, the Xiegu X6100, docked and called CQ at 40 meters. Soon the first hunters came into the air. After DK7UDO put some things on the cluster, there was a pile-up. I had never experienced this. Comfortable, because then you are in control I could finish the stations one by one.
After an hour or two with a break here and there for a brew and a sandwich I was able to break off and go back home. Can someone wipe that smile off my face?