It’s a bit odd for this challenge to begin in the middle of the week, but it’s the day that I started. Inspiration is an enigmatic thing. When it comes, it must be taken advantage of.
The QSO a Day challenge is certainly changing my operating style. I’m making sure that I get on the air between 7pm and 10pm CDT (00:00z and 03:00z) to take advantage of consistent greyline openings on 40m. A few hours after dusk, most everyone follows the good propagation to 80m.
I could take advantage of greyline in the morning, but I’m often commuting. Any earlier than that and 40m is still dead. Perhaps after I finish this month, I’ll expand my QRP station to include 80m, allowing for better nighttime and wintertime operating. Plus, if I ever hope to work Alaska, I’d better get low.
Had a grand old time camping this past weekend in the Ouachita National Forest, POTA K-4244 . That trip deserves a separate post.
Tuesday evening (Wednesday 00:00z) presented a real challenge. Normally, I would get on at my usual time of 7pm CDT, but I had a cross country meet to coach this evening. This, compounded with my job being an hour away from my QTH meant that operating would be nigh impossible if I wanted to sleep. A little improvisation was in order.
The benefits of portable QRP operation saved me Wednesday morning. My parents live one block away from the school I work at so I stay there most nights where coaching and bus driving keep me out late. Since I didn’t have to drive to work that morning, I used the time to operate in their back yard and made my contact. I was a little rushed, but I got out to VE3FGU in Ontario. Week two in the books!
Stations worked:
17 Sep
- KF4AV
- AK4JA
- W5WTH
- K2PI
18 Sep
- NZ1J
- WK7J
- KG4MTN
- K1EDG
19 Sep
- W4LSV
20 Sep (from POTA K-4424)
- NF1O
- KJ4R
- WA3KFS
- W2ITT
- W7LXN
- W1PID
- KB1DC
- W2RAN
- K4XU
- W6OUL
- K6LDQ
21 Sep
- W5WTH
22 Sep
- WI5H
23 Sep
- VE3FGU
Amateur Radio Station WB0ISG 