Our equipment is the same as it has been for several years: FT-817 for the IF, DB6NT transverter and 2 watt amplifier feeding an 18” DirecTV dish.

For Saturday of the August weekend we went to our favorite spot: Mt. Kearsarge, NH (FN43bj). By the time we arrived, W1FKF, N1JFU and W1EX were already there and had made several QSOs. We set up quickly and made a few QSOs, but we weren’t hearing quite as well as the others or as well as we thought we should. Don, W1FKF inspected our rig and suggested replacing a suspicious piece of cable with a spare that he had – and right away we could hear as well as expected. Thanks, Don! We faced a long drive home so we packed up a little ahead of the three stalwarts. We ended up with 23 QSOs from Kearsarge, the best DX being 323 km to K2KIB in FN21qh.

Sunday we had planned to accept an invitation to operate from the Talcott Mountain Science Center (TMSC) in Avon, CT that had been arranged by Don Wilson, K1IN. Unfortunately, it was pouring rain and we had no provisions for shelter so we had to cancel.

On Saturday of the September weekend we had family obligations, but on Sunday were able to use the “rain check” at TMSC (FN31ot). Old Timers will remember this as the location of the Talcott Mountain UHF Society, WA1IOX, which was very active in the late 60s and early 70s. Don, K1IN is spearheading a restoration of Amateur Radio at TMSC; there is now a club station, W1TMS, and new antennas are about to be installed. In addition to Don we were joined by Josh, AC1N, Bill, AB1LZ, and Woody, W1SL, from the Bloomfield Amateur Radio Club, and Ralph, KB1KUB, a teacher at Windsor High School. 

For 10 GHz we operated from a circular deck at the highest point on the site, about 940 feet above sea level with a clear shot in most directions. Unfortunately, the trees around the TMSC property have grown a bit in 40 years and what used to be a spectacular view to the northeast is now blocked. The same problem arises when beaming straight north, toward Mt. Greylock and the Vermont peaks. We made some QSOs in those directions but they were more difficult because of the foliage.

Our best DX from TMSC was W3SZ in Reading, PA (FN20ag) at 317 km. Roger’s signal was barely a whisper most of the time, but came up enough on peaks to complete a QSO. In 4-1/2 hours of operating we made 20 QSOs in 8 states and 8 grids from FN31ot, which exceeded our expectations.

Special thanks to Don, K1IN, and to TMSC Executive Director Jonathan Craig for granting us permission to operate. – Linda, KA1ZD and 2nd op Dave, K1ZZ