In The Zone Of Totality

Background

About a month ago, KW5CW James suggested we activate from Bonham State Park on the day of the solar eclipse, Monday April 8^th.  The park, being in the “path of totality”, would be a great place to get some POTA, plus witness this once-a-lifetime event.  I put in for a day off from work and made park reservations for a day permit.  Easy, done, see ya there.

Then the Internet woke up.  The weeks leading up saw a flurry of news predicting a 300% to 400% population increase overwhelming the local infrastructure – cell service down, standing traffic, food shortage, gas shortage, water, sewage, social breakdown, airborne pathogens, ZOMBIES – mayhem.

James mentioned this unique opportunity to our club leadership and more mayhem ensued.  By this time, the park expected to reach capacity on the 8^th and wasn’t taking further reservations.   I watched a growing swirl of emails and texts from the club.  At one point, it was implied I would give up my reservation so the local ARES coordinator could bring his truck and trailer. I offered to cart him and his gear but fat chance I’d face the day without my own wheels … and my “stuff”.

Summing it all up, none of this happened – nada.  Half the club members who wanted to go, didn’t.  The ARES guy backed out.  The park saw mostly typical “special day” levels with parking aplenty.  No standing traffic, no crashing cell service – zip. Not even Zombies.

The eclipse was awesome.  That three-somethin’ minutes of total eclipse – the sudden darkness, seeing the sun’s corona around the moon, was incredibly cool.  It is indeed the memory of a lifetime.  And I made three QSOs during those minutes of total eclipse.

Preparation

Carried along by the current, my personal impulse was strong to prepare for field day.  Having joined four of those now, I’ve learned many will overlook realistic planning.  I tend to adjust my load out to help – just in case.  And I need to roll this compulsion back a bit.

Loadout

• Elecraft KX2
• BaMaKey TP-III paddles
• 6Ah Bioeno Battery
• Packtenna 9:1 EFRL
• Spiderbeam 10m mast

Just in Case

• MFJ-1917
• Ed Feng J-pole
• Yaesu FT-891 (I even brought a mic)
• MFJ Travel Tuner
• Two 20Ah Lipo Batteries
• My Antenna’s 49:1, 40-10 EFHW
• TenTenna 49:1 Transformer
• Extra stakes and guy lines
• Portable table
• Three chairs
• 3, 25ft RG-8X coax feedline
• Yaesu FT-60
• Yaesu FT-65

Activation

I passed through the park gate at 0600.  Let’s recall, the park would be filled to capacity, making parking and picnic tables a premium.  I think I was the first guy to the park, all the parking was open, all the tables were open.  I grabbed the first table in, thinking it could afford room for the club to sprawl.  I set my portable table off to the side, between two trees in case I needed to pitch a fly for rain or sun, then raised my Packtenna 9:1 EFRL on my 10m Spiderbeam mast about five feet from my seat.  I was trying for the smallest station footprint possible, to avoid hogging precious space from families coming out to see the eclipse.

With my station up and ready, I boiled water (takes about 10 minutes), soaked some grounds (about 5 minutes) then squished everything in a handy, 1-cup, French press for my morning Joe … and waited.  I was through my second coffee making-sipping cycle when first of the club arrived.

KW5CW’s little Toyota was filled to the gills with the club’s gear.  He set up the club’s radio, an IC-7300, and Eagle One antenna.  They pitched a 10×10 pop up shelter complete with club signage. Michael, KI5ZIQ, set his Yaesu FT-991 under it and fed my Ed Feng dual band antenna up about 20 feet on my MFJ-1917 mast.

We held the Field Day safety brief where we discussed emergency procedures, the agenda for the day, and shared, emergency phone numbers and VHF frequencies.  We set 147.540 for in-park simplex.

When the hubbub settled, I went to my table and sent CQ on 40m for 7 contacts in 7 minutes.  Not bad for a Monday morning.  I’d brought two, dual band HT’s, shared them, and made three quick contacts on 2m FM with club members on the park simplex frequency.  Why not?

After about an hour of QRT for breakfast, I went back to the key and found 10 contacts on 30 meters, another 2m FM contact, two on 17meters, and 10 more on 15 meters.  Then QRT’d for lunch.

When the moon and sun started their dance and KW5CW James came off the key to watch – he left 20m unattended!  With just a sliver of “Cresent Sun” remaining, I went key-down on 20 meters and made five, eclipse contacts, three during the darkness of the total eclipse – N4CCB, K0TTW, and N4REE. 

Outbrief

I wrapped the day tired and wind burned, with 38 QSOs. 30m and 15m were productive with only occasional QSB. Maybe because they were good, or maybe because that was what was left with the rest of the club sharing the IC-7300 on 20m.

• 40m: 7, CW
• 30m: 10, CW
• 20m: 5, CW
• 17m: 2, CW
• 15m: 10, CW
• 2m: 4, FM

It was a great day at the park – personally marking my 250^th activation.  I really enjoyed conversations with club-friends and getting to know other members a little better.  There were some interesting conversations, to say the least.  And the eclipse was awesome – truly a lifetime event I’m so very glad I could experience.

TNX ES 73,
KA5TXN
DitWit