{"id":2967,"date":"2018-08-13T15:56:10","date_gmt":"2018-08-13T19:56:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/w4kaz.com\/qth\/?p=2967"},"modified":"2018-08-27T17:33:47","modified_gmt":"2018-08-27T21:33:47","slug":"2018-rsgb-iota-as-k4z-from-cape-lookout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/w4kaz.com\/qth\/?p=2967","title":{"rendered":"2018 RSGB IOTA as K4Z from Cape Lookout"},"content":{"rendered":"

Operating IOTA for 2018 solo again.\u00c2\u00a0 Once again from the cabins at Cape Lookout, IOTA NA067.\u00c2\u00a0 Original plan was to use wire yagi from June 2018 QST article.\u00c2\u00a0 Weather changed plans….<\/p>\n

As it turns out, lots of things were different.<\/p>\n

\"2018

More photos – 2018 K4Z IOTA QTH on Cape Lookout(Great Island, NA067)<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Original plan:<\/h5>\n

The original plan was to operate on batteries at 100w using the K2 as the station.\u00c2\u00a0 Original antenna plan was to set up wire yagi’s for 40\/20\/15 using three telescoping fiberglass masts at ~30 feet height.\u00c2\u00a0 The wire yagis were to be based on design from 2018 June QST article(ref?).\u00c2\u00a0 An additional mast was going to be set up for 10m\/80m, using a 10m dipole that I would base load for 80m with a K2AV style folded counterpoise.<\/p>\n

Revised Plan:<\/h5>\n

The weather took a prolonged turn for the wet and nasty about 10 days before the event, and forecasts for IOTA weekend were maybe even a bit worse.\u00c2\u00a0 On the drive down to the dock the on Friday I hit light rain a couple of times.\u00c2\u00a0 Also a short shower as I exited the ferry onto the Island. \u00c2\u00a0 No lightning, but radar showed active storms offshore.\u00c2\u00a0 So the original antenna plan was trimmed to bare minimum – a single mast with multiple dipoles.\u00c2\u00a0 And a plan for quick disconnects if things got worse.<\/p>\n

Time Lapse video, mast deployment–>\u00c2\u00a0 https:\/\/youtu.be\/hy2bE-N47tI<\/a><\/h5>\n

After setting up the antennas and station, quite a bit of time was burned debugging a couple of mistakes, a mixup with the feedlines and a 40m dipole with a bad connection.\u00c2\u00a0 Temps were about 30C, with a continuous ocean breeze.\u00c2\u00a0 So it was a long hot day, but not as uncomfortable as either 2017 of Field Day 2018.\u00c2\u00a0 But tiring, so not much radio play.<\/p>\n

Operating Conditions:<\/h5>\n

1200Z Saturday morning – Scarf up some breakfast after a restless night of broken sleep.\u00c2\u00a0 A quick trip outside to tension the dipoles and eyeball local WX conditions.\u00c2\u00a0 Lots of cloud cover, brisk wind, but no rain or lightning.\u00c2\u00a0 Nice.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Turning on the radio – “OK – what’s wrong?”\u00c2\u00a0 Very few signals heard, all very weak.\u00c2\u00a0 Spent time checking to see if something was broken. \u00c2\u00a0 Eventually worked a few, but not having fun.\u00c2\u00a0 This was a real discouragement, as I had a lot of success with essentially the same set up just a month earlier for ARRL Field Day.\u00c2\u00a0 Was not counting on not hearing any EU stations in the morning.\u00c2\u00a0 Was also not counting on having such difficulty working US stations.<\/p>\n

Spent some of the down time scouting some of the other cabins as potential sites for future trips, and a good bit of time on the beach. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Tried a couple of times in the mid\/late afternoon to get runs with domestic stations, but zero success. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Starting to seem like a S&P affair.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Tuning the bands at around 1630Z it was starting to seem like there was more activity, so finally settled in for a short run on 20m CW.\u00c2\u00a0 WX was starting to look bad so I decided to take a break for a short siesta.\u00c2\u00a0 Decided I’d make a decision after getting some rest and food.\u00c2\u00a0 Another 20m run from 2030-2130Z and only 30 or so Q’s.\u00c2\u00a0 Bleh.\u00c2\u00a0 Unable to run on SSB after several attempts over the late afternoon.<\/p>\n

