Austin, TX, EM10; Padre Island, TX, EL17

A week ago today, Debbie, KC9ULA, Roman, KD9COA and myself returned from a ten day vacation/family reunion to Padre Island, TX EM17. We took the Dodge Caravan and I brought along a Yaesu FT-857 and a Efactor 144/432 loop that I purchased from David Kirk, WT4E of Efactor Antennas, http://efactorantennas.com/index.html, after I read about them in a QST review by Steve Ford a few months ago.  It is an extremely well built dual-band loop with only one coax feed.  The price is only $79.00 and David is a FB op to work with.  To set the SWR, all I had to do is increase the spacing between each loop end to get a great match.  I didn't hear much on the trip, but an op near Corpus Christi came back to my CQ.  We were about 50 miles apart with each of us giving great signal reports.  I also brought some HF hamsticks, but ended up not using them.

                                                 WT4E 144/432 mobile loop. Only $79.00.

While in route to our family reunion, some ops back home asked if I'd be on 6 meters.  My car is equipped with 6 meters, but I didn't have a six meter stick for the van.  Nothing that a stop at Ham Radio Outlet in Plano, TX couldn't fix.  I was expecting a small store front with a large warehouse, but the store is a fully functioning ham radio retail store.  I picked up my six meter stick, a mag mount and few other items.

                          Debbie, KC9ULA and Roman, KD9COA outside HRO in Plano, TX

                                               HRO, a fully functioning ham radio store!

                                                 KC9ULA looking around HRO



After visiting HRO near Dallas and on the way to Corpus, we spent the night in Round Rock, TX which is near Austin and I spent a wonderful time visiting with Jim, N5MU.  He and Shelia are doing well, but Jim told me that his workbench is in his home's garage which doesn't lend itself to building projects in the Texas summer heat.  While we were there it was over 100 degrees F.

                                                      Jim, N5MU and Ron, KO0Z

In addition to the loop and hamsticks, I brought along my 10 GHz rig.  I asked Jim if he knew of any good microwave spots in the area, but he's been so busy unpacking and arranging his home that he really hasn't had much opportunity to look.  So after our visit, bleary eyed from driving and staying up late, I looked at Google Maps and found what may be a suitable site only five miles from our hotel.  I made a sked with Ron Marosko, K5LLL near Austin for late Saturday morning.  Ron told me about the N05K beacon on 10,368.222 GHz which serves the area.  About 10 am, Debbie, Roman and I set out for Round Rock Multipurpose Complex ( ball fields, picnic area etc) which has a fairly good view to the north and southeast.

                                        Round Rock, TX Multipurpose Complex EM10en looking North

                               Looking southeast towards the NO5K beacon and Ron K5LLL 

                      I could copy the beacon well, but not Ron.  He speculates there's a ridge between us.  Ron, K5LLL is about 38 miles away.

     

  A recording of the NO5K beacon located in EM10ch.  About 20 miles from my portable QTH in EM10en.

 Me, KO0Z (EM10en) listening to the NO5K/b ( EM10ch) and after completing a rainscatter QSO with Ron, K5LLL, EM10kf.

Debbie, Roman and I didn't have a lot of time to look for a suitable site, but they were quite patient with me while I looked and then setup.  Ron, K5LLL wasn't too familiar with the area, but he felt like folks didn't have a lot of luck in the past.  Well, the adage, nothing ventured, nothing gained applies and giving it the old, college try, I set up, only to find out that my deep-cycle battery was dead.  I had charged it before the trip, but it had seen one too many microwave ventures. Instead, I was able to use the van's electrical system.  I heard the beacon on 10,368.222 GHz without difficulty.  Ron, K5LLL and I couldn't make it direct, but we did take advantage of some thunderheads to our north and we make the two-way via rainscatter!  

This two-way 3 cm QSO made my day!  Now on to San Antonio and the Alamo.  Four hours later (I-35 traffic was horrible) we arrived at the Alamo.  We enjoyed the history, historical sites and the riverwalk there.

We now pressed on to Padre Island and I had a 2 meter SSB QSO with Don Galloway, K5DYY, in Alice, TX, EL07 about 35 miles away .  He told me that he used to be active  on 10 GHz, but he wasn't able to get his transmitter working, so we didn't have any luck with 3 cm. Too bad, I was looking forward to working him.  It would have been fun to work him via rainscatter, for there are almost always some showers over the Gulf while I was there in EL17, IOTA NA-092.  I appreciate him trying. I hope he can locate the problem.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                            T-storm off of Padre Island, IOTA NA-092

                                  Sargasso sea weed washed on shore on Padre Island EL 17
                    

                                                              Screen shot tells the story.

 One of the really nice things about visiting Padre Island is that you can drive your car up onto the beach.  Being careful to park beyond the high tide mark, Debbie, Roman and I took a dip in the Gulf's warm, but refreshing waters.  A bit later, I returned to the van, broke out the newly purchased six-meter stick, tuned it up with my analyzer and connected it to the FT-857.  I immediately made a six-meter contact and since I was on Padre Island, IOTA NA-092, I was spotted and for the next half-hour or so I worked down a small six-meter pile-up!  What fun!  

When we returned home on Sunday, July 2, I already had some QSL cards waiting for me!  I wish I would have had more time to devote to Amateur Radio on this trip, but it was a family reunion and that was a lot of fun and time consuming.  Still running ham radio vacation style was a fun experience.

73,   Ron, KO0Z