My XYL was participating in a singing event this afternoon so I made a hasty decision to pack up my QRP K2 and head for the top of Morrow Mountain (NC State Park). After several misfires with my slingshot (out of practice) I got my Par EndFedz-20/40 installed in a tree over a picnic table. Connected my 7AH SLA battery to the K2 and turned it on. Nothing! Are the conditions that bad? Went to 40 and it sounded the same.
I hadn't used the EndFedz in several years after removing it from a semi-permanent installation at a mountain cabin. Apparently I must have had a nearby lightning strike sometime which blew out the sealed matching unit. Fortunately I had my Emtech ZM-2 tuner which loaded the wire from the EndFedz (no radials). I set the K2 to 5 Watts on 20m and was finally ready to go. I made my first QSO at 1846z and operated ~3 hours, mostly S&P on 20m but also a few on 15 and 40. Made 107 total QSOs including KH7 and KP3 with the last one at 2201z when it was time to pack up and head for home. If you worked me, you can congratulate yourself on your good ears. I was frankly amazed anyone could hear me with QRP to that band-aided antenna! After almost 52 years on the air I'm still thrilled with this hobby. It's just amazing that we can communicate across the country with 5 watts to a piece of wire. What fun!!! And thanks to Elecraft for the K2...the ideal Field Day QRP rig. 73, Bill W4ZV -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/Field-Day-Fun%21-tp3168641p3168641.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
