My (far) better half and I spent the past weekend with family out in central Pennsylvania. During the weekend, I squeezed in a quick, early morning POTA activation. The great band conditions made for a fun activation, but paddle problems made it challenging at one point.
On Saturday morning, I was up before everyone else. After downing a cup of coffee, I took a short drive to a boat launch on the Susquehanna River to activate the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail (US-4567).
We drove out in my (far) better half’s car, so I used a simple antenna setup that produced decent results in the past. I used my Gabil GRA-7350TC on a small magnetic mount. Like the last time I used it on my (far) better half’s car, I easily adjusted it for a 1.3:1 SWR on 40M. I fed the coax through the passenger side window.
Inside the car, I set my Elecraft KH1 on the center console. I used my cheap QU-21C paddles attached to a clipboard with a homebrew magnetic mount I made for them.
The 40M band was hot with no trace of the QRM I experienced the last time I was there. It only took 14 minutes to log my first 10 contacts, the contacts came in steadily for the next 45 minutes.
I was cruising right along for about 30 minutes until my cheap paddles decided to start dropping “dits” here and there. Based on my crazy sending, I’m sure some folks thought I was experiencing some sort of medical emergency.
I frantically searched for my N6ARA Tiny Paddle that I always carry as a backup. Of course, they were nowhere to be found. I ended up using the stock KH1 paddles attached to the radio, with the KH1 on the center armrest. This setup was an ergonomic nightmare, with my elbow in the backseat area. Despite the awkward position I was in, I was able to finish up my activation.
After an hour, I had 39 contacts in my log. I was so occupied on 40M, I never got around to trying the higher bands. My log included 7 park-to-park contacts. One of those was with N4JAW (aka Ham on a Bike). It’s always fun working Jim down in Kentucky.
I also heard from my friend, Greg WA3GM. It had been a while since our last QSO, so it was great to hear him again.
The Gabil antenna and mag mount setup once again proved to be a great antenna when using my (far) better half’s car. With about 4.5 watts out on 40M, I worked stations up and down eastern U.S. and Canada and out to several mid-west states.
The QU-21C paddles, however, are a different story. This is the second time I have had issues with them. A squirt or two of contact cleaner will usually fix the problem—for a while, anyway. As they say: You buy cheap, you get cheap.
And, of course, I found my N6ARA paddles as I was packing up. Doh!
72, Craig WB3GCK
WB3GCK QRP Amateur Radio 