2023 was a phenomenal year for us. So many new sites to see and people to meet. This is a short compilation of our adventures this last year.

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The post The best of Ham Radio Camping, 2023 appeared first on KB9VBR Antennas.

This was a busy weekend. Two hamfests and two POTA parks in two days. First hitting Ham Radio Outlet’s Superfest on Saturday and then beeline to Belvidere Illinois, near Rockford, for the Chicago FM Club’s Radio Expo. To make driving easy, we took off Friday afternoon and drove towards Milwaukee, spending the night at the Kettle Moraine State Forest (POTA K-4352)

As a bonus, patrons can view the full, unedited phone contacts for this Parks on the Air activation. Visit my page on Patreon for details: https://www.patreon.com/kb9vbrantennas

I do return QSL, if you made a contact with me and would like a QSL, please send me one. Return postage not necessary, but always appreciated. As they say, KB9VBR is ‘good in the book.

Wind up end fed half wave antenna: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FlatlandersMirrors

Dutch Oven Pizza
Cold ferment dough (make a day ahead)
240 g all purpose flour (King Arthur AP)
170 g water
1/2 tsp yeast
3/4 tsp kosher salt
1 tbsp olive oil

Mix dough ingredients with rubber splatula, and then knead by pulling and folding dough four times every 15 minutes over a one hour period. The dough should become quite elastic during this time period. Place in refrigerator and let ferment overnight.

Take out dough 1-2 hours before cooking to warm and rise slightly. Work dough into a 12 inch circle on parchment paper. Add sauce, cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms, etc.

Place in 425 degree dutch oven. Turn oven halfway through cooking process to reduce hot spots on the bottom. Cook for 20-25 minutes until done.

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Timestamp
00:00 Introduction
00:51 20 meter activation of Kettle Moraine State Forest
08:18 Dutch Oven Pizza and FT8
09:14 Two Hamfests in two days
10:08 Ham Radio Outlet Superfest
11:10 Meat Sweats
11:42 20 meter activation of Havenwoods State Forest
14:35 K-5579 activation recap
15:39 Camping at Radio Expo
16:16 Radio Expo hamfest
17:57 Thank you to the Ham Radio Outdoors community

The post Camping at the Hamfest! Fall camping is the best appeared first on KB9VBR Antennas.

We’re in Southwestern Wisconsin, enjoying the sites of the Driftless Area and putting two parks on the air. Join me for Parks on the Air activations of Tower Hill State Park (POTA K-1478) and Governor Dodge State Park (POTA K-1451).

Southwestern Wisconsin’s driftless area is known for its ancient geological landscape. Sandstone bluffs and deep river valleys carved over eons. The glaciers left this area generally untouched and these cambrian era rocks hold the secrets of time. Mining was an important industry in the region, drawing immigrants to the new territory. Tower Hill State Park encompasses the boom and bust of those lead mining days.

— Links and Items Mentioned —
POTA Flag: https://www.clubgearonline.com/product/POTA-parks-on-the-air-flag/142
Build a Headset Trigger Switch: https://youtu.be/b5Wu8BlrSF0
The Driftless Reader: https://amzn.to/45iVzFx
Pendarvis Historic Site: https://pendarvis.wisconsinhistory.org/
Foil Pack French Dip Sandwiches (based on): https://www.themanual.com/food-and-drink/foil-packet-french-dip-recipe/

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The post It’s a Road Trip! A two park POTA adventure appeared first on KB9VBR Antennas.

Big Bay State Park (POTA K-1439) and Big Bay Sand Spit and Bog (POTA K-4244) are two little activated entities located on Madeline Island on Lake Superior’s Chequamegon Bay. It’s always a pleasure to put these parks on the air when we take our annual trip to ‘the island’. For this trip I operate exclusively from the shores of Gitchee Gumee.

Forget-me-not Geocache: https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC2ZM34
Madeline Island Wilderness Preserve (Capser Trail): https://www.miwp.org/the-preserve
Madeline Island Ferry: https://madferry.com/
Madeline Island Chamber of Commerce: https://www.madelineisland.com/madeline-island/town-of-lapoint-govt/

As a bonus, patrons can view the full, unedited phone contacts for this Parks on the Air activation. Visit my page on Patreon for details: https://www.patreon.com/kb9vbrantennas

I do return QSL, if you made a contact with me and would like a QSL, please send me one. Return postage not necessary, but always appreciated. As they say, KB9VBR is ‘good in the book.’

Like what you see? You can leave me a tip:
https://www.paypal.me/kb9vbr

Support Ham Radio Q&A by shopping at Amazon: http://amzn.to/2kO6LH7

The post Lake Superior on the air! I operate portable on the beach appeared first on KB9VBR Antennas.

Roche-a-Cri is French for ‘Screaming Rock.’ French explorers dubbed this outcrop in central Wisconsin that name, but ancient petroglyphs on the rock indicate that indigenous people have been visiting this site for ages prior. Roche-a-Cri State Park (POTA K-1474) is a jewel in the middle of Wisconsin’s Central Sands region and an island of the Glacial Lake Wisconsin.

Roche a Cri State Park is an island. As the glaciers receded 17,000 years ago, central wisconsin filled with water. Glacial Lake Wisconsin is what it was called. Over the millenia, partially submerged hills were eroded by wind and water, exposing their cambian sandstone core. These mysterious outcrops are what remain, islands of a long ago lake.

Standing above the horizon, Roche a Cri was a waypoint, a marker for first peoples, early explorers, and modern times. Petroglyphs mark the passing of indigenous populations. The French explorers named it screaming rock, and this spot was a rest stop along the highway until it was turned into a state park in 1948.

Bonus content, titled “Ship Rock and Glacial Lake Wisconsin” is available to members over on Patreon. Visit my page on Patreon for details: https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-ship-rock-85995324

I do return QSL, if you made a contact with me and would like a QSL, please send me one. Return postage not necessary, but always appreciated. As they say, KB9VBR is ‘good in the book.’

— Items Mentioned —
End Fed Random Wire Antenna https://youtu.be/D_-aNzrIXWs
Window Screen Vertical Antenna Ground Plane https://youtu.be/UadUg5H8KO8
Eco Worthy 20ah LiFePO4 Battery: https://amzn.to/3PSpEHu

— Recipe —
Portabella Mushroom Cap burgers

Marinade
2 tbsp Balsamic Vinegar
2 tbsp Olive Oil
1 tbsp Soy Sauce
1 tsp Rosemary

4 Portabella Mushroom Caps
Salt and pepper to taste

Clean the trip the mushroom caps and for about an hour. Grill over medium heat about 4-7 minutes per side until done. Serve with your favorite hamburger fixings.

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The post It’s a Screaming Rock! Roche-a-Cri State Park Ham Radio Camping appeared first on KB9VBR Antennas.