This past weekend I was able to get away for a little while get some radio therapy. I took the Radio Flyer to one of my favorite parks -- Black Rock Mountain State Park (US-2167). Besides a little me time after back-to-back family events, I wanted to bring my new radio out. I have had the IC-7300 MK2 for a couple of months now, but only used it at home. My old IC-7300 was my go to field radio and now that it has passed on to another ham, it was time to test the mettle of the new radio.
It did not disappoint. It is everything thing the IC-7300 was and then some. It uses less power on receive, It runs cooler, I believe it hears a little better. The CW decoder for those that need one is very, very good. this weekend was the CQ WPX CW contest and I spun the dial down to the lower end of the CW allocation on 20 meters to test the decoder. It was easily copying code at 35+ wpm. Impressive!
My intention was to give the radio a good FT8 run Friday night at 20-30 watts and then switch over to CW; however, the deck was stacked against me. Besides the contest, there was intermittent heavy rains, and the band conditions were poor to say the least. In a 24 hour period, I made only 97 FT8 contacts and 5 CW. The only DX was Canada and Puerto Rico. I was really hoping to make a bunch of CW contacts. The 5 I made were the only ones I heard.
The above picture will give you some idea of what the bands looked like. But all said and done, I had a good time. I got a chance to get all of my EmComm gear ready for the hurricane season which starts 01 June. All systems are a go.
I still get ready every year even though I am getting to an age where deploying may no longer be an option. I've led a good life often rough and tumble, when I reach that final finish line, it won't be a sprint, more like a slow walk with a heavy limp and lots of pain. I'm not done though. I've been a Net Control Station (NCS) for many years and that is now where my strength lies. Besides being competent, I have a good station that puts out a good signal.
One of there issues I run into is when I go camping, I have to reserve a campsite 1-3 months in advance with penalties if I cancel. Weekends like this past one where poor band conditions coupled with severe weather, doesn't always give a good return on investment. I am looking into booking a motel room instead of a campsite. Now the reservation time is measured in weeks instead of months and My old bones will appreciate the comfort of a nice bed.
Getting old is said as not for the weak, there are more things you have to deal with, but that doesn't mean not having fun. I cope with getting old by adhearing to two military adages: 1) from old old army alma mater "Nightstalkers Don't Quit (NSDQ), and the second from the U.S. Marines, "Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome". I ain't dead yet so I hope to hear you on the bands. 73 de Scott
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