Many thanks to Rand (W7UDT) for sharing this short field report:

Eiffel Tower QRP (Failed) “Activation”

by Rand (W7UDT/FR)

Earlier this Spring, my wife & I went on a ten day vacation to Paris. What a beautiful city, and a memorable time we had! Amongst our many excursions, was a visit to the Eiffel Tower.

As an iconic Paris structure, it has few rivals, save perhaps the Great Wall, or Pyramids of Giza. Gustave Eiffel and just 200 or so men, assembled this pre-fabricated masterpiece, with 2.5 million hot rivets, in around two and one half years. And no one died! Imagine that, all 1,000 feet or so, built in the 1890’s. Wow!

The Eiffel Tower is truly an amazing structure, and soooo… (In the spirit of Eiffel), I had an idea. Why not stealthily activate its summit, and send out a beacon signal, just to see what propagation may be achieved.

Here’s a link: The Eiffel Tower and science – OFFICIAL Eiffel Tower Website

My QRP Kit…

QRP Labs QCX Mini Twenty w/K6ARK CapKey Mod
TalentCell 3aH 12v w/DC Lead (Velcro’d, banded & handheld)
20m T-Whip Antenna (measured & tested SWR) & φ 20″ (counterpoise)

My unsent beacon message… (In two Parts)
“Test Test de W7UDT W7UDT/FR Liberte’ Egalite’ Fraternite!”
“Vive la France! de W7UDT/FR Eiffel Tower Paris Test Test”

But alas, the crowds, the anti-suicide/base jumping (faraday) cage at its summit, and my wife, all served to dissuade me from extending the whip, and sending out the beacon. So sadly, no attempt was made.

I personally would love to have some relative of Ol’ Gustave do it, and activate the summit. Why not? He’d intended its heights to be used as scientific platform, and to be admired by all who visited.

Vive la France!

72 de W7UDT ID (dit dit)