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What is this strange disease that compels me to wander into the boonies on a beautiful day? I ventured out again… once more to the Pemigewasset River. I worked Russia, Sein Island, Giglio Island, Macedonia, a fellow QRPer in Spain, and Tennessee.

Today it’s 72F. The grass is absolutely turning green. Trees and plants are budding. I am in a polo shirt and shorts. It’s really spring.

I have ridden my bike about a mile and a half into the federal flood control area along the river. I stop along the trail not far from the old bridge that went over to Hill Village. I heave a line over an oak branch and set up the HB-1B on 20 meters with a half-wave wire. The band is active.

Right away I hear R5ZZ calling CQ and I answer. I must give my call twice, but the exchange is clean. Ken gives me a 569 from an area just beyond the North Sea.

In quick succession I work TM0SI an IOTA expedition to Sein Island, and IA5A, another IOTA station on Giglio Island. Both exchanges are quick 599s. Then I make a contact with Macedonia, Z320G.

I dial up toward the QRP calling frequency, 14.060. There I call Bill W4LVP in Tennessee as he finishes a QSO with another station. Bill is booming in and he gives me a 579. We have a wonderful chat. He tells me it’s 78F in TN, and he congratulates me on the QRP station. “GREAT QRP SIGNAL and FB SETUP.” As soon as we sign, I hear EA2LU calling me. Jorge is 579 from Spain. He is running a K3 at 5 watts into a yagi. He says I am peaking 589. I have worked Jorge several times over the years in QRP sprints, and it’s always a wonderful surprise.

I have only operated for a half an hour, but already I have worked a nice log full of DX. I pack up the gear and walk down to the bridge abutment.

The spring in New Hampshire is so much sweeter for having endured so many months of bone chilling cold. To be out here with the spring breeze soothing away the long winter’s freeze is remarkable… it’s no wonder we refer to the miracle of spring.

This afternoon Dick N1LT and I headed to Profile Falls in Bristol for the annual QRP to the Field event. What a perfect day we had… lots of contacts… dazzling scenery, even a little break for tea and cake!

We set up right at the edge of the Pemigewasset River not far from where the Smith River enters the Pemi from Profile Falls. This year’s theme for the QRP to the Field event is historic trails. This spot fit in perfectly. There are TWO historic trails here. We were only several hundred yards from the old Northern Railroad route between Franklin and Bristol and just a little farther from the old road that ran between the two New Hampshire towns. Both have been out of service since the 1940’s when the Corps of Engineers took over the area for flood control.

We ran two separate stations. Dick set up about 70 feet from me. He operated in my VW camper with an FT-817 and a Par End Fed 40, 20, 10. I don’t have his log, but he worked a dozen or so stations on 20 meters in about an hour and a half of operating.

As shown in the first picture, I set up on a picnic table in front of the river. I ran a K2 to a 21 foot piece of wire (half wave on 15M) tuned with an Elecraft T-1 tuner. I operated almost exclusively on 15 meters. The band was sparse, but now and then a strong station appeared and I was able to work him. Here’s my log for the event.

Date UTC Freq Call Mode MY His QTH Name
————————————————————-
27 Apr-13 1753 21.023 RA2FF CW 599 599 Russia
27 Apr-13 1758 21.061 AA5CK CW 559 599 OK Ted
27 Apr-13 1802 21.062 N7KE(?) CW 439 559 WA
27 Apr-13 1808 7.034 W2M CW 599 599 NY Morse event
27 Apr-13 1820 21.037 AA4PP CW 599 599 FL
27 Apr-13 1825 21.060 WT5RZ CW 229 559 NM Ron
27 Apr-13 1828 21.009 HB9BMY CW 599 599 SOTA
27 Apr-13 1830 21.029 WD4AHZ CW 599 599 FL
27 Apr-13 1833 21.033 F6FEA CW 569 599 France Didier
27 Apr-13 1920 21.034 K4LQ CW 599 599 FL
27 Apr-13 1925 21.017 I2TAO CW 559 599 Italy
27 Apr-13 1930 21.057 DF2GN/P CW 559 559 SOTA Germany Klaus
27 Apr-13 1937 18.073 WT0S CW 579 599 ND Don
27 Apr-13 1944 18.077 TM0SI CW 599 599 Sein Isl

It’s a mix of DX, SOTA, FL QSO Party and a couple of QRPTTFers. My QSO with Didier F6FEA in France lasted more than 20 minutes and I received a very cordial email from Didier. He was most patient with my weak signal!

About three quarters of the way through the afternoon we stopped for a quick cup of tea and some lovely orange cake that my wife sent along with us. I had brought along a gas stove, a pot, and some cups and plates. What a wonderful treat.

Before packing up, we went across the road to Profile Falls. It’s a popular swimming hole in the summer. A bit cold right now!

