On August 19, we held the Nashua Area Radio Club Family Picnic at Greeley Park in Nashua. There was good weather for the picnic and members brought delicious food to the potluck lunch. We all had a great time catching up with club members and their spouses and hunting for the fox. We also visited the Art Show, which was held in the park that weekend.
Tom, AB1NS, Hamilton, K1HMS, Jeff, WA1HCO, and Fred, AB1OC at the Club Picnic
Fred, AB1OC hid the club’s two fox transmitters, which provided for a challenging Fox Hunt.
Hunting for the Fox
The picnic was a fun event for members and their families.
On August 26, a group of members did a SOTA/POTA Activation from the top of Mount Washington, the highest peak in the Northeast at 6288 ft. Members reached the summit by different means. Abby, AB1BY and Mike AB1YK hiked to the summit. Patrick, KC1HDN and his XYL Dorothy took the Cog Railway and others took the Mount Washington Auto Road.
Entrance to the Mount Washington Auto Road
Driving up the Auto Road
Fred, AB1OC, Tony, KC1DLX, and Anita, AB1QB, road up the Auto Road. It was an 8-mile drive to the top with breathtaking views along the way.
A Stop along the Auto Road
We had great weather on the mountain. Clouds sometimes passed overhead but it was sunny most of the time which provided for great views of the surrounding White Mountains.
View from the Summit
Operating at the Summit
When we reached the summit, we set up a 6-meter station with an Icom IC-7300 and an M2 6 meter beam at 22 ft.
6-meter beam antenna at the Summit
The station was powered by batteries and solar panels.
Fred, AB1OC, Mike, AB1YK, and Tony, KC1DLX setting up the solar panels
Fred, Tony, and I had a great time operating the station, completing over 50 QSOs all over the Northeast.
Anita, AB1QB, operating on 6 meters from the summit of Mt. Washington
Several other members joined us at the summit, including Al, KC1FOZ and Tom, KC1GGP.
Al, KC1FOZ and Tom, KC1GGP operating from the summit
After the Activation
Thanks to Tony, KC1DXL, and his XYL Josephine, who hosted us for a delicious dinner at their nearby condo after the activation.
Thanks to Jamey, KC1ENX, for planning a great day for club members! This was our 3rd SOTA/POTA activation this year and each one has been better than the previous one! We’re looking forward to the next summit!
Here are more pictures from Mount Washington:
Mt. Washington Summit View
Mt. Washington Summit View
Mt. Washington Summit View 2
Mt. Washington Summit View 2
Mt. Washington Summit View 3
Mt. Washington Summit View 3
Mt. Washington Summit View 4
Mt. Washington Summit View 4
Mt. Washington Summit View 5
Mt. Washington Summit View 5
Mt. Washington Summit View 6
Mt. Washington Summit View 6
6m Station
6m Station
6m Station 2
6m Station 2
6m Station 3
6m Station 3
Solar Power
Solar Power
Solar Power 2
Solar Power 2
Operating on Mt Washington
Operating on Mt Washington
Operating on Mt Washington 2
Operating on Mt Washington 2
Mt Washington Summit
Mt Washington Summit
Nashua Area Radio Club Members on Mt. Washington
Nashua Area Radio Club Members on Mt. Washington
Nashua Area Radio Club Members on Mt. Washington 2
Our August “Tech Night” featured a Saturday visit to the Matt Strelow, KC1XX’s superstation. Matt’s station sits on top of a mountain in Mason, NH.
Matt Strelow, KC1XX’s QTH
Our visit began with a tour of Matt’s antenna farm. Matt has a total of 13 towers and each one has a unique story and purpose.
300 ft Tower at KC1XX
Matt’s tallest tower is used for 80m as well as other bands. It is painted red and white and has a light on top!
Base of Rotating Tower at KC1XX
Several of Matt’s towers are rotating ones with some serious tower turning hardware at the base.
Rotating Tower Guy Rigging
Rotating towers use a special type of guy attachment ring which allows the tower to turn while being supported via guy wires.
Coax Feed Lines at KC1XX
Matt has built an extensive infrastructure which supports all of the antennas at his QTH. The picture above is a small building where all of the feed lines from Matt’s antennas enter his station.
Dennis, K1LGQ Operating at KC1XX
After the tour of the antenna farm, we saw the KC1XX “shack”. Several of us had a chance to operate Matt’s station. How’s this for QRP Dennis?
Abby, AB1BY Operating at KC1XX
Abby wasted no time in building her usual pile up. It easy to see why KC1XX has a pile up whenever they are on the air after just a short time spent operating from there.
Nashua Area Radio Club "Tech Night" Group 2
Nashua Area Radio Club "Tech Night" Group 2
Nashua Area Radio Club "Tech Night" Group
Nashua Area Radio Club "Tech Night" Group
KC1XX QTH
KC1XX QTH
Dennis, K1LGQ Operating at KC1XX
Dennis, K1LGQ Operating at KC1XX
Dennis, K1LGQ Operating at KC1XX
Dennis, K1LGQ Operating at KC1XX
Abby, AB1BY Operating at KC1XX
Abby, AB1BY Operating at KC1XX
Antennas and Towers
Antennas and Towers
Antennas and Towers 2
Antennas and Towers 2
Antennas and Towers 3
Antennas and Towers 3
Antennas and Towers 4
Antennas and Towers 4
Antennas and Towers 5
Antennas and Towers 5
Antennas and Towers 6
Antennas and Towers 7
Antennas and Towers 7
Antennas and Towers 8
Antennas and Towers 8
Antennas and Towers 9
Antennas and Towers 9
Antennas and Towers 10
Antennas and Towers 10
Antennas and Towers 11
Antennas and Towers 11
Coax Feedlines
Coax Feedlines
After a great day of fun and lots of picture taking, See the gallery above for more pictures. Matt treated us to refreshments and some more conversation about his Amateur Radio experiences.
Nashua Area Radio Club “Tech Night” Group
All of the members who made this memorable “Tech Night” had a great time and we’d all like to thank Matt for his gracious hospitality. We learned a lot!
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