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 Previous: CNCS Emergency Communication Training Grant News |  Next: QRP Community: Low Power Visits the Low Bands (Part 1 of 2) |
By Doug Daniels, K1RDD
January 6, 2004
Difficult band conditions didn't deter a group of Massachusetts hams from having a great time at the Boston Marathon.
We affectionately dubbed our special event station, after securing the call sign K1M, "Kilometer 1 Marathon," as we were transmitting from Hopkinton, Massachusetts at the start of the 107th running of the Boston Marathon.
 The author holds down the main operating position during the K1M special event. [Larry McCoskery, AG1C, Photo] |
Using equipment from the Southboro Rod and Gun Club ARC station, W1SRG, we got everything set up and ready to go on the Saturday before the Marathon. The duration of our use of the special event call K1M, obtained with coordination by the ARRL VEC group, was for Monday, April 21, UTC, meaning we could begin operating Sunday night at 8 PM EDT. The group wondered if we'd make any contacts the next day, it being Easter Sunday. We soon found out the answer, as two hours into the event we had already logged over 100 QSOs, even though band conditions were not great. At 2 AM Monday morning, after a lengthy ragchew with a fine gentleman from Oklahoma, we decided to shut down and get a couple hours of sleep before the sun, and hopefully the bands, came up.
Two Bands are Better than None
But the bands never really did come up. I had advertised specific frequencies of operation for 10, 15, 20 and 80 meters. 10 meters was wishful thinking, as we never made a contact, and 80 meters, where we hoped to make most of our New England contacts, had an S7 noise level the entire time, allowing only two hard-earned contacts. I decided to start on 15 meters and made a half dozen contacts right away. Larry McCoskery, AG1C, got on 20 meters and made a number of contacts, as well. Then, after we were spotted on the packet network, it was off to the races. Although bands conditions were painful, 20 meters emerged as the best band to work, so we designated our primary station for it. Using a Yaesu FT-1000MP transceiver followed by an Alpha 89 amplifier running at 1500 W to a HexBeam antenna, the reports of "booming signal" put smiles on our faces.
Going with the Flow
Many people we talked to on the air were quite enthused about the special event. Some even had interesting personal stories to tell about themselves, family or friends who were running or had run the Boston Marathon. We also talked to operators who were involved with other marathon events. Probably the biggest question we got asked was, "Are you guys running?" Our stock reply would be "Just from the microphone to the refrigerator and back!"
I'd have to say my biggest thrill was having New Zealand
and Australian stations waiting in a pileup; it was nice to be on the other end
of that situation for once. Throughout the event, we seemed to alternate
between ragchew mode and contesting mode, based on both the band conditions and
the mood the contact and we were in--we had rates of 12 QSOs per hour, all the
way up to 66 per hour. Some operators had seen our notice about the event in QST,
while others just happened upon us. While many were happy to just say hello and
move on down the band, quite a number were enthused about the QSL certificate
we are offering. We even provided a new county (Middlesex County,
Massachusetts) for one contact in the process of qualifying for a worked all
counties award.
 Those making contact with K1M received a handsome certificate. |
Near and Far
Despite the conditions, we were able to have contact with amateur stations on all continents but Antarctica. There were also more than a few mobile stations making contact with us, many with quite good signals. During one contact with a mobile station, after mentioning that her signal was particularly strong for a mobile, she said, "We should be--we're about a mile away from you on the Massachusetts Turnpike!" Then she asked if I'd stay on while her husband made a contact with us, too. This was common as operators would run and get other family members so they could make their own contact. I also noticed clubs, specifically one in the Czech Republic, lining members up to make the contact.
We had a great 24 hours and immediately talked about doing it again next year. For anyone interested in getting a 1x1 special event call sign, it is easy to do. All the information you need is at the ARRL Web site.
Doug Daniels, K1RDD, has been licensed as an Amateur
Radio operator since 2001 and holds an Amateur Extra license. He's an
Accredited Volunteer Examiner, an Assistant Emergency Coordinator for
Administration and serves as a RACES operator. Daniels is a member of FISTS and
the Yankee Clipper Contest Club. A resident of Westboro, Massachusetts, he can
be reached via e-mail.
| Previous: CNCS Emergency Communication Training Grant News | Next: QRP Community: Low Power Visits the Low Bands (Part 1 of 2) |
