W2LJ QRP .... Do More With Less

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The weather

Posted: 28 Dec 2016 10:07 AM PST
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The weather outlook for an NPOTA activation or two on Saturday is looking
good. While a lot of the Northeast is bracing for a major hit of snow
tomorrow, we're supposed to get only rain in Central NJ. It's supposed to
clear out Thursday night into Friday and Saturday is forecast to be sunny
and clear with a high of about 38F (3C). Chilly, to be sure - but warmer
than my first activation of TR23 last January.

I have a commitment at 5:00 PM, so if I'm going to do two activations, both
HP28 and TR23, I am going to have to get an early start. If all goes
according to plan (and when does THAT ever happen?), I hope to be out of
the house by 9:00 AM and up at Morristown National Historical Park by 10:00
Am or thereabouts. I am planning on bringing the magloop and giving it a
full blown workout. Of course, the Buddistick, Hmastick and my normal
arsenal of end fed wires will come along for the trip, too. No sense in
leaving home the antennas that you brought to the dance with you before.

TR23 and HP28 come together for a 2-fer from one small part of the park.
You can see the trail in the following screen shot - it's represented by
the red line.


It's hard to be IN the park and still within 100 feet of the trail. As you
can see from the map, there are no roads which lead to easy access of TR23
from within HP28 by car. All the service roads in the park are more that
100 feet away from the trail; and to be honest with you, I don't have the
luxury of time for going for a hike. So in keeping with being on the up
and up, I will probably do them separately.
Now here's something I just learned today which is fascinating. I always
knew there were two parts to the trail, where the two Generals split up for
a bit before rejoining up. Trail One is the one that General Washington
took and is the one that runs close to my house that I've activated twice
already.
Trail Two is the one that General Rochambeau used. This one runs right
through Washington Valley Park which is also the site of the Middlebrook
Encampment, where Continental Army troops wintered and where the first
United States flag ever flew. In fact, the Middlebrook Encampment is the
only place in the United States, where by an Act of Congress, that the
original 13 star "Betsy Ross" flag is officially allowed to fly 24 hours a
day, 365 days a year.

It's not all that far from Washington Rock State Park (and home), so maybe
I will set up there for a couple hours after returning from HP28. If I can
activate HP28 from about 10:00 AM to Noon (1500 - 1700 UTC) and then TR23
from about 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM (1800 - 2000 UTC) that will still get me home
in time to make my commitment and still finish up before NPOTA ends at 2359
UTC.
Ambitious plans usually get messed up for me. We'll see what happens.
72 de Larry W2LJQRP - When you care to send the very least!


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New Year's Day Sprint

Posted: 28 Dec 2016 05:37 AM PST
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From the QRP-ARCI folks:


2017 QRP-ARCI(sm) NEW YEARS DAY SPRINT

http://www.qrparci.org

Date/Time:
1500Z to 1800Z on 1 January 2017.

Mode:
HF CW only.

Exchange:
Members send: RST, State/Province/Country, ARCI member number Non-Members
send: RST, State/Province/Country, Power Out

QSO Points:
Member = 5 points Non-Member, Different Continent = 4 points Non-Member,
Same Continent = 2 points

Multiplier:
SPC (State/Province/Country) total for all bands. The same station may be
worked on multiple bands for QSO points and SPC credit.

Power Multiplier:
5 Watts = x1
1 - 5 Watts = x7
250 mW - 1 Watt = x10
55 mW - 250 mW = x15

Suggested Frequencies:
80m 3560 kHz 40m 7030 kHz 20m 14060 kHz 15m 21060 kHz 10m 28060 kHz

Bonus Points:
If you are operating PORTABLE using battery power AND a temporary antenna,
add 5000 points to your final score. (You can NOT be at your shack
operating from battery power using your home station antenna to qualify for
this bonus.) This is to help level the playing field for contesters who
work from the field against contest stations with 5 element yagis at 70 ft.

Sco
Final Score = Points (total for all bands) x SPCs (total for all bands) x
Power Multiplier + Bonus Points

Categories:
Entry may be All-Band, Single Band, High Bands (10m-15m-20m) or Low Bands
(40m-80m)

How to Participate:
Get on any of the HF bands except the WARC bands and hang out near the QRP
frequencies. Work as many stations calling CQ QRP or CQ TEST as possible,
or call CQ QRP or CQ TEST yourself! You can work a station for credit once
on each band.

Log Submission:
Submit your entry online at http://www.qrpcontest.com
Log sheets are not required for entry, but may be requested by the Contest
Manager if required.

Deadline:

Entries must be postmarked on or before 15 January 2017.

Results:
Will be published in QRP Quarterly and shown on the QRP-ARCI website.

Certificates:
Will be awarded to the top five scoring entrants.

New Year's Day is pretty much a non-event for me. It's a holiday that I
just can't get excited about, other than having the day off. Another trip
around the Sun. Big deal. But this may provide a few hours worth of fun if
same said Sun cooperates.

72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP - When you care to send the very least!