{"id":21271,"date":"2016-09-09T11:33:34","date_gmt":"2016-09-09T15:33:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=21271"},"modified":"2016-09-09T11:36:04","modified_gmt":"2016-09-09T15:36:04","slug":"a-quick-recap-of-yesterdays-carl-sandburg-home-npota-activation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/09\/a-quick-recap-of-yesterdays-carl-sandburg-home-npota-activation\/","title":{"rendered":"A quick recap of yesterday’s Carl Sandburg Home NPOTA activation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"img_20160908_172739245_hdr\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Yesterday, I fit in yet another activation of the Carl Sandburg Home (NS01) for the ARRL National Parks on the Air. You might recall, I activated the same site last Sunday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The lake at the trail head.<\/p><\/div>\n

Second time’s a charm!<\/h2>\n

Since I had already scoped out the site and the trail where I operated last time, I took a minimum of supplies: My Elecraft KX2, EFT Trail-Friendly antenna and the accessories in my go kit:<\/p>\n

\"LowePro<\/a><\/p>\n

I didn’t even need a folding chair as I hiked further into the trail system and found a bench in an ideal shady location where I could hang the EFT antenna without any part of the wire being close to the trail itself.<\/p>\n

The only negative was that I had to fight off a few mosquitoes–par for the course!<\/p>\n

\"img_20160908_163154954_hdr\"<\/a><\/p>\n

After firing up the KX2, I found that both frequencies I announced (14,286 and 7,286 kHz) were occupied. I tuned around and found clear frequencies then posted the changes on Twitter and the ARRL NPOTA Facebook page. Fortunately, I was spotted on the DX clusters after my first contacts (thanks, Mike and others!).<\/p>\n

In short: this was about the busiest I’ve ever been on the radio.<\/p>\n

In 43\u00a0minutes, I logged 41 stations: many stations here in the southeast US, and stations from New Mexico to Italy! Propagation and timing were certainly in my favor.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

This red rubber band held my KX2 to the clipboard, but I hope to sort out an even better way of securing it in the future.<\/p><\/div>\n

The pileups were heavy enough that I didn’t even have time to properly pull log sheets once I had completed them–instead, I folded them over the KX2 and continued writing.<\/p>\n

I was very pleased that I logged at least one SWLing Post<\/em> reader: Randy (KS4L)<\/a>. Thanks for the contact, Randy!<\/p>\n

Not all portable operations go so well…but when they do, it’s energizing!<\/em><\/p>\n

