Sunday's weather was unseasonably warm. It got to about 75 degrees. I set up my Buddipole antenna and FT-897D, and started playing with the 20 meters band.
A few things not going in my favor:
1. The location wasn't ideal, since the place that I'm renting is a condo.
2. I was using the FP-30 with the FT-897D (it allows it to use AC power), and I was connected to an electrical socket on the little porch area outside. Every time I keyed up, the power in the house reacted... strangely.
Anyway, I heard a few nets going, and a special event (N0J Eagle Day from Lake of the Ozarks Amateur Radio Club. I decided to try to contact N0J.
Right after the CQ call, I attempted to jump in there: "N0J, this is KM4EPR." Nothing. Someone else got their attention, so I listened and waited. And tried again at the next CQ call.
"N0J, this is KM4EPR."
"Last station, I heard a K and a 4 I think, can you try again?"
"N0J, this is KM4EPR, that's Kilo Mike Four Echo Papa Romeo..."
"Last station, you are very broken, I'm getting maybe every other word..."
Disheartening. I didn't bother trying again. I listened to a few more conversations while drinking a little beer and sitting on the porch, then I closed up shop and put everything away.
A few things I learned:
1. I need another option for power. I'm not sure yet if it was the condo's electrical system, or not, but I have a suspicion that I wasn't able to transmit properly because of it. I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get ahold of some FNB-78 batteries for the radio. And the CD-24 charger. And the PA-26 AC connection for the CD-24.
2. Check the bands. (This is a post-script, really. I found this out on Tuesday, 07 January.) There's more than a few websites that show the information, but the band may have closed up. I have since added the band status (and a bunch of other useful solar data) using N0NBH's very helpful widget to this website.
3. The short radio window I had was frustrating, but it wasn't a world-ender. I still got to go outside and enjoy the sun while I could. So, modifying a common phrase I use while sailing: "A bad radio day sure beats a bad work day."
A few things not going in my favor:
1. The location wasn't ideal, since the place that I'm renting is a condo.
2. I was using the FP-30 with the FT-897D (it allows it to use AC power), and I was connected to an electrical socket on the little porch area outside. Every time I keyed up, the power in the house reacted... strangely.
Anyway, I heard a few nets going, and a special event (N0J Eagle Day from Lake of the Ozarks Amateur Radio Club. I decided to try to contact N0J.
Right after the CQ call, I attempted to jump in there: "N0J, this is KM4EPR." Nothing. Someone else got their attention, so I listened and waited. And tried again at the next CQ call.
"N0J, this is KM4EPR."
"Last station, I heard a K and a 4 I think, can you try again?"
"N0J, this is KM4EPR, that's Kilo Mike Four Echo Papa Romeo..."
"Last station, you are very broken, I'm getting maybe every other word..."
Disheartening. I didn't bother trying again. I listened to a few more conversations while drinking a little beer and sitting on the porch, then I closed up shop and put everything away.
A few things I learned:
1. I need another option for power. I'm not sure yet if it was the condo's electrical system, or not, but I have a suspicion that I wasn't able to transmit properly because of it. I'm going to have to bite the bullet and get ahold of some FNB-78 batteries for the radio. And the CD-24 charger. And the PA-26 AC connection for the CD-24.
2. Check the bands. (This is a post-script, really. I found this out on Tuesday, 07 January.) There's more than a few websites that show the information, but the band may have closed up. I have since added the band status (and a bunch of other useful solar data) using N0NBH's very helpful widget to this website.
3. The short radio window I had was frustrating, but it wasn't a world-ender. I still got to go outside and enjoy the sun while I could. So, modifying a common phrase I use while sailing: "A bad radio day sure beats a bad work day."