YACP – Yet Another Catch-up Post.<\/p>\n
This year’s IOTA went well, although conditions were difficult.\u00c2\u00a0 The WX was clear, but easily the hottest of the IOTA expeditions so far.\u00c2\u00a0 Very uncomfortable setting up.\u00c2\u00a0 Very uncomfortable sitting in the shade.\u00c2\u00a0 Operated from the same Cape Lookout location at the Cape Lookout Federal Park on the South Core Banks.<\/p>\n
Radio conditions were also comparably disappointing. The mid afternoon SSB session was miserably slow.\u00c2\u00a0 Conditions generally not as good as 2010 IOTA, and not nearly as good as most of 2011.\u00c2\u00a0 US activity seemed down, but that may just be perception based on the slow afternoon on SSB.\u00c2\u00a0 Abysmal.<\/p>\n
Antenna mast raising shenanigans were also quite educational.\u00c2\u00a0 Valuable lessons learned there.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 The guy stakes were inadequate for the height and new sets of guys will also be required to move the guy anchors\u00c2\u00a0 farther away from the mast base.\u00c2\u00a0 Nothing that a bit of up-front preparation work cannot conquer, but difficult to overcome in the field.\u00c2\u00a0 So the mast height was reduced from the projected.<\/p>\n
The new base plates for implementing the falling-derrick method performed exactly as expected.\u00c2\u00a0 The mast raising technique is solid.<\/p>\n
This year’s crew was W4KAZ, W0UCE, K2AV, and N3ND.\u00c2\u00a0 N4YDU was off in luxury accommodations operating from the family vacation just up the coast from the N4A operation.\u00c2\u00a0 Always fun, but missed having ‘YDU on board.\u00c2\u00a0 Imagine being wooed by the family into basking in air-conditioned splendor with the occasional dip in the hot-tub optional. \u00c2\u00a0 \ud83d\ude2e<\/p>\n
Numbers and score down from 2010, but hoping for the best, and waiting official results.<\/p>\n
Plans for 2012 are begun.\u00c2\u00a0 I expect the direct hit by hurricane Irene last fall will have changed the sand dune structure enough that we will find some new hurdles to overcome.\u00c2\u00a0 The beach was rolled back, so the cabins are now somewhat closer to the ocean(natural for a barrier island), so the sand filled in the small clear area\u00c2\u00a0 between dunes that we used for the antenna mast.\u00c2\u00a0 I will not at all be surprised to find the area filled with sea oats and mostly too difficult to work in come summer 2012.\u00c2\u00a0 A new challenge.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
YACP – Yet Another Catch-up Post.<\/p>\n
This year’s IOTA went well, although conditions were difficult.\u00c2 The WX was clear, but easily the hottest of the IOTA expeditions so far.\u00c2 Very uncomfortable setting up.\u00c2 Very uncomfortable sitting in the shade.\u00c2 Operated from the same Cape Lookout location at the Cape Lookout Federal Park on the South Core Banks.<\/p>\n
Radio conditions were also comparably disappointing. The mid afternoon SSB session was miserably slow.\u00c2 Conditions generally not as good as 2010 IOTA, and not nearly as good as most of 2011.\u00c2 US activity seemed down, but that may just be perception based on the slow afternoon on SSB.\u00c2 Abysmal.<\/p>\n
Antenna mast raising shenanigans were also quite educational.\u00c2 Valuable lessons learned there.\u00c2 \u00c2 The guy stakes were inadequate for the height and new sets of guys will also be required to move the guy anchors\u00c2 farther away from the mast base.\u00c2 Nothing that a bit of up-front preparation work cannot conquer, but difficult to overcome in the field.\u00c2 So the mast height was reduced from the projected.<\/p>\n
The new base plates for implementing the falling-derrick method performed exactly as expected.\u00c2 The mast raising technique is solid.<\/p>\n
This year’s crew was W4KAZ, W0UCE, K2AV, and N3ND.\u00c2 N4YDU was off in luxury accommodations operating from the family vacation just up the coast from the N4A operation.\u00c2 Always fun, but missed having ‘YDU on board.\u00c2 Imagine being wooed by the family into basking in air-conditioned splendor with the occasional dip in the hot-tub optional. \u00c2 \ud83d\ude2e<\/p>\n
Numbers […]<\/p>\n