These Loops Are Made For Walking

These loops are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do one of these days these loops are gonna ... you know the rest!

Of course I am referring to the WalkHam Loop from AlexLoop.

Today, my lunch ops were a test of a semi pedestrian mobile setup. The AlexLoop is carried on a pole with a spike that can be stood up on the turf. The Elecraft KX3 and Tenergy battery are in cases on my belt supported by shoulder straps. I am using a headset to keep my hands free. I worked Randy W6OAR in CA and two local hams Charlie N4DPU and Frank KS4IO. They meet on 21.255 around lunch. I also worked CS8ABA in the Azores. He gave me a weak report but we exchanged all the info.

I was testing this configuration for the first session of RaDAR America coming on April 6th. I am going to be moving on foot between locations and I think this combination will work fine. You don't have to make contacts in motion but you must move .6 miles for every 5 contacts. I am looking favorably at being at St. Andrews State Park in Panama City Beach FL. I can operate from the pier, beach, and  picnic areas which are spread out in the park. Please consider operating one of the many categories for RaDAR America.

Alex Loop on pole with a ground spike.

Tenergy 10AH LiFe battery in case.

KX3 in LowePro Edit 140 case with top removed.

Operator with a Microsoft headset

RaDAR Love

We've got a thing that's called Radar Love We've got a wave in the air, Radar Love

Lyrics from eLyrics.net

Rapidly Deployable Amateur Radio (RaDAR) 

I am looking forward to participating in the The RaDAR-America contest as Pedestrian Mobile April 6. See the complete rules and join me.

The RaDAR-America contest is an event aimed at promoting the use of Rapidly Deployable Amateur Radio stations throughout North and South America. This contest is for all licensed radio amateurs. A choice is made prior to the contest to participate in one of the defined categories. The points system is so structured as to encourage portable operation, especially moveable stations. The rule structure is very close to that formulated by the founder of the contest idea: Eddie ZS6BNE This contest will take place at the same time in South Africa (the Nation from which the idea originated), as it will here in the Americas.

The contest periods are the first Saturday of April and first Saturday of November starting at 14:00 UTC and ending at 18:00 UTC  (4 hours).

See http://radar-america.blogspot.com/

http://radar-america.blogspot.com/

Operating at Red Cross Home Expo

The Panama City ARC had a booth at the Red Cross sponsored Home Expo this weekend. I brought the KX3 and Alexloop for show. On Saturday, I tried to operate in the confines of a metal building. I could hear a few signals but no luck getting out. Sunday, I set up outside next to the Red Cross truck. I had a great day! I checked into SouthCARS 7.251 net and Maritime Mobile net 14.300. I had three Wisconsin QSO party contacts on 20 SSB. It just turned out the SKCC Weekend Sprint was on and I worked MO X 2, TX, CT X 2,  MA X 2, VA and  OK on 20 meters. Then I worked CA and AZ on 15 meters. This included a QSO with W1AW working the Weekend Sprint. This was another confidence builder for the Alexloop and KX3 combo as a minimal portable setup. The show patrons seemed most interested in the code and a couple could copy code from their military experience. Marv KK4DKT, Don KK4DWC and Harold KF4YDO did a great job of talking up Ham Radio at the booth.

KK4DWC in chair, KK4DKT Club President and N4KGL in the back.

Alexloop and KX3 setup next to the Red Cross truck.