I might be able to squeeze in a 30 minute activation on the\u00a0Blue Ridge Parkway (PK01) this afternoon. \u00a0Listen for me (K4SWL) around 14,286 kHz SSB sometime between 20:30-21:30 UTC. That is, if propagation and my schedule cooperate again!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Yesterday, I fit in yet another activation of the Carl Sandburg Home (NS01) for the ARRL National Parks on the Air. You might recall, I activated the same site last Sunday. Second time’s a charm! Since I had already scoped out the site and the trail where I operated last time, I took a minimum […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[545,3,3196,43],"tags":[5440,5098,2034,5083,5084,5089,5088,1303],"class_list":["post-21271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ham-radio","category-news","category-portable-radio","category-shortwave-radio","tag-carl-sandburg-home","tag-eft-trail-friendly-antenna","tag-elecraft","tag-elecraft-kx2","tag-kx2","tag-national-parks-on-the-air","tag-npota","tag-qrp"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-5x5","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":21260,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/09\/npota-activating-the-carl-sandburg-home-ns07-today\/","url_meta":{"origin":21271,"position":0},"title":"NPOTA: Activating the Carl Sandburg Home (NS07) today","author":"Thomas","date":"September 8, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"This afternoon (September 8), I should have a chance to activate the Carl Sandburg Home again for the ARRL National Parks on the Air program. You might recall, I activated the site Sunday as well. I'll plan to use the Elecraft KX2 and EFT TRail-Friendly antenna combo once again. I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Elecraft Kx2 ON Clipboard","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Elecraft-Kx2-ON-Clipboard.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Elecraft-Kx2-ON-Clipboard.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Elecraft-Kx2-ON-Clipboard.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Elecraft-Kx2-ON-Clipboard.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":21191,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/09\/labor-day-fun-a-hamfest-an-npota-activation-and-a-new-elecraft-kx2-qrp-kit\/","url_meta":{"origin":21271,"position":1},"title":"Labor Day Fun: A hamfest, an NPOTA activation–and a new Elecraft KX2 QRP kit","author":"Thomas","date":"September 5, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"I've enjoyed\u00a0an especially \"radio-active\" Labor Day weekend. \u00a0Here's hoping you did, too. On Saturday I headed out the door\u00a0at\u00a04:15 AM to meet\u00a0my buddy Vlado (N3CZ), the inimitable radio doctor; we\u00a0aimed our headlights through the morning mist to the Shelby Hamfest. Though it took quite a bit more coffee to keep\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"NS07-Carl-Sandburg-Home","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/NS07-Carl-Sandburg-Home.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/NS07-Carl-Sandburg-Home.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/NS07-Carl-Sandburg-Home.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/NS07-Carl-Sandburg-Home.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":21416,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/09\/npota-photos-from-weekend-two-fer-activation\/","url_meta":{"origin":21271,"position":2},"title":"NPOTA: Photos from weekend “two-fer” activation","author":"Thomas","date":"September 19, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"As I mentioned in a previous post, what I love about the National Parks On The Air program is that it combines two of my favorite things: national parks and ham radio. My family visits national parks regularly, so it's easy\u00a0for me to pack a small radio, do a quick\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"npota-tr10-pk01-qrp-encampmentview","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/NPOTA-TR10-PK01-QRP-EncampmentView.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/NPOTA-TR10-PK01-QRP-EncampmentView.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/NPOTA-TR10-PK01-QRP-EncampmentView.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/NPOTA-TR10-PK01-QRP-EncampmentView.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":21360,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/09\/national-parks-on-the-air-activating-two-sites-simultaneously-today\/","url_meta":{"origin":21271,"position":3},"title":"National Parks On The Air: Activating two sites simultaneously today","author":"Thomas","date":"September 17, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Today, I plan to\u00a0activate both the Blue Ridge Parkway (PK01) and Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (TR10) two-fer for the National Parks on the Air (NPOTA). I should go on the air sometime\u00a0between 16:00-17:00 UTC (12:00-13:00 EDT), weather permitting. I'll plan to start on the 20 meter band (14286 kHz)\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"I'll hike to the point where the Overmountain Victory Trail meets the Blue Ridge Parkway.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/overMountainTrail.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/overMountainTrail.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/overMountainTrail.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/overMountainTrail.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20935,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/09\/sundays-npota-activation-on-the-blue-ridge-parkway\/","url_meta":{"origin":21271,"position":4},"title":"NPOTA activation on the Blue Ridge Parkway","author":"Thomas","date":"September 3, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"I'm not sure what I'm going to do after the National Parks On The Air\u00a0event is over at the end of this year.\u00a0I hope the ARRL organizes something equally as fun\u00a0for 2017. Truth is, I love playing radio outdoors and I love National Parks. The two\u00a0are a perfect combo. My\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A crowd gathers as Vlado (N3CZ) works station after station in CW!","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Vlado-CW-Crowd.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Vlado-CW-Crowd.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Vlado-CW-Crowd.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Vlado-CW-Crowd.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":21537,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/09\/npota-activations-this-morning\/","url_meta":{"origin":21271,"position":5},"title":"NPOTA Activations this morning!","author":"Thomas","date":"September 25, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"If you're around the radio this morning (Sunday, Sep 25), and you'd like to make some NPOTA contacts, note that I plan activate: Great Smoky Mountains\u00a0(NP26) &\u00a0Appalachian National Scenic Trail\u00a0(TR01) starting around 13:30 UTC (9:30 EDT), Great Smoky Mountains\u00a0(NP26) &\u00a0Blue Ridge Parkway\u00a0(PK01) starting around 15:00 UTC (11:00 EDT) and hopefully\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"elecraft-kx2-appalachaintrail-npota-tr01","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Elecraft-KX2-AppalachainTrail-NPOTA-TR01.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21271","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21271"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21271\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21271"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}