FIELD DAY 2017 @ KA2BEO

My 24th consecutive Field Day was hot and sunny, so I set up outdoors and operated for about 7 hours total out of the 24-hour event. My station consisted of an MFJ Cub (MFJ-9320K) on the 20-meter Ham band. It is a small 2-watt (1.6W measured) QRP CW transceiver that was powered by a 12.6Vdc battery pack. The 20-meter antenna was an 18.5-foot long dipole that I made out of two Slinky Jr. toys. I call it the TinyTenna, and my plans to build one are on the web (http://www.natradioco.com/TinyTenna_RLD.pdf). The antenna was only placed about 7 feet high, and even at this low height, the small linear-loaded dipole was surprisingly effective. I operated using only CW (Morse code) this year, and worked much of the east coast, from Canada to the Bahamas. I am still amazed at the great band conditions (and good operating skills, of course), that resulted in contacting at least 18 different states, while using less than two watts! The total score this time was the highest in the past five years, and with the lowest power. Again, this Field Day resulted in a nice relaxing time with poolside operating. Until next time, 73 de Rob, KA2BEO.