A field report from Mark, KB2PIZ, at Illinois’s Tapley Woods State Natural Area is a good reminder that portable operating rewards preparation and flexibility. Before setting up, he checked the activation schedule, antenna direction, and expected propagation—then deployed a Chameleon LEFS 40 antenna with a Xiegu G90.
When 20-meter SSB slowed after five contacts, he changed to CW rather than abandoning the band. The shift produced seven additional contacts for a 12-contact activation, illustrating a practical operating lesson for POTA and other field stations: change mode or strategy when conditions dictate.
The report also includes the everyday field details—site selection, antenna deployment, battery preparation, and even the reminder to pack bug spray. Read the complete field report at QRPer.
Source: QRPer. This post summarizes and links to the original article.
