PRELIMINARY INFO Everyone, that is, except me. This is my 4th attempt in the past 2 years to make the trip. My father was stationed in Ketchikan while in the U.S. Coast Guard during WWII. Legend has it I was conceived in Ketchikan, which is perhaps one reason I prefer cooler temperatures :-) My de Quervane's Tendonitis for over one year has finally healed sufficiently to now make the trip. Unlike my Farallon Islands NA-178 Expedition in February, 2006 (with Mike/K9AJ), this will be "Vacation Style"...although I understand they get a LOT of rain and wind in Ketchikan during September. I hope to be QRV from 9/7/07 through 9/9/07 (primarily CW - my favorite mode) on 40/30/20/17 meters, and plan to also operate in the CW Sprint Contest. My rig will be one of the TS-480's used on NA-178 and now part of my home QTH SO2R station. On the way back home I plan a side trip to the Eastern Washington area I grew up in before moving to California. If you hear K6VVA/7, I will no longer be in NA-041 :-) Fred, N6AWD (our Awesome NA-178 QSL Manager), kindly said he would handle the NA-041 QSL's. PLEASE CHECK BACK on final QSL Routing and other info !!! KETCHIKAN SPECIAL ANTENNA SYSTEM | ||||||||||||
| Considering that I may have to put up an antenna in the rain and wind myself, I've completed successful
testing of what I'm calling the "Ketchikan Special" (a derivative of the
"Farallon Special" used on NA-178).
The antenna system consists of an elevated High-Sierra Sidekick on a Buddipole VersaTee with two Buddipole extension arms and a 9 foot "Shockcord" whip at the top. This is secured on top of a Force 12 "X-Base" with custom vertical extension shafts with a welded aluminum threaded top. Two semi-elevated radials per band will be used, and the antenna (hopefully) placed a stone's throw from the nearby salt water. High mountainous terrain in some other directions is unavoidable ;-( I'll be taking extra collapsable whips and a Buddipole 80m coil with preset taps for continued manual band change QRV in the event of any problems with the Sidekick.   (Note my hills toward Europe from here) 
|
