FLARQ reception reports for today.

Had one connection via FLARQ with PSK31 to Canada today, two US stations who emailed me that they would like to connect, but that we were likely too close for the 14 MHz band to allow this since they did not see my signal.
As can be seen by the attached screen capture taken from pskreporter.info, many stations heard me via PSK31. Regrettably, FLARQ was unable to keep the connection with the Canadian station up and running, the connection was just too bad.
Noticed during my short conversation, that the message pane in FLARQ is quite short, not allowing longer sentences. Guess it was not constructed for long chats :)

FLARQ reception reports for today.

No stations connected to my beacon over a period of approximately 7 hours, at least I did not register any successful attempts. But, look at the reception reports posted on pskreporter.info, the furthest contact I made with PSK31 was 4997 miles! I find that amazing.

Hope you will connect to me via FLARQ tomorrow, for today I've shut down my station.

vy 73 de Marcus KD0JKM

FLARQ

Operating FLARQ this weekend.

Mode: ............BPSK31
Frequency: ....on or around 14071.0 kHz.
Transceiver: ..Barrett 2090
Antenna: .......Buxcomm 7510CF2TD
Power: ..........10W
Time: ............as long as I sit in my chair to supervise my rig :)
Software: ......FLDIGI on OSX with FLARQ
Software found here: http://www.w1hkj.com/Fldigi.html

Hope to meet you on air!

73 de Marcus KD0JKM

QTH locator : EM35MC

QTH locator : EM35MC   or   "lessons learned from using a whip antenna with low branches"

Had a great day hiking in Petit Jean State Park in Arkansas, weather could not have been any better

hiked along the Canyon Trail, which although it is considered "easy" was quite tricky at times due to several trees having fallen across the trail. 

Had my 2090 in the backpack with the whip antenna attached, no counterpoise (would have caught in the underbrush). The whip got quite a beating from low branches and I had feared that the antenna might get bent, but had confidence that the flexible adaptor between the 2090 and the antenna would prevent this. What I did not expect was that the multiple beatings on the antenna would exert a circular force an the antenna and its adaptor, so that the screw in mechanism would work itself free and lead to complete detachment of the flexible antenna from the base. Nearly lost the antenna that way! 

Forgot to mention that I had 2 great QSOs today on the HFPack 20m frequencies while on my approx. 3 hour walk, one to Yellowstone National Park, the other to Pennsylvania. I found it most surprising that I was able to keep up conversations considering that I was in a canyon. A small canyon but nonetheless essentially not allowing direct line of sight with the horizon, especially when considering that I was underneath a high tree canopy. 

I regret that I had to cut both contacts somewhat short due to me having to pay attention to not losing my footing on the trail and/or due to having to work out how to get back on trail, being slightly lost at one stage. Have to also thank my XYL that I could work my transceiver nearly all the way, considering that it was "our time"!

For the future I have a tape antenna on my "to purchase" list, being well aware that it's radiation pattern is even more of a compromise...

73 de Marcus KD0JKM

AT-1743 dipole antenna

AT-1743

Used my AT-1743 Tactical Dipole this weekend. Learned that  one has to be meticulous about slipping the antenna wire into the slots provided on the storage boards after choosing the desired frequency. After my initial set up, I thought I'd just play it safe and let my internal tuner look at the SWR, although theoretically, I should not have needed the internal ATU for the quasi tuned Dipole antenna. But low and behold, the SWR was through the roof. Turned out that one of the wires had slipped and unraveled itself out of the storage board, resulting in a non-tuned setup. After correction, I was able to reach CO and NY from AR with 30W on 20m.

Nice learning point, nice contacts = fun operating! And my XYL meanwhile enjoyed our picnic together, what could be better :)

My review of the AT-1743 at this time:
Plus: tuned Dipole antenna for any frequency
Minus: Weight... which is however due to the high quality wire, which is long enough for a tuned 2MHz Dipole, so is this really a minus? The reader may decide.

vy 73 de Marcus KD0JKM

80' horizontal grass loop antenna: excellent for 60m

K3MT'S Grasswire antenna idea transferred to a 80' (24.38m) horizontal loop?
I am thinking of trying out an 80 foot horizontal loop antenna at near grass-level on field day. Wish I had found some post on the Net of someone else trying it out, but found none. Any suggestions/ feedback welcome!
vy 73 de Marcus KD0JKM


Update 2012-06-22:
I tried it out today, operating SSB as KD0JKM/BP from Saint Louis, MO: 80' wire loop antenna, elevated approximately 8'' (20cm) above ground with some small poles from a DIY store, arranged in a circle, directly connected to my Barrett 2090 transceiver with 30W power. The setup was extremely fast.

Came up with an SWR of 1:1 on 5403.5 kHz USB and 1.3:1 on 5371.5 kHz USB. Thus I called CQ on these 60m frequencies and quickly made nice contact with WM9I and WB9JOX (who are 92 miles and 245 miles away from me), thank you for answering my call and the nice QSO! My signal reportedly ranged from 35 to 48.
I then tried to tune on the HFPack frequencies on 160m, 80m, 40m - but SWR "indefinite".
Was able to tune on the HFPack frequencies on 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m, 10m and had an SWR between 1.7:1 to 2.8:1, did call CQ multiple times on each frequencies, but no contact made. Did however hear CW clearly with copy of 57 to 58 and also some SSB, but SSB copy had only an RST of 25.

Did not expect to make any contacts due to my NVIS setup - but will sure try again tomorrow on Field day (of course not on the 12m, 17m, 30m and 60m bands).

Summary: 
A single wire 80' loop antenna at near grass level is a viable antenna set up for 60m SSB contacts.

vy 73 de Marcus KD0JKM


Post Field Day update:
When I tried out the above setup, the only two pedestrians walking around the park where I operated, had to walk straight through my loop antenna setup although I had marked it extremely well with orange markers as a site to avoid, nonetheless - as usual - some people are more attracted to safety markers, than to walk around them in some distance.
Since I was in more crowded locations (with my portable setup) during Field Day, I did not dare put out my loop antenna at grass level, being too afraid that someone would purposefully walk right through, trip and fall. As of yet I am unsure how to deal with this in the future. Post huge warning signs? Hardly. Suggestions welcome.
Thus, I only operated portable mobile with my whip on my manpack. Was fun!
vy 73 de Marcus KD0JKM

Random...

Operating portable today.

Was on the air for about 2 hours today, calling CQ on the HFPack frequencies, but no answer. What a shame! Was able to log into the MMSN 14300 net without a problem, reportedly with a decent signal. Operating portable with headphones is really nice, no HF hiss in the ears anymore...

vy 73 de KD0JKM