07/26/2003 | N5ESE N5ESE (w/ N2KTY) Field Day
An early morning start gave us time to avoid the June Texas sun while antenna raising and helped ensure that our QRP/battery powered station was functional & interconnected before starting time. Our 40m inverted Vee, suspended by a 30' fiberglass pole & homemade quadpod, was fed by hand-made open ladder line. Murphy, of Murphy's Law fame, kept us on our toes. Fortunately, extra connectors, spare accessories, a butane soldering pencil and modest ingenuity sent him on his way. The main radio was a very smart Elecraft K-1, with occasional use of an AT-Sprint x'ceiver housed in an Altoids box.. For other bands beyond 40m, we creatively reconfigured the feed line as the vertical radiating element, with short radials on the ground to act as a counterpoise. All antenna/band configurations were confirmed ahead of time & tuner positions recorded as backup to the K1's built in tuner. Operation was from a card table, under a shady stand of trees, protected further by a canvas tarp. Nighttime operation was supplemented with several well-placed white LED lamps and a fluorescent camp lamp which was surprisingly clean of RFI. We were an easy stone's throw from Lake Travis shore & enjoyed the view, and a dip during breaks. With less than 5 watts, we were able to amply work both coasts, and contacts in Canada as well as 1 DX contact with Cuba. Entire weekend was driven off of one 7AH gel cell. QRP FD, what a way to go! -- N5ESE