The Setup

The main purpose of this garden deployment was to test a potential 40m antenna candidate for my (antenna-space-limitted) QTH. So I assembled two C-WHIP 40m monoband antennas (helical elements roughly 1.3m long with a 1.5m adjustable stainless steel tuning tip, totaling ~2.6m in length, rated for up to 250W PEP with a 3/8" thread) in an opposed configuration using a center bracket. A small balun at the feed point handled the impedance matching to the coaxial cable, while a length of square aluminum tubing mounted on an extension ladder served as a temporary mast.
After extending and retracting the ladder countless times to adjust the element lengths, I finally dialed in a clean SWR of ~1.05 (measured with a RigExpert). I noted down the element lengths and was ready to call it a day… But, of course, I couldn’t just leave it at that — I had to at least have a quick listen across the band. Luckily, I’d tossed my QRP Labs QMX into my bag just in case there was some time left to play around…
The rig, by using a portable 12V powerbank, pushed ~3W into my simple doublet, and even with the antenna slung at a modest 4m height, the setup proved remarkably effective for QRP operations.

The potential 40m antenna candidate.

Close-up of the station setup.

The QSO with DL4IA

After getting the first few QSOs in the books (or better onto a simple sheet of paper), I cranked the speed to 25wpm just to stretch my battery a bit further (to reduce the duty cycle ;-) - not sure if that indeed would matter much). And suddenly, for 32 grueling minutes, I was locked in a fascinating exchange with DL4IA, all while casting a nervous eye toward my power supply. Every time I touched the key, I found myself praying the battery wouldn’t hit its cutoff voltage. To my immense relief, the cell held firm.
Despite the modest 4m antenna height, I pulled a solid 559 report and called it a classic NVIS success story that gave me that incomparable ‘well-equipped’ feeling that only QRP can provide.
Confirmed by the beautiful QSL card below, this QSO remains a fond memory as well as a perfect start to the hunt for the five cards needed to join the HSC Club.

Above: The beautiful QSL card from DL4IA.