Pigs N Skeeter's 2013

Greetings from the Flying Pigs of North Central Tennessee located in Clarksville TN. Thanks for stopping by and checking out our little story about CW QRP. This year because of schedule conflicts the Flying Pigs were not able to join in the Bumble Bee QSO party (http://w1pns.wordpress.com/category/portable-operations/flight-of-the-bumble-bees/) so we had to make the Skeeter Hunt (http://www.qsl.net/w2lj/).

We knew the weather was a little sketchy for the day of our event so we chose an area that we could get good cover to protect the K3 and assorted radio gear we were bring along. The gang consisted of KF4WK-Lewis, NV4T-Doc, N5HOT-Terry, KT4FQ-Jim and myself KM6NN-John. We knew the park where we wanted to operate would be crowded on the morning of the event so Terry and I decided to get to the Liberty Park around 11:00 hours local time to make sure we got the covered pick nick area. When we arrived the sky was dark and a slight wind was blowing from the north east. The wind was not that bad and actually kept us cool while we set up the antenna. The park was not as busy as we thought it would be because the chance of rain was on the high side. After we got the antenna up a slight rain began to fall but soon stopped and had little effect on the operation except to cool things down a little. As soon as the rain stopped Lewis and Doc arrived and assisted us with verbal assistance during the set up of the radios. We were happy to see our friend and soon to be Flying Pig Jim Shelton arrive and give us moral support during or testing of the radios and antenna system. 

While checking out the key's with the K3 we noticed a passer by checking out our operation. A large gray squirrel moving around near our set up. No doubt he wanted to learn a little more about QRP CW and just had to get a little closer to hear the radio.

When time came to get on the air we chose to start on 20 meters and I took the helm and at 17:04Z I heard the call KX9X-Sean in West Hartford Connecticut and he was 559 into the great state of Tennessee. His Skeeter number was 01..... a Great catch for the first contact...

Next up was KX0R-George in Boulder Colorado was booming in with a 599. Man this radio stuff is great fun. The signals kept jumping out of the radio. K3EL-David in Princeton New Jersey was 599 and in the log. As the day passed away the weather began to get hot. Not so much the heat as the humidity was taking a toll on us. We kept on operating and getting more contacts. Doc came on board as the operator and we changed to 40 meters. As soon as he started searching he had AB9CA-Dave in Loxley Alabama. In the log with a straight key, great job Doc. He was 599 and gave us a 559 for a report. Next up was Terry and he quickly found NK9G-Richard in Cudahy Wisconsin. He was 579 and gave us a 559. By this time we were getting a little tired from fighting the weather and I noticed Doc was swatting at our own local skeeters. He seemed to be the bait that kept the rest of us from getting bit....LOL Great job Doc...

I decided to give the Skeeters on the air a couple of more tries and tried calling CQ or at least I tried to call CQBZZ. I am sure from the laughter around the radio it did not come out the way I wanted. But W4DBV-Dave located in Old Hickory Tennessee came right back with a strong 599. Turns out he is just down the road from Clarksville and was running 50 watts. No wonder he was so strong.... After that I made one last spin of the dial and found a weak signal on 7039.... N3AQC-The North American QRP CW Club was in the log with a 559. We were stoked to make the contact and he gave us a 569 report. As it turns out we are also members of this club and it was great to work John and Tom and the gang from Kittaning Pennsylvania. With that contact in the log we decided to hang it up and go get some cool spot and have a cold drink. Man what a day..... more fun that is allowed by law.... or soon to be in your area...LOL

Thanks for stopping by and keep your antenna up and your radio on.... CU on the air

From John and the Flying Pig gang in Clarksville Tennessee...72 dit dit

P.S.

At the writing of this story the results of the Skeeter contest are in.... check it out at the link attached here (http://www.qsl.net/w2lj/index%20page%205). We got TOP SCORE FOR TENNESSEE MULTI-OP ..YEA Now that is what I am talking about....

this last one isn't a Pig-yet...?