KE8DET@K-3322-20231126

Activation at K-3322 Pinkney Recreation Area

Overview

Date: 20231126

Who: KE8DET

Where: K-3322 Pinkney Recreation Area

WX: 34°F, Snowing. Approximately 1" accumulation

Overall, this was a successful activation with 11 contacts made. I could have been more successful, however I did make some mistakes.This was also an opportunity to test a new antenna I have been working on, using inexpensive extendable antenna extensions from AliExpress and a 3d-printed balun enclosure.

Successes

  1. I did successfully activate with 11 contacts.
  2. I did have one full battery. (I checked both, and though the voltage was OK on both. Dear reader, it was not).
  3. I can successfully operate from the front seat of the Tacoma.
  4. I brought a back-up antenna.
  5. I got out of the house and did some radio. It was a beautiful snowy day. This was it’s own reward, regardless of how POTA went.

Challenges

  1. I did not charge both batteries fully before leaving.
  2. I did not bring the iPad travel go bag, even though I thought about doing so.
  3. I broke the prototype antenna I was testing.
  4. Next time, I need to wear wool or an artificial layer next to my skin. My back got wet, probably due to snow, which left me chilly.5. I need to go out more than once a year, it had been almost 11 full months since my last activation.

Reflections

Charge the batteries

I have no excuse for this one - just charge both batteries. It was a silly mistake, but thankfully did not cost me the outing. I am also considering rebuilding the pack as one battery, or making a third pack with more capacity. Having separate batteries are nice if one needs to run more than one device, but it is not great for solo ops. There are also drawbacks to dividing it into 8ah of capacity. I may take a queue from a friend of mine and now that I have built a pack, and the cost of cells is not too bad for higher capacity cells, just build a bigger pack.

iPad travel bag

I log using the HAMRS app. It has some very nice things, especially for POTA, like showing current spots and copying that into the logging window if you work that person. While paper and pencil do not run out of batteries, I like the convenience it brings. Plus, if I am in cell coverage, I often upload the logs before I even leave the park. The simple fact of the matter is that I should have just grabbed the bag, plain and simple, because the bag has a Zendure SuperTank, cables, etc. Everything I need to keep the iPad going longer than I can go on an activation.

I broke the prototype antenna

This one is probably the most preventable mistake I made. I currently use an extending mast that sits in a mount I built which slides into the receiver on my truck. I usually put the pin through the hitch, even though I don’t worry about the antenna slipping out on its own. I still do not worry about this.

However.

Today I decided not to put in the pin.

If one decides to move the truck forward, in the direction that the mount can easily slide out of the receiver, and the hitch pin is not securing the hitch to the receiver… the mount will become detached from the truck. And my 6" of forward movement, became 20’ of downward movement for the prototype antenna. It did not survive.

Do not cut corners. I was lucky that I was alone, and there was no-one around (though if it had been any busier I hope I’d have possessed the wherewithal to put the pin in). No-one was hurt. It fell straight perpendicular to my truck. The property damage was limited to the antenna, and the mast was fine. But I know better.

Don’t cut corners, I was lucky - learn from my luck and save yourself a bigger issue. Future me, if you are reading this, take heed.

Layering

This was basic winter layering for snowy areas. Cotton holds moisture. It does not keep you warm when wet. I know better, and was not in danger. I was a little uncomfortable.

Practice

I need to get out more. Many of my operational mistakes would have been remedied if I did this more.

Final thoughts

Today was a good day, despite my mishaps. And I learned a couple of things:

  1. I like my mast/truck setup, but it is a bit challenging to continuously put up and down. The antenna I was experimenting with would have required this with each band change - there was no getting around that, as it was built. Using this, I can refine the idea and either make it a tuner only antenna by avoiding resonant lengths, or I’ll need to go back to the drawing board a bit and rethink it. Learning is good!
  2. I really do like my setup with a multi-band dipole, the mast, and the truck. I have used it many times now in an inverted-V configuration and it is nice. Combined with a tuner I can go up and down the bands, hunt, activate, and I don’t need to mess around. If I have convenient trees, it will work just as well there.

So, today was a mixed bag, but I’m focusing on the positive and thankful that nothing serious came of it.

If you would like to know more about anything I wrote about, or have any comments, you can find me on mastodon @jevidl@ono-sendai.jevidl.net