Saturday morning broke with rainy skies and muddy ground out at the Oglethorpe Speedway in Pooler, GA. Despite the conditions, we were still determined to get on the air with the Boy Scouts. We hung sides on the tent shelters to keep the equipment dry, fought the mud, and started making contacts. Band conditions were good on Saturday morning and there was plenty of activity.
We had four stations set up this year. Philip, KA4KOE had his "Green" military HF radio set up for HF contacts. Ralph, W4REQ had his FT-857 set up for HF and 6 meters. Dan, KF4MND brought his Echolink equipment out and set up an Echolink node. The fourth station was my FT-897 for HF and 6 meters. I brought a G5RV Jr. (40-meters through 10-meters) to use with my station and I couldn't have been more happy with how it performed. I used it on 40, 20, and 17 meters with excellent signal reports when we weren't fighting QSB. In addition to working the radios with the Scouts, Philip also gave some soldering demonstrations and lessons.
It was great fun working with the Scouts. We were able to qualify several Scouts for their radio badges and started others on the road toward theirs. Several Scouts were really enthusiastic about amateur radio and seemed to be prospective hams. I enjoyed working with the Scouts just as much as I did working with the radios.
I would like the thank a couple of stations in particular for helping the Scouts get contacts: KE4AMC and W4C. KE4AMC, Darryll worked five of the Scouts on Saturday morning. W4C, the USCG Auxiliary 69th Anniversary Special Event Station in Merritt, NC took time out of working contacts with the special event station to work three of the Scouts.
The day began with rain, turning the ground in the foreground to mud.
The mud in evidence on my boot!
Dan, KF4MND gets some Scouts on the air at the Echolink node.
Philip, KA4KOE teaches soldering skills.
Guy, K4GTM and Ted, KJ4EGZ get Ted's son Shane another contact.
Ralph, W4REQ and a Scout make a 6-Meter contact; Jerry, W4SGA was on the other end.
Ryan, KJ4EIC gives a demonstration of Philip's "Green" radio.
Ryan, KJ4EIC and Ted, KJ4EGZ attempt a contact with the International Space Station
Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net
