A Successful Failure

Published by

w6csn

on

March 13, 2023

A trip to the desert to escape the cold, damp environs of Northern California provided the opportunity to activate some new POTA entities. I had scheduled activations at several potential spots on the drive out to the desert, but changing plans and changing weather caused me to cancel those skeds.

The centerpiece of this family trip and my POTA plans was Joshua Tree National Park K-0041. Knowing that T-Mobile cell coverage in the park was close to nonexistent, I used the motel wifi to schedule an activation before heading to the park, hoping that the RBN would hear my CQing and I would get spotted by pota.app.

I setup the station, consisting of a shiny new MTR-4B from LNR Precision and my customary 20M EFHW antenna. This time I’m trying a miniature stainless steel clipboard to hold the key as well a provide a platform to set the radio on. The magnets in the base of the CW Morse paddles did a good job of holding it firmly so I only need one hand to operate the key. I still need to figure out a way to keep the radio securely attached.

Several people have commented on how “quiet” the Mountaintopper series radios are, and I really experienced this myself taking it to a noise free location. When I first turned on the rig I knew it was working because the CW band announcement was 599, but the background noise was so low that I double checked the antenna to make sure it was connected.

The built-in SWR indicator showed a 1.1 to 1 match so I was ready to go. I’m still not sure if the RBN picked me up and got the activation spotted but calling CQ POTA was not producing results. I was at least 10 minutes in and still no joy. Tuning around a little, I chased a P2P with LaPine State Park in Oregon then called CQ some more and managed to raise calls from Arizona and California.

The family was not at all impressed with my QSO rate and had done all of the climbing about on this particular set of rocks that they were going to do, so I made the call to end the activation rather than risk mutiny.

I lowered the mast and got the station stowed in my pack, then we all headed back to the car to be on our way to other sights and activities. Note: pretty much everything in Joshua Tree is trying to poke you. The pine tree that held the mast steady was particularly prickly!

So while the activation was a failure for not getting the needed 10 contacts, any time playing radio from such a beautiful National Park is a success in my book. Many thanks to those that did answer my calls and I hope to try again at activating Joshua Tree in the future, perhaps with a combo POTA/SOTA from one of the several peaks available in this park.