Field Day 2020 - Loft Mountain Campground (inside the NRQZ) FM08PF

Field Day 2020 - Loft Mountain Campground (inside the NRQZ)

My son James cooking while I setup (NLY, but he’s studying that Tech Manual again…)

My son and I set up a portable operation at Loft Mountain Campground for ARRL Field Day 2020 [FM08PF]. We operated solar/battery powered on 6M/40M SSB S&P, and on VHF/UHF FM Phone. We operated Sat from 6pm to 1030pm EST (shutdown to observe quiet hours), and on Sunday from about 11am to 3pm EST. We logged 64 QSO's, all voice.

The weather was beautiful, especially in the evening when temperatures were 55-60 degrees F overnight with a light 5-10mph breeze. If only we could have brought some of that evening weather back in a jar! The closest storm was north of us in Luray, VA (~30m north). The campground did not have online reservations, we went very early Friday to get a site (first come, first served) and by 1130am the campground was Full for Friday/Saturday.

My Tundra pickup truck bed held the antennas: 14' of 1" guyed PVC with my Elk Antenna Log Periodic Antenna mounted vertically for FM. I worked stations using this setup being a bit over 3,200ft ASL, it's proven its worth before on other portable trips. On HF, I spent 2h+ Sat trying to tune a Hustler 4-band vertical antenna/coil setup using a Rig Expert AA-600. I made a few 6M and 40M SSB contacts on the Hustler setup but I switched to the HF antenna I was going to run on the mobile for VaQP (pre-covid) so I could field test its operation: A 104" SS Whip from DXEngineering and a Wolf River Coil (Silver Bullet 1000) (picture on QRZ.com). Once tuned for 40m SSB, I received great feedback on the whip/coil HF antenna setup at 75-100W. I did not work 6M once I placed the SS Whip/coil in-place on 40M.

FD 2020 – Portable Antennas (Hustler 4-band [HF], Elk Ant Log Periodic [FM])

Visitors: I had two people (a ham and his girlfriend) sign a sheet that they visited our site (first name, town), I did not think of that until others had left. I talked to more than 20 people as my truck/antennas were right at the road in the campground. That was just as enjoyable as operating the radio, that actually surprised me. The questions about what the antennas were for were amusing: Is that for cellular ? - that was my favorite and the most common one although several people (hams) knew what FD was but they had forgotten it was that weekend and did not even have an HT on them (yes I shamed them and sent them on their way, HI HI). I did not let anyone operate my gear, COVID was not worth the health risk.

Power: We operated as 1B, battery. The battery I have is a 30Ah LiFEPO4 from Bioenno Power, it normally runs the radio in the shack and is solar charged. The West Mountain Radio Epic PwrGate has jumpers inside to set it to safely charge this battery (it is not set that way by default, RTM or you’ll damage a LiFEPO4 battery if you do not change the jumpers inside) and it has a USB interface if you care to set different charging parameters.

 

30 Ah LifePO4 solar charged battery pack (has run the IC-7100 for the last 2y at QTH)

Operating in the NRQZ (National Radio Quiet Zone)

The campground is inside the NRQZ (National Radio Quiet Zone) so one week prior [earlier is better], I contacted them to notify them of my intention to operate portable inside of the NRQZ so they could check for any potential impact on their schedule based on my plan (an example follows). Once approved by email, they handled notifying Sugar Grove, no response came back from them so I was clear to operate. The NRQZ is a very large area in VA and portions of other states, if you operate inside the NRQZ area please see their site for the boundary, rules, and contact information. Please note that my permission for Field Day 2020 is not transferable to any future operation by me or others; fines and penalties are steep to include seizure of all gear, your ham license, fines, and I think potential jail time -it's just not worth ignoring and you'll see in the example below how easy it is to obtain permission for licensed portable/mobile ham radio operations.

NRQZ Website: https://science.nrao.edu/facilities/gbt/interference-protection/nrqz

NRQZ Map: http://www.gb.nrao.edu/nrqz/NTIA_map_bw.gif

My initial email and reply to NRQZ Coordinator on 6/22/2020 follows as an example:

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Email Title: NRQZ: Amateur Radio Field Day [June 26-29, 2020] Amateur Portable

Good afternoon,

I am writing again to inform you of my request to operate portable amateur radio gear within the NRQZ. All portable antennas, nothing aimed directly western.

