LAFF-0060, NO-2581, NO-VI-2581 Svartskog

A few weeks ago, I got the “highly affordable” antenna “Just OK” whip from HamRadioDuo. Collapsed, it is around 15-17 cm, and I guess it’s around 1.40 meter extended. The weight is very low, only 112 gram. In addition you’ll need a tripod. My small tripod weights around 100 gram. Together with a (tr)usx, which weights 135 fram, the total weight is around 350 gram excusive battery coax, paddle, … The question is: Does it work?

I tested it in my garden, and my (unscientifically) impression is that its performance is similar to the AX1.

Today, it was a really nice weather. I brought the antenna to my local park, Svartskog (LAFF-0060, NO-2581, NO-VI-2581) for testing.

The conditions on 20 meter was great. Thus, it took only 23 minutes from the first QSO to the 10^th QSO was in the log. Obviously, the antenna is highly compromied antenna, but it works surprisingly well when the band conditions are good.

The power was 5 W. The average snr reports from the Reversed Beacon Nework skimmers were 13 dB, the median 11 dB.

DXCC: F, G, HB9, I. ON, UR, UA.

(In case of trouble with the antenna, I had a plan B – KX2 and an EFHW.)

 

LAFF-0653, NO-1473 Ødemørk

This nature reserve is easily accessible. I parked at N 59.4887, E 10.7189, which is only a few hundred meters away from the nature reserve’s border. A few hundred more meters, and I would have entered the nature reserve Ishavet (LAFF-0068, NO-0887).

As usual, I used my KX-2 and the “red Chinese GP-whip”, and was QRV in a few minutes. The conditions were great, and the chasers QRV. First, I worked 11 chasers on SSB. Then, I QSYed to CW, and got 15 more QSOs in the log. In total, 26 QSOs from 14 DXCCs.

DXCC: CT, DL, E7, EA, F, G, I, OE, ON, PA, SP, UR, VE, W.

NO-2531 Seiersten Skanse

The park is quite close to the city center of Drøbak, and it is easily accessible. Today, the weather was nice, and I decided to activate the park.

The conditions seemed to be quite OK (reversed beacon network indicated so), but I used around an hour to have the park activated. It could be that only a few chasers were QRV today. Afterwards, I tried to make some calls for “North hunt” – hunters, but I did only achieve one QSO.

When I went home, I had 13 QSOs in the log from 12 DXCCs, 2 on SSB, the rest on CW. The rig ant antenna was KX-2 and the Chinese GP-whip.

DXCC: DL, EA, G, I, LA, OH, OK, S5, SP, UA, VE, W.

NO-3219 NMBU-parken

In my opinion, NMBU (Norges miljø- og biovitenskapelige universitet (Norwegian University of Life Sciences)) has Norways most beautiful campus. It is also easily accessible. I have been there many times, but today was the first time I activated the park.

The conditions weren’t that great, and few chasers seemed to be QRV, but anyway I enjoyed the activation. The result was 16 QSOs from 9 DXCCs, 15 on 20 meter, 1 on 30 meter, all CW. Rig/antenna: KX-2 @ 12W and “China-GP”.

DXCC: DL, EA, EI, G, I, ON, SP, VE, W.

NO-3217 Sykehusparken

Sykehusparken is an area in the city center of Sandnes, Rogaland county, only 1-2 minutes from the main street. It was my first visit to this area.

I used my KX-2 and a GP antenna (the “red China whip” – a 5.5 meter whip and a ground spike). The conditions were marginal for QRP, but in the end I had 17 QSOs from 10 DXCCs on 20 and 30 meter.

DXCC: DL, EA, F, G, GM, I, ON, SM, SP, W.

LAFF-0090, NO-0850 Hundorp

After the activation of LA/OL-200, I stopped at Hundorp Nature Reserve. I had hoped to have a sufficiently number of QSOs in order to qualify fot WWFF (i.e. 44 QSOs). That didn’t happen, so I need to visit it again later. The conditions were relatively poor.

In the end I had 10 QSOs from 8 DXCCs, all on 20 meter, in the log (5 SSB and 5 CW).

DXCC: DL, HA, I, SP, UR, W, YO, 9A.

LA/OL-200 Segalstadsæterkampen

Once again I activated Segalstadsæterkampen, one of the easiest 4-points summits in LA. As last year, I used my KX-2 and a linked dipole (Bandhopper 3). The HF conditions were fair, and the weather nice.

The activation resulted in 16 QSOs, 5 on SSB, 11 on CW, all on 20 meter from 10 DXCCs.

DXCC: DL, EA, G, GW, I, LX, OE, S5, SP, UR.