Thursday, April 21, 2022

23 April: Plans for QRPTTF & POTA 2-fer

Weather (and ionosphere) permitting...

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For the past 6 months I've been doing a lot of bicycle riding and POTA activations in AridZona, Nuevo Meheeco, Texas and now Florida.

But I've never combined those two activities.

Hopefully, that will change this Saturday during the annual QRP to the Field event.

The plan is to ride a 10 mile section of the Withlacoochee State Trail, from the beautiful (and appropriately named) town of Floral City, Florida to the Withlacoochee State Forest.

Both the trail (K-3667) and the state forest (K-4646) are POTA sites so activating the trail from within the forest will count for a POTA 2-fer.

Most of the gear will fit into a "bikepack" that fits on a rear rack on the bike (Trek 7.2 FX). Total weight is just under 8 pounds (3.5 kg) and consists of:

  • Penntek TR-35 (Yep, I like it)
  • My new 3AH Bioenno battery (should last for longer than I'll need)
  • Nye Viking paddles (heavy, for one-handed operation)
  • External speaker (for audio if I YouTube-ify the ordeal outting)
  • Weatherproof writing pad/pen
  • ZM-2 tuner

The antenna will be a 20m HamStick mounted to a fitting I installed onto the bike's rear rack yesterday. Three 1/4-wave radials will also be in attendance.

For QRPTTF purposes, this will be a 20m monoband operation but, if I bring the ZM-2, I'll also be able to activate the POTA's on 17 meters.

 

I've neither ridden the trail nor been to the state forest yet so I have no idea if I'll be able to find a suitably-placed picnic table for setting up. If not, I'm not too old to sit right down on my (_|_) and Morse away to my heart's content.

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2 comments:

  1. If the WX cooperates (it probably won't), I plan on getting out and trying my hand at QRPTTF. Otherwise I'll hunt from home!

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    Replies
    1. QRPTTF is fun if the activity level is high. It's dwindled in recent years - I recommend combining it with a POTA activation if there's a qualifying park near you.

      73,
      John

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