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1st Annual QRP Beach Party

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As planned, QRP enthusiasts gathered at the gazebo at Finlayson Point, Dallas Road park in Victoria on June 23.

Attending were Scott VA7SNJ, Byron VA7BYR and wife Lise and, adding international flavour, Andy WA3LTJ, visiting from the eastern US.

The BBQ was hot for sausages🌭  and we had of course POTAto salad 🤗.  The best desert award went to Lise for her delicious Cowboy cookies 🍪.  The prize was a tiny handheld LED RF indicator (built by VA7SNJ from design by Don ND6T).  Lise, not being a ham, kindly donated it to spouse Byron. (Note: a possible alternative use could be as a probe to test whether baked goods are done…😎).

After the BBQ, the group gathered radio gear and hiked down to the cobble beach.  Scott set up his vertical monopole whip system to test an experimental top hat.  He made SSB and CW contacts to CA on 17 m, and CW contact on 20 m.  Most effort was repeated CQs for gathering comparative signal strength data from the Reverse Beacon Network. Data being analyzed.

Several hundred metres away, Byron attempted to set up his new homebrew 20 m EFHW but ran into technical problems.  He concluded he needs to bring his antenna to the Veterans of Non-working Antennas (VNA) Hospital at his QTH in Sooke.

A bright, hot, calm day for good grub and /p radio.  Next year we will try another beach with sand, easier access, and more space.

Best 72, Scott VA7SNJ

 

3-D Printed Antenna Launcher

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Pierre Boucher VE7AL/VE7NRO brought this handy device at our latest Hillside Mall coffee session. It was suggested that he try it inside the mall as an experiment – but that didn’t happen! Great for Field Days, though! CQ CQ CQ

The Free Shot

If you know someone who can do the 3D plastic printing, you might like to make one too. Here’s the link to the instructions.

A Gourmet Radio Hike

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Easter Sunday April 5 dawned bright and sunny.  John Erskine VE7MHI and Scott Schillereff VA7SNJ had a most enjoyable radio hike to Partridge Hills in Gowlland Tod park for communal gourmet charcuterie board, dark chocolate, and espresso….oh, and QRP radio!

John used his IC705 for a SOTA activation, on HF and VHF/UHF using wire and beam antennas.  Scott operated on HF with his midband QMX into a 54 ft inverted vee with open wire feeders.  Conditions were favourable for both CW and SSB contacts all over western N Am with 5 W.

With the fine weather here, it’s time to hit the trail!  If you want to join in, drop me a line and you’ll be added to the gourmet portable email list!

72/73, Scott  VA7SNJ