After a while of radio activity, I went and participated in Utah portable day. It was two hours of radio fun in Tooele County's Rush Valley. The event was Utah Portable Day. I made 45 contacts on the 2, 20, and 17 meter bands. For most of the contacts, I submitted them as POTA contacts, as I was operating on the Pony Express Trail.
WX5LOK and his setup on the Pony Express Trail
Local and distant stations contacted
QSL Card for the event
I was able to get my Skywarn training and my resulting spotter number at the Sun City Amateur Radio Club in El Paso.
Skywarn spotter certificate
After participating in some Memorial Day activities at Fort Bliss, I drove down to Chamizal (DM61ss) to do a POTA activation I had 21 QSOs all on 20 meter FT8. That got me up to 348 QSOs at the park as I work towards my kilo.
I helped with the amateur radio communications for the Pony Express Days Parade. It quit raining before we were deployed. My location was Aviator 1 (Aviator Avenue and Pony Express Parkway, 40.32017, -112.01381, or W3W falters.moderately.shorter). No incidents.
WX5LOK at the parade
I organized an FT8 2 meter activity day for Utah. I ended up with 7 QSOs. My farthest contact was 39 km (24 mi) over a mountain range.
The ChatGPT graphic for the event and a CalTopo map of my contacts
On the way up to Field Day in Sanpete County, I stopped for a POTA activation of US-11644 Loafer Mountain Wildlife Management Area. I did some research with the boundary maps and found the boundaries crossed US 6 outside of Spanish Fork (DN40fb). I operated FT8 and made 21 QSOs on 20 meters. The direction of the QSOs resembled the direction of Spanish Fork Canyon.
I spent field day with the Skyline Radio Club high atop the Wasatch Plateau on Skyline Drive (DM49dh) at an elevation of 3130 meters (10270 ft). It was cool and windy. I operated on 20 and 40 meters SSB.
My QTH for the POTA activation and a map of my QSOs on 20 meters
A picture of the K7BSK Field Day QTH. The smoke on the horizon is from the Cottonwood Fire down by Beaver, Utah
I recently read a post about a negative experience a ham radio operator had at Field Day. The experience was around other operators being impatient or rude with newer ham radio operators and those exploring the hobby. This is something common I have seen in ham radio; those with a lot of experience being un-welcoming to those new to the hobby. Quite often their behavior revolves around grumpiness, criticizing everything they don’t agree with, plain out rude treatment of others, and expressing opinions as fact. I find this behavior toxic. I think as these folks as “False Elmers”. I have avoided and will continue to avoid individuals or organizations that exhibit this type of behavior. This is a hobby. I don’t need toxicity in my hobby.
By the way, I have seen a number of seasoned ham radio operators who are true elmers and encourage all to enjoy the hobby. I look up to these folks; I have benefited from being acquainted with them. I hope I never become a false elmer.
The rude elmer (created on ChatGTP)
I received this for making three CanParks contacts in British Columbia. All three were with VE7GEM. I had never heard of this before, but I appreciate the recognition.
I found out about this contest during the Mesa Redonda de Amigos net on Friday. I operated most of the day and ended up with 137 QSOs. I was still .at my Utah home QTH at DN40cj.
Map of QSOs
On the way back from the Crimson Canyons Trail run in Richfield, I stopped at a spot where the Deep Creek WMA intersect Utah Highway 28. I worked 20 meters, getting the first 10 QSOs on SSB, then getting 14 more on FT8. In spite of being next to a mountain, I was able to get contacts over the mountain. I think this was due to signals bouncing off the West Hills.
Map of QSOs: The QSOs to the east were going over a steep mountain. Most likely they were bouncing off the West Hills.
The QTH (DM49bm) with the West Hills in the backgroud at a distance of 8 km (5 mi).
After getting back home from the Crimson Canyon Trail Run, I worked the Texas QSO party. The operating hours were not good for 40 meter operation. I ran mostly on 20 meters. I was operating on my back porch with a 43 foot random-wire antenna. I was on for 2 hours Saturday and 3 hours Sunday. I had 21 QSOs total.
For my birthday, I went to the Point of the Mountain (DN40bk) to activate the Pony Express Trail. I activated on 20 meters with 12 SSB and 8 FT8 QSOs.
A view from the QTH of Utah Valley with some rain showers approaching.
I liked the location I activated on my birthday so much, I went back to do a nighttime activation on 40 meters. I was able to work stations as far away as New England. I ended up with 46 QSOs, split evenly between FT8 and SSB.
Operating under the full moon.
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