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.