Dates:

June 26-29 (ARRL Field Day Weekend)

Location:

Shenandoah National Park, Loft Mountain Campground

Approx GPS Coordinates: 38.246706, -78.670701 [center of mountain top, campground area]

The park is not reserving campsites online so I selected the approximate center of the top of Loft Mountain for this request as it represents the worst case interference profile wise, etc. If GPS selected coordinate is an issue, I am usually 100-200' lower on the S-SE side of Loft Mountain.

Antennas - omni directional

- FM, 5/8 wave 2m/70cm on my mobile for VHF/UHF voice, 5-50w [2m: 3dBi, 70cm: 5.5 dBi]

- HF/6M, 104" SS Whip on mobile [parked] and a wolf river coil for base loading [2-3.5 dBi]

Antennas - directional

- FM, 2m/70cm Elk Antenna [gain: 2m: 8.7 dBi, 70cm: 9.0 dBi]

- 6M, 2 element antenna, approx 120 deg 'beam like' antenna (moxon) [~ 6.3Bi gain]

(Any directional antenna will be pointed North to East to South, 15-23dB loss to rear of ant)

- flexible on these directional antennas, on 6M power 5-20w [or less]

- [note: I did not use the moxon for 6m]

6 meters (USB modes)

50.125-52.500, analog voice, 20-100w

50.260-50.326, digital, FT4/FT8/JT9/JT65/MSK144/PSK31/PSK63, 5-20w

6 meters (50 mhz) to 80 meters (3.5 mhz)

Typical bands/modes, General Class Licensed Amateur Station

5-100w (analog voice), 5-20w (digital modes)

antenna: 105" SS Whip, Wolf River Coil (base) - omni antenna (6m-80m)

daytime: in the daytime, both digital or analog voice modes are planned

night time: due to noise regulations, digital modes would be used 9pm-7am [not all night]

Please advise if any parameters above need adjusting, I can request an eastern campsite that would be 100-200' below the summit of the GPS coordinate above (depending on availability when we arrive Fri). If the campground is full, we will operate elsewhere (mobile).

Thank you,

David kk4zuu

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The reply from the NRQZ Coordinator was received by email on 6/23/2020 [<24 hours later]:

Thanks David.
I’ll make a note of it and advise Sugar Grove.
Looks like we have at least one good obstacle in the way for both the Observatory and their site as well.
Be safe in your travels and thanks for the notification.

Paulette

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That is how simple it is to remain legal inside the NRQZ. Feel free to use this format, it is one I wrote on my own and the format is used every time I have operated in the NRQZ, including being less than 15 miles away from the telescope at Middle Mountain Cabins, WV. You may encounter issues using larger antennas, beams pointed at them without any mountains, and if you fall into a fixed antenna category they will have a spreadsheet for you to fill out so for /P or /M operations stick to verticals or wire dipoles and coordinate your operations.

All in all, a great trip, great weather, campsite, food, and ham radio -what else is needed?

Our next trip: The ARRL September VHF Contest [6m ft8, need more FFMA grids] back on Loft Mountain, we reserved our site on-line so hopefully no site drama when we arrive. Allot of folks were moved around on this trip due to on-site and online reservation issues.

--

73,

david kk4zuu

RF Bonding my Tundra

I picked-up some 7GA tinned RF bonding strap to bond the Tundra's cab, pickup bed, hood, and the HF antenna to the vehicle chassis:

Jetstream 23520 Grounding braid, 1" wide, 20ft, 7ga

Amazon link

Gigaparts

I purchased from Amazon ($30, free Prime shipping), GigaParts ($20, plus $8+ shipping). Others?
(disclaimer: the link above for Amazon will contribute a small amount to The Ole Virginia Hams radio club, not to me). Again, buying from Gigaparts looks to be cheaper by ~$2 after shipping as of right now.

I started with the HF DIY antenna mount, it's made from different commercial pieces, a DIY Tundra Bed Rail Mount (Home Depot bracket/screws), and steel bed rail mounts from eBay (buy SS instead).

HF Mobile Antenna Mount/Bonding

Today I mounted my mobile HF antenna I plan to use for the VaQP (Virginia QSO Party).

I removed the factory bed bolt down hook, used SS-30 Pure Copper Lubricant (really? they could not call it Protector or some other thing??) anywhere different metals meet and where metal and the bonding strap reside.

This seemed to work per pre/post antenna analyzer measurements. I still have to RF bond the rest of the vehicle (tail gate, bed on all four corners, cab, doors, hood).



