Preparation:

After a failed attempt at activating summit Berndorfer Buchet (HEMA DL/BY-064) and Bunker Warnamt X (DL-BOTA B/DL-0327) two days earlier (broken co-axial lead to the linked dipole antenna), this activation in my nearby park was to check the repair on the antenna and to try out the little G106 5w radio with the new microphone that I have for it. This would be a “proper” portable activation, not from the car and an early start might just bring a contact with Ernie VK3DET in Australia (although with the low power, it was questionable).

The Activation

POTA DE-0663 / DE-1058

This park is literally 10 minutes (maximum) away from my home and as such serves well for tests. Indeed with another 15 minutes walk, it contains a spot that is a POTA 4-Fer and in range of a Bunker but today, just two POTA references will do.

Set up time was short and as I warily turned ion the radio, I was relieved to hear lost of stations on 20 metres, so at least for receive the antenna is working again. To test getting out, I called a strong station calling CQ but he went back to someone else who was even stronger. I sent a message on our WhatsApp comms-testers group and Ernie was there after agreeing a frequency away from interference at each end of the path, my first contact in the log was indeed Ernie, VK3DET a clear 53/54 with me but Ernie was struggling to hear me and gave me a 33 report. The difference in power levels and my lower background noise level accounts easily for this difference. It was a valid contact and the first in the log, which it turned out was important as it took me another 18 minutes before I got contact number two in the log. Had the contact with Ernie had failed, I could have easily decided something was not working after 20 minutes, packed up and gone home.

Contacts were difficult to get on both 20m and 40m today. Of course part of it was the lower power level, however some contacts were giving me 58 and 59 reports, so I was getting out. I think part of the problem was the early hour, where some hams are still in bed and those who are up are running power and causing QRM. I had to move frequency four times because of stations splattering over the frequency I was on, meaning, hearing calling stations who were not strong, became difficult. However after a hour and ten minutes, in a damp and still cold field, I had 12 contacts in the log and packed up to go home. Both the antenna and the radio worked well, so this “test” activation of the two overlapping parks was a success.

Photos:

Equipment taken:

• Xiegu G-106 QRP radio with ABREE microphone.
• SOTABeams Linked dipole antenna.
• Lambdahalba 6m mini mast and screw-in base.
• 2 Ah LifePO4 battery.
• 4Ah Eremit LifePO4 battery (not used).
• Lightweight headphones.
• Smartphone for spotting.

Log:

POTA DE-0663/ DE-1058

Conclusions:

The contact into VIC, Australia, and the 2-Fer to 2-Fer P2P contact into France were the highlights of this activation. Getting contacts was hard work but the action was to check that the radio and antenna are now working as they should and that was proved.

73 ’til the next activation!