2400Z and the WX is OK overhead, but storms over the mainland and radar looking worse.\u00c2\u00a0 Forecast is calling for major storms overnight and in morning.\u00c2\u00a0 Here is where a bit of bad planning caught up with reality.\u00c2\u00a0 The return trip on the ferry was scheduled for 1300z Sunday, which would have been a bit rushed in good weather.<\/p>\n

So I decided to pull the mast down and yanked the plug on the operation.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 This turned out to be a Very Good Thing.\u00c2\u00a0 Sunday morning brought a heavy storm with lots of lightning.\u00c2\u00a0 Better to watch it from inside than try to fool with antennas in that.<\/p>\n

What Worked:<\/h5>\n

The plan for setting up the yagi’s would have been workable in this cabin area.\u00c2\u00a0 There was enough room for everything needed.\u00c2\u00a0 Batteries and station equipment, all FB.\u00c2\u00a0 The ‘basic’ food plan was fine.<\/p>\n

What Broke:<\/h5>\n

The trip reservations – not nailed down far enough in advance.\u00c2\u00a0 The 40m dipole – must have a break in one of the wire legs.\u00c2\u00a0 The operator – Poor CW skills, and not sleeping sucks!<\/p>\n

_____________CW\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 __ \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 <\/u>PHONE<\/p>\n

BAND\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 QSOs\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Point\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Mults\u00c2\u00a0 QSOs\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Points\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Mults<\/u><\/p>\n

80\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 0<\/strong><\/u><\/p>\n

40\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 1\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 5\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 0<\/strong><\/u><\/p>\n

20\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 57\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 415\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 10\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 19\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 155\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 6<\/strong><\/u><\/p>\n

15\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 4\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 30\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 2\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 1\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 5\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 0<\/strong><\/u><\/p>\n

10\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 2\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 10\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 1\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 5\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 0<\/strong><\/u><\/p>\n

625\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 X\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 18 =\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 11250<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

points\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 multipliers\u00c2\u00a0 score<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Operating IOTA for 2018 solo again.\u00c2 Once again from the cabins at Cape Lookout, IOTA NA067.\u00c2 Original plan was to use wire yagi from June 2018 QST article.\u00c2 Weather changed plans….<\/p>\n

As it turns out, lots of things were different.<\/p>\n

More photos – 2018 K4Z IOTA QTH on Cape Lookout(Great Island, NA067)<\/p>\n

Original plan: <\/p>\n

The original plan was to operate on batteries at 100w using the K2 as the station.\u00c2 Original antenna plan was to set up wire yagi’s for 40\/20\/15 using three telescoping fiberglass masts at ~30 feet height.\u00c2 The wire yagis were to be based on design from 2018 June QST article(ref?).\u00c2 An additional mast was going to be set up for 10m\/80m, using a 10m dipole that I would base load for 80m with a K2AV style folded counterpoise.<\/p>\n

Revised Plan: <\/p>\n

The weather took a prolonged turn for the wet and nasty about 10 days before the event, and forecasts for IOTA weekend were maybe even a bit worse.\u00c2 On the drive down to the dock the on Friday I hit light rain a couple of times.\u00c2 Also a short shower as I exited the ferry onto the Island. \u00c2 No lightning, but radar showed active storms offshore.\u00c2 So the original antenna plan was trimmed to bare minimum – a single mast with multiple dipoles.\u00c2 And a plan for quick disconnects if things got worse.<\/p>\n

Time Lapse video, mast deployment–>\u00c2 https:\/\/youtu.be\/hy2bE-N47tI <\/p>\n

After setting up the antennas and station, quite a bit of time was burned debugging […]<\/p>\n

Continue reading 2018 RSGB IOTA as K4Z from Cape Lookout<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/w4kaz.com\/qth\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2967"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/w4kaz.com\/qth\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/w4kaz.com\/qth\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/w4kaz.com\/qth\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/w4kaz.com\/qth\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2967"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"http:\/\/w4kaz.com\/qth\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2967\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2993,"href":"http:\/\/w4kaz.com\/qth\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2967\/revisions\/2993"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/w4kaz.com\/qth\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2967"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/w4kaz.com\/qth\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2967"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/w4kaz.com\/qth\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}