73, kk4zuu

Virginia QSO Party, day 1

It was a slow day, and a tough one.

No mobile HF

No mobile 220

Less than 50 QSOs, the saving grace was climbing back up to Afton Gap by BRP.

All the way down RT81S was quiet, found out at dark SNP (Skyline Drive) is mostly closed.

Bedtime, 210am (22h day)

Tomorrow? Headed North.

73, kk4zuu

DC Power, Amateur Radio (2019 Tundra DC)

March 2, 2019

Today is the day, the Tundra was squeezed into my garage last night for installation of DC power for amateur radio and for offroad camping.

Disclaimer: I am not a mechanic or ASE Certified Technician, if you follow any of this and something goes wrong it's on you!


Tools:

Various tools (wrenches to disconnect your vehicles battery, STEP #1)
Automotive trouble lamp and a desk lamp (LED bulbs)
Electrical tape, wire loom
Flash light, headlamp, or both
Harbor Freight Automotive Trim Kit
- https://www.harborfreight.com/5-piece-auto-trim-and-molding-tool-set-67021.html
Gloves

WD40 (a tad, applied to hole, for pulling wire, if your wire/boot is rated for oil exposure)
zip ties, cutter

pocket knife
xacto knife/fresh blade (cut thru factory boot)

Lots of patience....Slow is smooth, smooth is fast (take your time, breaking stuff is expensive!)

I will update this blog as work progresses but today, I ran 4GA Ancor Marine Grade (105C) wire from the inside of the vehicle firewall to the rear of the double cab. I removed the drivers side floor sil panel and the lower trim panel covering the drivers seat belt pulley and anchor point.

Here is a test fit of the wire, sans it's wire loom

March 3, 2019

I ran the +/- 4GA wire out to the battery area and applied Ancor 3/8" spiral wire wrap, I used it because it's rated for high temperatures and it does not support combustion.

4GA Ancor Marine Wire (105C) and Ancor 3/8" spiral wire loom

I stayed with it today, stopping two or three times for food and family. After breakfast this morning I pushed the + 4GA wire thru the customer access opening and then made my own with an Xacto Knife being very careful around the factory wiring harness.

4GA wire secured to factory harness

I covered most of the hot (+) wire with Ancor split loom, I didn't cover around the kick panel area today as I ran out but it can be added easily later.

The seat bracket 'issue' I ran into yesterday was worked around, I followed Toyota's wiring up and over the bracket as it has rounded ends and in that area I put split loom on both + and - wires.

4GA wire and split loom in drivers rear passenger door area

I zip tied things down as I went, I crossed the +/- wires onto different sides of the wiring chase at various 2-3 foot intervals...something I learned with solar panel installations and DC current. I reinstalled the drivers seat belt pillar lower trim panel that covers up the wiring shown above.

Re-installed trim panel and seat belt anchor, cover, and seat bracket covers

The rear drivers cab door area shows the status of the power wire installation, nothing is connected yet, the battery's positive terminal is still isolated and the ends of the wire under the hood are taped over just in case anything contacts an exposed terminal.

Drivers rear cab door area (under seat organizer removed yesterday)

Lastly, for this evening, I finished up by reinstalling the drivers sill plate

As the clock struck 9pm (3/3/2019) I am reminded to go relax for work resumes tomorrow!!

March 9, 2019


I removed the rear seats the the PVC/carpeted liner Toyota installed (as a horrible sound dreading material that I will replace later). I found lots of grommet holes, but none lead to the location below on the lower cab. I will look again. There are three grommets under the carpet along the front edge of the rear seats, the passengers side ones are accessible under the vehicle above the rear drive shaft. It may be difficult to use them as two sharp angles for cable runs may equal a damaged antenna wire. There are five grommets found along the back cab wall but they led me no where, there are two corner 2"+ plastic grommets that are for accessing the bolts that secure the cab to the frame. Perhaps that grommet shown in the picture is for accessing a bolt, I have to look.

Drivers side, lower grommet (under pickup bed)

March 10, 2019

I built new antenna mounts for 2m/70cm and the 1.25m NMO antennas, they are installed. I started the build of the HF antenna mount but ran out of time (and family 'tasks' consumed most of my day).


ToDo

I am a mobile operator in The Virginia QSO Party (my 5th year participating, should be my 4th as a mobile). The event is March 16-17 so times approaching rapidly....

