KK2L's QSO Excellent Adventures
My Shack - Mark Gottlieb, KK2L
Mark’s QRP Excellent Adventures
By Mark Gottlieb, KK2L
On December 31, 2022, I set up a KX3 on my backyard deck using a Chameleon MPAS 2.0 vertical to see how many contacts I could make using 10 watts or less. The vertical was mounted on a DJ speaker stand and stood at about 20 feet. Operated mostly FT8 but also made some SSB contacts. There were 12 contacts in total including Uruguay and Brazil.
On January 1, 2023, I decided to try the Chameleon F Loop 3.0 I got last month since the weather was good enough to be outside. The MagLoop has a remote tuner mechanism which allows me to change bands/frequencies quicker since I don’t have to keep going to the antenna to retune. As I did on December 31, I operated at 10 watts or less making a number of contacts including DX. There were 17 contacts, in total, including Brazil, Ecuador, Puerto Rico and Trinidad/Tobago. MagLoops are most effective operating at a height roughly twice their diameter or about 6 feet above grade. The resonance of the antenna per band changed as the day got later.
By Mark Gottlieb, KK2L
On December 31, 2022, I set up a KX3 on my backyard deck using a Chameleon MPAS 2.0 vertical to see how many contacts I could make using 10 watts or less. The vertical was mounted on a DJ speaker stand and stood at about 20 feet. Operated mostly FT8 but also made some SSB contacts. There were 12 contacts in total including Uruguay and Brazil.
On January 1, 2023, I decided to try the Chameleon F Loop 3.0 I got last month since the weather was good enough to be outside. The MagLoop has a remote tuner mechanism which allows me to change bands/frequencies quicker since I don’t have to keep going to the antenna to retune. As I did on December 31, I operated at 10 watts or less making a number of contacts including DX. There were 17 contacts, in total, including Brazil, Ecuador, Puerto Rico and Trinidad/Tobago. MagLoops are most effective operating at a height roughly twice their diameter or about 6 feet above grade. The resonance of the antenna per band changed as the day got later.
IC-9100 + 100 Watts @ W2MMD Clubhouse |
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| Time | Call | Band | Freq | Mode | Grid2 | Location | Comments |
“Good News! The Force 12 still is functional. Not much activity on phone or 20m for that matter this afternoon. Still, South Pacific was in range.” |
Super MP1 Antenna + Yaesu FT991A @ W2MMD Clubhouse + 100 Watts |
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| Time | Call | Band | Freq | Mode | Grid2 | Location | Comments |
“Testing out the SuperAntenna MP1. Antenna was on an old camera tripod about 9 feet total from top to grass. It's a compromise antenna, but it does have a consistently good performance level.” |
First Day of Spiderbeam + Mary Mazza Duffy Park + 100 Watts + 60 Foot Mast |
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| Date | Time | Call | Band | Freq | Mode | Grid2 | Location | Comments |
“It still works! North Dakota QSO Party is happening!” |
K3TU (Temple University Radio Shack) KX2 10 Watts + Mosley CL33M Triband |
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| Date | Time | Call | Band | Freq | Mode | Grid2 | Location | Comments |
“The shack at Temple is on top of a 9 story building and the tower is about 30 feet tall above the roof. I had some time during lunch hour and worked from the station.” |
KX3 + Cirro Mazzoni Baby Loop (Attic Mounted) + 15 Watts |
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| Date | Time | Call | Band | Freq | Mode | Grid2 | Location | Comments |
“Tried something different to see what 15 Watts could actually do with an antenna mounted in the attic. Kind of surprising with DX and West Coast contacts.” |
60' Spiderbeam Mast + 100 Watts + HyEndFed 3 Band 100 Watt Classic |
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| Date | Time | Call | Band | Freq | Mode | Grid2 | Location | Comments |
“When the Sun felt the warmest, I decided to see what bands were like. Spent about an hour before the cold winds began to kick up.” |
