Learning By Doing

Went camping with the ham club at the Big Biloxi campground in the Desoto National Forest this weekend.  While fun and entertaining, it was also a learning experience:

Learning by Success
The Jurassic Duck Mk II VHF backpack whip antenna was a rousing success, reaching the W5SGL repeater 20 miles away in Biloxi with a useable signal.  With the Tuxachanie and Bethel Bicycle trails much closer to the repeater, this antenna should reliably give full coverage while hiking or camping at either.  Trail biking... probably not.
Other successes include the 21' mini W3EDP vertical antenna on 40m and up, and the linux laptop for PSK31.

Learning by Failure
We all know that no part of a tent's groundsheet should extend beyond the tent's actual footprint, right?  Of course, because if it does, water will run right off the tent, onto a plastic sheet, and then back up under the tent, soaking through the cloth floor.  But... how about extending the groundsheet into the vestibule?  Gives a little floor there, it's out of the weather, keeps dirt out of the main part of the tent, keeps gear off the damp ground, right?  Wrong.  A driving rain can get water onto the groundsheet, and from there you can surmise the rest.  Didn't have much water to mop up, but still, any water in the tent on a damp night is too much.
Another failure: why did my 42' W3EDP Jr. not tune up?  Could've been wet coax connectors, or bad coax, or who knows what.  Will have to experiment in the near future.  Damn, I was hoping to work some 60m & 80m last night too.

Learning by Close Call
The screen tent gives good protection from bugs, sunlight, and the occasional sprinkle of rain, but not much else.  To keep off dew or a real rain, I've been covering the gear on the table with a tarp.  And it works, but... it's only one layer of plastic between water and expensive radio gear.  That's just not good enough.  Before the next trip, I've got to pick up another small tarp to specifically double-protect the electronics.  What's more, I think I'll add a ziplock freezer bag to slip over each major item.  Belt, suspenders, and overalls.

Learning by Sweat
It's still a little early to go tent camping in coastal MS.  While the 68 degree night was perfectly fine, the 85 degree days were a little much with the shack tent catching the afternoon sun.  Maybe with better placement in the trees it'd be bearable, but that's about it.  Unfortunately all of the well-placed campsites were taken.

OK, I'll go back to shuffling around all of the drying nylon tent-like objects draped around my house now.  But first, a picture: