DX from the Old Range Road
October 2012

Today I hiked on the old east-west range road in Sanbornton.
The fall colors were fantastic and so was the DX. I worked
Dominica, Germany, Czech Rep., and a research ship off the
coast of Africa.



The day was glorious... a tad over 60F with clear blue skies. The hike was
less than a mile, but the views and the fall colors were grand. I stopped
in a field on the Swain Farm, a little north of Hunkins Pond. I tossed my
line into a huge maple tree. In the spring, it's tapped for maple syrup.
Today, it provided glorious color and a great antenna support.



Even though my throw went nearly 50 feet high... I only needed 22 feet. I
set up on 15 meters with the ATS-4 and used a half wave wire. I powered
the setup with 8AA batteries that I solar charged this morning.

The band was remarkable. Very quiet with a handful of very strong signals.
My first contact was with Volker, J79WE in Dominica. He gave me a 549 and
we finished a quick exchange easily. Next I answered a CQ from CM8CAD in
Cuba. Carl gave me a 559.  I sat right in the grass under the tree and enjoyed
a view of the Belknap range to the south.



My third QSO was with Hardy, DL1VDL in Dresden. He gave me a 579. Hardy reminded
me that we had worked before. Checking my log, I noted that I had worked him in 2008
from the cabin at Knox Mountain! "UR FB 4W is great," he sent. "Have fun hiking." With
that we signed and I packed up to continue the hike. I went east over the side of the
hill, and set up once again. This time on 20 meters.



I sat down in a second field after throwing a 33 foot wire over another maple branch. This
time I looked across the high field into a glade below. Mt. Rowe is in the background.
I called CQ on 14.060 and received a quick reply from Jan, OK2BUT in the Czech Rep.
Jan gave me a 569 and sent "FB sig from UR 4W." He was running 100 watts with a
3 element yagi. I dropped down to 14.017 and was just in time to hear the end of
a QSO. I called GM0HCQ/MM and Mike returned my call. He gave his QTH as 28N - 20W.
Mike was on the Royal Research Ship James Clark Ross near Gomera Island off the
north east coast of Africa. Here's a picture of the ship at anchor in the Antarctic:



You can find out more about the ship and Mike's station at: http://gm0hcq.com

After this QSO I packed up and walked out of the field onto the old range road. The sun
was falling rapidly and illuminated the trees as I headed west.



These glorious fall days are numbered, with November just around the corner.
The forecast for tomorrow is rain.