Dick and I have operated this event together at least 4 years out of the last five. It’s something we look forward to each year with good reason. Thanks to Paul NA5N for putting the event together.

Today Hanz, W1JSB, and I hiked on Johnson Road and setup next to each other. We worked Italy, Russia, the Netherlands, and Florida. Before packing up we each called CQ and compared received signals on the Reverse Beacon Net. The results were surprising.

For these experiments we used nearly identical rigs. Hanz had the HB-1A, and I had the HB-1B. Both roughly 4 watts with similar power supplies.

The Antennas

Hanz ran the Par Electronics half-wave end fed wire straight up to a branch. It was perfectly vertical. This is the antenna that I’ve been running for almost 5 years. I thought it was probably the best portable DXer I could use. Perhaps I was wrong.

I ran a 66 foot wire configured as an inverted Vee with a 33 foot counterpoise and an Elecraft T-1 tuner. Here’s a rough diagram of the antenna that I used. It’s supported at the apex by a tree branch. The ends are a few inches above ground level.

I am sitting at the spot marked “X” on the above diagram.

The QSOs

We each worked the same stations on 20 meters. First we worked N4KXG, Pete in Florida. I received a 589 and Hanz received a 579. I expected that my antenna might be better than Hanz’s for relatively near stations. I was correct. We got a hint of something unpredicted with the next QSO.

We worked RA6CA in Russia. Pavel gave both Hanz and me a 589. I would have expected Hanz to be stronger with the vertical. Of course this is subjective. Next we worked IZ2UE in Italy. Andrea gave me a 559 and gave Hanz the same 559. Again… a surprise. The last station was PA3GEG, Gerald in the Netherlands. I received a 579 and Hanz received a 599. That would be expected.The next test shattered all my preconceptions.

Before packing up our gear, Hanz suggested that we both call CQ and check our signals on the Reverse Beacon Net. That was a stunning idea. Here are the results. I was heard by six stations. Hanz was heard by 10 stations. Four stations recorded signals from both of us.

The Results

Stations Hanz Jim
—————————————–
DL1EMY 13 db 17 db
AA4VV 18 db 27 db
W3OA 11 db 16 db
DL1GTB 6 db 10 db

In each case my signal was consistently stronger than Hanz’s. Same rig. Same location. Sent within a minute of each other.

I have to say I’m really surprised. I thought the end fed vertical could not be improved upon for a portable wire antenna. We will definitely do more testing.

I’ve been waiting all winter for this day. It’s not going to be wasted. I took two quick hikes today. I worked Guadeloupe, Russia, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

Part One – Quick Hike to the Pemi

Just before lunch I hiked down to the Pemigewasset River. I made one quick QSO with Tennessee before heading home.

As I crossed Weeks Brook it was nice to see that all the ice there has melted and the brook is flowing freely.

I continued toward the river and heaved a line over a pine branch on a sunny corner of the trail. I sat on a small bank at the edge of the trail and operated the HB-1B on 20 meters with a half wave wire.

I called KF4TJE as he finished up a QSO. Stan answered and gave me a 579 from Tennessee. He was a strong 599. We chatted for a while, and I told him I was hiking and operating with a view of the river. “I would like to be near
a river,” he responded.

It’s a favorite spot that anyone would enjoy on a warm spring day. I promised I’d send Stan some pictures, and we signed with a quick 73.

With that I hiked back up the hill and drove home for lunch.

Part Two – Johnson Road

I couldn’t call it quits this afternoon. It was nearly 55F and I was itching to get out again. I drove over to a property on Johnson Road. It’s several hundred acres of upland fields and woods and then drops down to Salmon Brook. I stayed in the field. I hiked about a half mile and setup under an oak tree.

Again I’m on 20 meters with the HB-1B and a half-wave wire. I sit right down in the dried grass and tune around. FG5FR in Guadeloupe is working stations. Frantz is very strong and he gives me a 599. Might be… there were several other stations calling him, and I got through. Then I tune up a bit and hear RU3ZL calling CQ. George is 599 and gives me a 559.

Then I go up to 14.060, (the QRP frequency) and hear NF9V working a very weak station in the Netherlands. I call Rudy in Wisconsin and have a quick chat before he has to run. He gives me a 599 and he is also very strong. “FB Jim UR 4W. It’s working,” he sends. Then he has to run off for some “honey do’s.” I pack up.

Hiking down to the field, I crossed several hundred yards through snow. But here in the field it’s all gone. The buds will appear in the next week or so. And soon, the peepers will start their spring song in the little pond behind the stone wall. I think they are calling CQ.

Today I hiked in Old Hill Village on the west side of the Pemigewasset River. I worked Macedonia, Italy and W0RW pedestrian mobile in Colorado. This was a fantastic outing.

