John K1JSM, and Willy W1LY, were at it again today, activating another Park On The Air.  This time it was Fort Wetherill State Park.  Willy reports that they quickly worked over 40 stations on 20 meters (14.260), including a military plane flying over Fall River, using Rockwell/Collins gear (W5IPA/AM).

This was POTA K-2875

John K1JSM and Willy W1LY activated Beavertail State Park K-2868, from around noon until about 2:30 this afternoon.  The used both the 60 foot tower as well as a magnetic loop, on 17/20/40 meters.  The loop was highly directional and being off a few degrees was the difference between S1 and S9 signal levels.  The vertical also allowed them to run 100 watts and was omnidirectional, but perhaps not propagating the way they wanted.  This activation covered islands on the air, parks on the air, and lighthouses on the air, whew!

• POTA K-2868
• ARLHS USA-048 (new) and USA-1128
• IOTA NA031
• US Islands RI007S

John K1JSM (left) and Willy W1LY (on air) at Beavertail State Park

Both the Magnetic Loop as well as the vertical antenna can be seen in this photo. The Vertical is base loaded and sits on a ground field of 4″ wide copper under the grass. Of course those straps may have rotted away in the decades since the antenna was installed.