Members Exhibit New Field Antennas

Last weekend, some of the best looking members of the Lodi Amateur Radio Club took the day to try out their new antenna systems designed for in-field communications. All performed exceedingly well for their intended purpose.

Among the participants and helpers were Stu (KI7DDC), Brian (W6DLY), Curtis (KI6EJL), Steve (KO6JKI), Keith (N7DXC), Mike (KM7EJL), a Guest Visitor and Rick (N6DT) who stopped by with his wife Nancy.

Curtis, one of our newest members, is seen seated with Stu recovering from a busy morning on 15 meters using his EFHW conveniently supported by a 30 ft. hitch-mounted, fiberglass pole. By 11:00am Curtis had heard and worked several European stations on SSB with his brand new IC-7300 MK2

Not to disappoint, Mike is seen hugging the mast of his uniquely designed 40 Meter Inverted V antenna. His SSB contacts included stations up and down the Western states, typical of daytime conditions on 7 MHz.

Keith, on-the-other-hand, limited himself to only 5 watts (QRP) using a newly designed light-weight, bare-bones Inverted V for 20 meters that he calls the “Flame Thrower”. He and Stu took turns collecting solid SSB signal reports in the afternoon from Japan (to the West) and Madeira Island and Cape Verde, both located approximately 300 miles off the coast of Africa.

What a day!