Yesterday, I found myself back at the Pointe aux Barques lighthouse near Port Austin, MI for the Sunday portion of the International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend. Unlike last year, when I was there for the National Lighthouse Weekend, I was only operating on Sunday this year. Like last year, the weather was perfect, and I had a great time.
Like last year, I made the majority of my contacts on 40 meters, and even more specifically, 7030 kHz. Unlike last year, 20 meters was open, and I heard many Europeans. Unfortunately, only YL3CW was able to hear me sufficiently well enough to copy my call and give me a signal report. I also heard KH6TU working the Hawaii QSO Party. He actually heard my 12 W signal, but not well enough to copy my call sign and the exchange. That would have been quite a haul for 12 W!
Unlike last year, my lovely wife, Silvia, didn’t accompany me. Instead, my friend Harold came along for the ride. In years past, he and I spent a lot of time doing bike rides together. I’m not sure how much he enjoyed the amateur radio (he slept through most of it), but I’m glad I was able to get him out of the house for a day and a half.
The second most memorable QSO of the day was with W1QK in Connecticut. He was operating from the Avery Point Lighthouse in Groton, CT.
All told, I operated for a little over four hours and made ten contacts. I think I’d have made more if I hadn’t been chasing DX on 20 meters. Now that I think about it, what I really should have done is tried 15 meters. Perhaps I would have had some success there. Band conditions were so good that I might have even given 40-meter phone a try. Oh, well, next year.
I also think it’s time to tinker with antennas. The 66-ft. doublet fed with twisted pair has worked pretty well, but it doesn’t tune up real easily on 30 meters, and it would be nice to get a little more signal out on 20 meters. I’m thinking of maybe some kind of fan dipole.
Dan Fegley says
Hello Dan.
Nice to make the contact with you from Avery Point Lighthouse ILLW: US 0190, ARLHS USA 023 on the UCONN Campus in Groton, CT. Check out W1QK/LH for details about our ILLW operations including a link to our 2014 report. I see we’re both members of CWops too.
73 – Dan – W1QK CWops # 1506