I need to re-install my Icom 2730A VHF/UHF radio (back on it's stalk mount, was in the H3) onto the drivers front right seat bolt for easy access. I have to plot a path for the remote head back into the double cab where power and the base unit will live, I think I will open up the passengers side sill plates and see what manner of wires are present. I also have a 1.25m radio to install as well, no remote head, I wish someone would make a tri-band radio (Icom, Kenwood, Yaesu <- HINT HINT).

I need to do bonding of the chassis frame for both hood hinges, exhaust [every joint], pickup bed, cab so I can add HF to my operations this year. This will probably take me a day+ from what I've read.

Fire Extinguisher ?

Stay tuned, more updates coming...

David, kk4zuu

New Mobile, DIY antenna mounts for 2m/70cm/1.25m

I am getting my mobile ready for the 2019 Virginia QSO Party (March 16-17, 2019).

I acquired a new vehicle, a 2019 Toyota Tundra 4WD DC Limited model. I plan to add a cap to its bed by spring so I needed a temporary mount for VaQP for VHF/UHF.

DIY Antenna Mounts for Toyota pickups with factory bed rails:

Parts:
T-slot nuts (Bolt Dropper, Amazon)
3/16" x 1" long hex screw
Fence bracket (I chose a black one, they also have plain metal)
3/4" bi-metal hole saw (for an NMO mount antenna)
Drill
c-clamps
scrap wood

I purchased all of these parts at my local Home Depot except for the T-nuts for the Tundra bed rails, I bought these on Amazon.

I build a jig to hold the part (fence corner bracket) for drilling, I am making a 3/4" hole for an NMO antenna mount.

After drilling I had a rough 3/4" hole to add an NMO mount to later. The jig kept the c-clamps from marring up the pre-power coated bracket finish. The small hole was already there, the NMO mount will cover it up when completed.

The bracket has it's hole mount for an NMO setup and a 3/6" hole for the hex screw into the T-nut from Amazon.

The completed mount, you can rotate it 180 degrees if you want the antenna to sit about 1" lower. I will de-burr the mount before use. It took me less than 20 minutes to design and build.

On this mount, due to it's position on the truck, I plan to mount an NMO 1/2 wave antenna as it does not require a ground plane. Do not mount a 1/4 wave antenna like this, you will have a poor setup being that far up from the pickup bed, a 1/4 wave antenna needs a proper ground plane and this mount type will not match!

73, david kk4zuu

Portable Packet Radio (VDEN - 145.730, Virginia Digital Emergency Network)

Packet radio need not be frowned upon, using VHF it can provide a fairly long distant method to exchange messages where microwaves [WiFi] can not go! The types of messaging available vary from the ole packet BBS software built into some TNCs like the one pictured here (Kantronics KPC-3 Plus, it is circa 1988 and will run for a long time off a 9v battery or ext DC power source) or more modern communications like Winlink RMS E-mail sent over radio frequency (RF).

Here is all I needed to login to my packet BBS for this test tonight, a laptop, a tnc, and a hand held radio (plus a serial/usb cable to the TNC and a serial to RF cable to the HT). The netbook is circa 2010 running Kali Linux.

The next time a ham tells you he or she has packet radio gear available for the taking, take it!

Centreville VDEN Packet Node (145.730 FM packet)

I have resurrected my FM packet node for a test on the VDEN frequency of 145.730.

I can hear Buck's Elbow Digipeater in Albemarle, VA (that is 86 miles SSW from Centreville), it may be a remote node that permits someone closer to me to access that node. Time will tell.

County:	Albemarle
Primary State:	Virginia
Latitude:	38.1048578 North
Longitude:	-78.7439104 West
Elevation:	3163 Feet above MSL

REMOTE>BEACON [09/20/18 00:49:01]: <UI>:Bucks Elbow Digipeater

KK4ZUU-10>BEACON [09/20/18 00:58:16]: <UI>:KK4ZUU Centreville VA FM18GT KK4ZUU-1/PBBS KK4ZUU-7/KA-NODE

I have a test antenna outside, a self-built clone of an Arrow OSJ 2m/70cm j-pole antenna on the desk at about 15' AGL. It once was in my attic, now that I have tuned it for 145.730 (SWR 1.3:1) I will put it back up on its LMR400 cable @ 30w.

The PBBS, Digipeater, and KA mode are enabled, no bulletins on PBBS yet but please leave/send me packet email via RF. I originally had a Winlink RMS node on this hardware, I am uncertain if that will return just yet.

73,
David kk4zuu