06/27/2006 | WF2V This year the family decided to go camping instead of me setting up a massive FD operation in my back field. My wife Sue, KB2FGO encouraged me to set up a station from our camp site. We stayed at the Villages RV Park in Vernon, NY. http://turningstone.com/lodging/rvpark/
It is a very nice camp ground well suited for kids.

After a very leisurely set up, WF2V 1B was up and running FB. A few bugs which a soldering iron solved and it was time to have my own form of fun.

I used a High Sierra screwdriver antenna mounted to one of my vehicles, and I laid out a good counterpoise. The set-up worked great, but not as well as a good dipole on 40 & 80, but it worked! CW was fine, but SSB was a bit low on the signal when competing with the big boys.

All in all, a great weekend, beautiful weather, easy set-up, fun, and I even got to explain ham radio to a few very curious campers. I noticed that the general public *does* understand the value of amateur radio, given the recent flooding disasters. I was pleased to see this, as well as the interest from others.

Len WF2V 1B WNY -- WF2V