Just one more point:
Your GPS map datum should be set to WGS84 (which should be the default), and if the unit is equipped with it, WAAS should be enabled. This will ensure you will get the lowest possible accuracy reading. This accuracy figure, along with the lat/lon coordinates, must be pictured in your video or camera footage along with your station on the boundary.
I use the Garmin etrex Legend HCx and I have never had any issues with finding grid boundaries. Just make sure you have the GPS on while en route to the boundary.
The VUCC rules spell all of this out in a very simple format on the ARRL's website:
4(e)&(f)
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Awards/VUCC%20Rules%202011_Rev%2020110512.pdf
73!
Zack KD8KSN
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2011 10:59 AM To: [email protected] Cc: [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] Quad Grid Documentation
Hi Dave,
Like many others, I'm looking forward to working you from the quad point. I'll finally be home to take advantage of your operation and hopefully get four new ones into my own log.
Adding one point to WD9EWK's info, the GPS display needs to show an accuracy of 20 feet or less. Lower is better for stability of course, but 20 is the magic number.
From your description of the quad point, the forest may not be friendly to your GPS. Just like when you're working through the birds, GPS sigs are impaired by the population density of nearby trees.
Have fun!
73,
Jim, ND9M / VQ9JC Ardmore, OK / EM14
Message: 1 Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2011 12:42:53 -0700 From: David Palmer KB5WIA [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] KB5WIA California Lost Coast Expedition (CM79/CM89/CN70/CN80) August 7-8, 2011 To: AMSAT BB [email protected] Message-ID: CAO-vtPMe_Yj6TVpuTEuFWuCxTCVDcxwW0vXhqa2WFzs0spg7pA@mail.gmail.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Hi Everyone,
Just a reminder (and before the flood of ARISSat emails in the list tomorrow!), this weekend I'll be heading out to the California Lost Coast to work the satellites from that rare grid CM79. CM79 has no roads, no power, no houses, nothing but lots and lots of ocean and a small triangle of mountainous forest. Plans are to operate right from the northeast tip of CM79 so if all goes well I'll be providing four grids at once: CM79, CM89, CN70, and CN80.
Weather looks reasonable (cloudy mornings, sunny afternoons) for portable solar-powered operation. I'll operate on Sunday August 7th and Monday August 8th, and I've posted a list of potential passes on my blog. Operation will be during local daylight only, due to the remoteness of the area I don't want to be hiking down off that mountain after dark!
I'll aim to work all available satellites -- AO-51 (if it keeps going strong like it has been), SO-50, and AO-27 for FM. VO-52, FO-29, and AO-07 (primarily mode B) for SSB. If ARISSat is up and running I'll try to get on that too, depending on congestion and satellite performance.
I'll have my SPOT Locator beacon with me, so my exact location should be available from the link on my QRZ web page. If the current beacon position shows that I'm right at the intersection of -124 and 40 degrees, likely I'll be available on the sats as they go by.
More details on my website at http://kb5wia.blogspot.com
73! de Dave KB5WIA
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