60' Spiderbeam Mast + 100 Watts + HyEndFed 3 Band 100 Watt Classic |
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| Date | Time | Call | Band | Freq | Mode | Grid2 | Location | Comments |
“Not officially contesting, a little on the chill side yesterday and today, but I wanted to see what the rig would do under battlefield conditions. Got to get ready for Petty's Island. This represents today and yesterday. No tuning required to switch between 15M and 20M. Pictures available on request of the 60' mast at full height at Mary Mazza Duffy Park. Hawaii was a big surprise on 15M. I managed a hotel project, in the early 2000's, in Trinidad, and 9Y4D installed my air conditioners in the rooms. Small world.” |
60' Spiderbeam Mast + 100 Watts + HyEndFed 3 Band 100 Watt Classic |
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| Date | Time | Call | Band | Freq | Mode | Grid2 | Location | Comments |
“Not officially contesting, a little on the chill side yesterday and today, but I wanted to see what the rig would do under battlefield conditions. Got to get ready for Petty's Island. This represents today and yesterday. No tuning required to switch between 15M and 20M. Pictures available on request of the 60' mast at full height at Mary Mazza Duffy Park. Hawaii was a big surprise on 15M. I managed a hotel project, in the early 2000's, in Trinidad, and 9Y4D installed my air conditioners in the rooms. Small world.” |
60' Spiderbeam Mast + FT991A + HyEndFed 3 Band 100 Watt Classic |
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| Time | Call | Band | Freq | Mode | Grid2 | Location | Comments |
“60' Mast was a little bit of challenge to get up solo. Unlike the 40' model, it is too long to walk it upright. I figured out the best way was to attach it to the post and then bring up one section at a time. A couple of hours today to get used to set up. All bands were 1.5:1 or better without a tuner. All Germany contest was going on today.” |
40' Spiderbeam Mast + FT991A + HyEndFed 3 Band 100 Watt Classic |
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| Time | Call | Band | Freq | Mode | Grid2 | Location | Comments |
“I heard South Africa, Namibia and Japan, all 57-59 clear signals, but could not crack the pile-ups with only 100 watts. Still it was a good Petty’s Island practice session.” |
100 Watts + 40' Spiderbeam Mast + HyEndFed 3 Band 100 Watt Classic |
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| Time | Call | Band | Freq | Mode | Grid2 | Location | Comments |
“Set up for about an hour on Sunday and wasn't disappointed. I am going to upgrade to the 60' mast considering how easy it is to set up and operate. 40' is now on sale. If interested, let me know. Will we ever get a rain free weekend again? Hopefully we will have good weather on the last weekend, this month, which is the CQ DX contest.” |
100 Watts + 40' Spiderbeam Mast + HyEndFed 3 Band 100 Watt Classic |
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| Time | Call | Band | Freq | Mode | Grid2 | Location | Comments |
“Just got the 40 Foot Spiderbeam Mast and the HyEndFed wire antenna from the Netherlands. Unbelievable performance! Resonant (1:1 flat) on 15, 20 and 40. Tunable on WARC bands. Set-up as vertical with no radials. Mast was strapped to wooden post at Mary Mazza Park, no guy wires required. Set-up 40' mast in about 15 minutes. Goodbye Buddipole!” |
100 Watts + Buddipole @ Mary Mazza Duffy Park |
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| Time | Call | Band | Freq | Mode | Grid2 | Location | Comments |
“Band, again, seemed active despite the poor solar flux reading. Australia came in long path towards the end of the afternoon at 5/7-5/9. I got a 5/5. FT897D was the rig on battery power (Bioenno Lithium Iron Phosphate Model BLF-1230LB). Buddipole Long Version (18' horizontal dipole config.)” |
100 Watts + Buddipole @ Mary Mazza Duffy Park |
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| Call | Band | Freq | Mode | Grid2 | Location | Comments |
“Began working the Gray Line, in the late afternoon, and the band was open” |