RaDAR Challenge Plans and Preparations for April 7th

I am getting excited about going to St George Island State Park for the April 7th RaDAR Challenge. I coined this venue "RaDAR Heaven" in my video below of last April's RaDAR Challenge. This year, I will be assisted by Dennis WA6QKN and Suzy. In RaDAR, you are required to make five contacts before moving to the next location. We will transition on foot and paw between stops. We will alternate between the beach on the South Shore and a picnic area on the North Shore during the four-hour window of the challenge. Well considering the loadout for antennas and gear  I will use the dog stroller. I call it the RaDAR Rover.

St George Island, of course, is surrounded by saltwater. I am counting on the "saltwater effect" for vertically polarized antennas to help with RaDAR to RaDAR DX. The beach on the Southside has a good shot over saltwater for Eddie ZS6BNE and his friends in South Africa. I tested an elevated vertical this weekend in the front yard. It uses an MFJ 1979 telescopic whip about 17 feet long. I am using a set of adjustable dipole elements as radials. We will set this antenna up right at the surf on the beach.

Bob WB4BLX, a local ham, has clued me in on a 60-meter net that operates on channel 4 in the mornings. I know several hams in the group that checks in. I tried my Gypsy dipole which is about 10 feet above the ground for 60 meters Sunday. The dipole is basically 40 through 10 meters. However, there are four feet of extra wire in each winder. I used the extra length and a tuner to get on 60 meters. I got an S-9 report from Sandy W5TVW in Lousiana. That is promising

 April 7 and 8th will also be the Florida State Parks On The Air Contest as well. The list of state parks being activated on the event website. As an activator, we can draw some contacts. It is nice to be chased. St. George Island is K-0635 for Parks On The Air POTA. A satellite pass will factor in. I have not determined which sat or pass will be timely. Working a sat is a bonus for the RaDAR Challenge and FL State Parks On The Air.



I have recommended that chasers use HamAlert. On CW, I can just CQ de N4KGL and you will be pushed a notification. On SSB I can self-spot of DXWatch.com or someone else may spot me and you will be pushed a notification. There are several notification options in HamAlert. With the on and off nature of RaDAR bear with us. If a CQ does not work I will hunt and pounce. QSOs with friends during the event are greatly appreciated. If you want to brush up on the details of RaDAR Challenge see the rules at http://radarops.co.za/index.php/radar-rules/ Join us on the air!

Our ops will be in the inset part of the map.

RaDAR on the Field Radio Podcast

Thanks to John Jacobs W7DBO for allowing me to talk about Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio and the RaDAR Challenge on his Field Radio Podcast. Take a look at all of John's podcasts and videos there. The topics are interesting for any outdoor amateur radio operator and the production is excellent. John hinted that he may go out for the April 7th RaDAR Challenge and make a video about it. Check back on Field Radio Podcast for that.

The goal of Rapid Deployment Amateur Radio (RaDAR) is to practice communication via amateur radio under difficult circumstances, in many different ways, being ever ready, and independent of external resources until it becomes second nature. The unique aspect of RaDAR is adding movement to outdoor operating. That is stations rapidly deploy, move with all necessary gear and redeploy. This is a stress test of operating capabilities but can be enjoyable and rewarding when undertaken in the great outdoors.

Thanks to Eddie ZS6BNE for originating and refining RaDAR over the years. Eddie discusses his ham radio story and RaDAR on QSO Today Episode 28. 

Eddie Leighton ZS6BNE

Check out this video Eddie and his son made.

Here are the key links for RaDAR

RaDAR Ops

http://radarops.co.za/

Google+ Community

https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/109283065808971118728

Eddie ZS6BNE Blog

https://zs6bne.wordpress.com/category/radar/

Join us for the April 7th, 2018 RaDAR Challenge!

73

Greg N4KGL

California Trip Report

Linda and I flew out to Chico, California for my youngest Daughter's wedding. So ham radio was not the top priority. Also, the weather was cold, wet, and windy for the most part. However, I did work in some operating. First of all, I packed the Elecraft KX2, batteries and just about every portable antenna I have. I had no issues with anything at TSA security. We went through the TSA Pre-check line. I did not have to take anything out of my bags and even kept my shoes on.

The Elecraft KX2 is a great travel radio

A rainbow right out our hotel window.

At the hotel, I got a 4th-floor room with an East facing window by luck. That is what I wanted. I set up the Alexloop in the window. I ran the WSPRlite beacon for a while. It was not getting back to KK4DIV's receiver in Panama City but did reach Auburn, Alabama. I made a CW contact or two. But for the whole trip, I heard little on CW. I am a late adopter on FT-8. So this was an opportunity to use it. I actually worked through making contacts on FT-8 with the software and a Signalink interface for the KX2. I made a few QSOs but being indoors I made a lot of calls that were unanswered.

The Sacramento River

My setup at Bidwell Sacramento River State Park

I went out to the Bidwell Sacramento River State Park near the end of the visit. I decided to use the Gypsy dipole on 20 meters. I had taken a set of pole sections that I cut in half to fit in the suitcase. The sections make three poles that support the dipole at about ten feet off the ground. A park ranger came by and said it was a good thing I was not using the trees. So bringing the pole set paid off. I had not really advertised the visit to the park as a POTA activation. The internet on the smartphone was flaky so I could not spot myself. I heard very few CW signals and managed only one fleeting contact. But on 20 SSB, the ARRL SSB DX contest was underway. I did get two Hawaiian and an Alaskan station. I wrapped up with a JH8 in Japan. Having worked Japan on SSB, I called it a success. I had thought about a SOTA activation on this trip, but the weather worked against that. Also, the distance to an easy peak was at least three hours away.



In any case, Linda and I spent quality time with our Daughter Emily and her new husband Nathan. Emily showed us Bidwell park right in town. I saw some redwoods there.  Perhaps, the next trip will have better weather for ham radio and sightseeing.