San Simeon, CQP, October
This was a nominal club effort, which ended up being three hams, two dogs, and a significant other, but we all had a really good time. We operated "motel courtyard portable" on a picnic table, although I did drag my coax inside our room when it got a bit chilly. Antennas were a speaker-wire dipole for N6EY's QRP rig and the Buddipole for WA6WTF/W6TTF SSB.
Silver Surf Motel http://www.silversurfmotel.com
N6EY and Roxie inspect the antenna, while WA6WTF sets up to operate
Tess and Roxie play on the beach.
N6EY and W6TTF took the Piedras Lighthouse tour, but no opportunity to operate this year.
Point Arena, August 6-8, 2010
We didn't really "over-pack" for this activation, in part because we knew we were going to operate in relative luxury: inside and using shore power, as we had rented one of the renovated former Coast Guard houses for the long weekend. Because of the strong wind, we didn't put use the YP-3, relying instead on the Buxcomm, which was center-supported by a push-up fiberglass mast lashed to a picnic table with several sailor's knots, courtesy of N6EY. One end was slung into a convenient tree, the other attached to a fiberglass painter's pole that was guyed nearby.
Back of USCG house -- 10m-80m dipole on mast lashed to picnic table for FT-897D (SSB and PSK); 20m/40m homebrew inverted V attached to other mast for N6EY's FT-817 QRP rig (CW and PSK).
View from the top of the lighthouse
N6EY, WA6WTF, and N6EY's daughter Courtney ham it up on the
dining room table. Coax was run through the window.
WA6WTF and W6TTF on SSB. W6TTF worked about as many contacts on PSK as voice. As this was a "vacation" as well as an activation, operating time was fit in between other activities. Best run of contacts occurred Sunday afternoon, including the co-pilot of a passing commercial jet!
Field Day 2010
SJVARS used the "baby beam in a bag," the Superantennas YP-3, with good results for the SSB station at Field Day. It was mounted atop W6TE's crank-up military tower, with a dipole slung below. It attracted a lot of attention, and it went together per instructions very well, even with at least four hams assembling it.
Montecito-Sequoia Lodge, May 15-16
WA6WTF prepares to operate on 20m
Look closely at the whip and you'll see why you should "be wise--use three guys!"
The coils took the hit just fine, and actually the whips (which were extended except for a half section) bounced pretty good, only one of them shearing off.
Left: Lake Homovalo; this view is to the east, and the station is to the east and a little south amongst the trees screening the parking lot