Coming down the hill alongside Needle Shop Brook, there was still snow and ice. But once in the old village, the road was dry. This is the most amazing spot with 3500 acres of fields and trees which form a flood control reserve for the Franklin Falls Dam. After walking 1/2 mile north I turned east through a field toward the river.

Imagine having a place like this… all to yourself… to roam, to breathe clean air, to enjoy nature… and to play radio.

I setup at the edge of the field, not 60 feet from the river. I tossed a line over a pine branch and sat down in the warm sun. I hooked up the HB-1B with 4 watts on 20 meters to a half-wave wire rising straight from the backpack to the branch overhead.

At the bottom of the band I heard Jane Z320G from Macedonia calling CQ. I answered and we exchanged quick 599s. This was generous because I had to send my call several times before he copied. There was strong QSB. Next I went up the band and heard Pietro IZ2EWR finishing another QSO. The Italian station was very strong and well worth waiting for. Pietro gave me a 579 and sent, “UR QRP FB.”

Before calling it quits, I dialed up to the QRP frequency, 14.060. What a nice surprise to hear Paul W0RW calling CQ. Paul in Colorado, was pedestrian mobile. We were both weak to each other, but were able to complete a contact. Paul gave me a 339 and he was 449.

With cool temperatures in the mid-30s and a wind gusting to 15 MPH, it was a bit nippy in the shade. But in the warm sun, surrounded by blue sky and some trees for a wind-break, it was perfect. This is a place I love to ride my bike in the warmer weather. I’ll be back many times in the glorious weeks ahead.

Hanz W1JSB and I hiked down to a beautiful point on the Pemigewasset River in Bristol. We worked England, Germany, Ohio and Tennessee. It seemed like the first really warm day of spring.

We were hoping to hike to Sky Pond, but there was just too much snow… at least a foot. So we changed plans. We headed to Bristol to a spot where Profile Brook flows into the Pemi. We hiked down the old Northern Railroad right-of-way.

We crossed a few snowy spots and a few muddy places, but it was grand… 52F and sunny! We sat down right on an old stone railroad bridge abutment. We tossed a line high into a nearby ash tree and pulled up a half wave wire for 20 meters. We used the Chinese HB-1B. The band wasn’t full of DX, but we snagged a few. I took the first turn and called my old friend Tom, G3HGE in England as he finished up a QSO. He was strong to me… 599, but there was also significant QSB. He dropped as low as 569. He gave me a generous 549. I’m sure he was unable to copy at times. “DX is below par,” he sent. I told him I’d send some photos of our operating spot. He was pleased with the idea… “That will put flesh on the skeleton,” he sent, and we signed.

Next I called Serg, DL1DGS. I had worked him just yesterday from the shack. He was also strong, but only gave me a 539. Even so, he sent, “UR 4W OK.” With that I handed the key to Hanz.

Next I called Serg, DL1DGS. I had worked him just yesterday from the shack. He was also strong, but only gave me a 539. Even so, he sent, “UR 4W OK.” With that I handed the key to Hanz.

With four QSOs under our belts, we headed back. We went straight to the river through the woods and walked back by a different route. What a pleasure to walk on almost-dry land for the first time in four months.

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For a version of this story with imbedded video see http://www.w1pid.com/easter/easter.html

Today I hiked along the Winnipesaukee River. I worked Sweden, Slovenia and Russia. What a great hike!

It’s a perfect spring day… 45F and the snow is melting! I hiked on the old rail right-of-way along the Winnipesaukee River. The river flows from Lake Winnipesaukee in Laconia to the Merrimack River in Franklin. The trail passes through some beautiful farm land.

After about a mile I turned north toward the river. A piece of land juts out into the river. I setup on a large rock with a fantastic view. I’m using an HB-1B on 20 meters with a half-wave wire.

I’m looking toward the east… that seems to be where the signals are coming from too. My first contact is with Steve SM4OTI in Sweden. He gives me a 599 and sends “HI” when I tell him I am running 4 watts. He’s running a KW to a 4 element beam. “UR doing FB WID 4W,” he sends. Of course, he is very strong to me. I’ve worked Steve nearly a dozen times over the years.

I move up the band a bit and answer S57KW. Jure in Slovenia doesn’t get my call sign on the first try, but he gives me a 559 report. “UR 4W QRP doing good job,” he sends.

Finally, I work Vlad RU6AV near Moscow. He gives me a 579. When I tell him I am running 4W /P, he asks about my antenna. I tell him it’s a 10 meter wire. “FB CONDX HI… UR 4W FB Jim.” Then he tells me he is running 200 watts to a 3 element yagi.

I have been operating for only 10 minutes. It’s exhilarating! A beautiful spring day… glorious river scenery and some nice DX for icing on the cake.

My view to the west is perfect. Hopefully we’re seeing the last of the snow. I’ll hike more often now that the days are getting warmer.