Update: 2019 Ohio State Parks on the Air

On Saturday, September 7, 2019, members of the ACARA participated in the 12th annual PCARS “Ohio State Parks on the Air” (link), activating Strouds Run State Park at the Bulldog Picnic Shelter and operating under the club’s callsign, W8UKE.

Participants:
Josh Cash, KE8EAS
Bob Curtis, KD8FRQ
Chalisa Magpanthong, E23RFM
John McCutcheon, N8XWO
Drew McDaniel, W8MHV
Eric McFadden, WD8RIF
Miles McFadden, KD8KNC
Bob Moore, KC8KSM
Paul Schulz, WD8SCV
Jeff Slattery, N8SUZ

Unlike last year (link), when there was lots of rain, for this year’s event, the weather was just about perfect–not too cool, not too hot, not too windy.

The station this year consisted of the ACARA’s Elecraft K3 transceiver, an LDG Z-100 Plus automatic antenna tuner provided by W8MHV, an 80m/40m fan-dipole and a 24′ military mast provided by WD8RIF. Power came from a Honda 2kW inverter-generator provided by WD8RIF.

As has become the custom, at 5 o’clock those present enjoyed a cookout/potluck. KD8KNC brought fire in the form of a two-burner propane grill and cooked beanie-weenies to share as well as burgers brought by some participants. (As has also become a custom, N8XWO brought his crowd-favorite broccoli salad to share.)

By the time the eight-hour event was over, the team had made a total of 111 contacts and had worked stations at 44 of the 75 Ohio State Parks. After figuring in the 25-point bonus for submission of the log in Cabrillo format, the club’s claimed score was 4,909 points, up significantly from 2018’s score of 2,433 points. By band, 65 contacts were made on 75m and 46 contacts were made on 40m. No state parks at all were worked on 40m until the last hour of the event when 40m suddenly “went short” and allowed contacts within Ohio.

Contacts were made by KE8EAS, N8SUZ, WD8RIF, and KD8FRQ.

The ACARA took 1st-place in class in 2016 and 2017. This year’s score of 4,909 points might be good enough to give the ACARA 1st-place in class in 2019–we’ll have to wait and see.

UPDATE: The results have been released by PCARS. The ACARA took Third Place in Multi-Op, Single Radio, Low Power class. First Place in-class was taken by K8IYO, who activated Pike Lake State Park. Second Place in-class was taken by N8TUW who activated Tar Hollow State Park. Visit http://ospota.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ospota-2019-Final-Results-2Nov2019-1426.pdf for complete results.

Eric McFadden, WD8RIF
President, Athens County Amateur Radio Association

Dow Lake and the ACARA's banner
Dow Lake and the ACARA’s banner
The Bulldog Picnic Shelter
The Bulldog Picnic Shelter
The military mast and 80m/40m fan-dipole
The military mast and 80m/40m fan-dipole
The Bulldog Picnic Shelter
The Bulldog Picnic Shelter
The Honda 2kW inverter-generator
The Honda 2kW inverter-generator
KE8EAS operates
KE8EAS operates
N8SUZ operates
N8SUZ operates
A view of the wildflower plantings at Bulldog Picnic Shelter
A view of the wildflower plantings at Bulldog Picnic Shelter
Kayakers on Dow Lake, as seen from the Bulldog Picnic Shelter
Kayakers on Dow Lake, as seen from the Bulldog Picnic Shelter