Hi!

I am planning a day-trip to northern Arizona on Saturday, 30 July. My plan is to operate on the DM35/DM45 grid boundary west of Flagstaff (Coconino County) in the afternoon and early evening, probably starting with the AO-27 pass just after 2000 UTC. I will work FM and SSB satellites from up there. AO-7 in mode A may even be an option, if the weather isn't turning bad late in the day. Weather predictions are calling for scattered thunderstorms in the Flagstaff area on Saturday, so that might get in the way.

On my way to the DM35/DM45 boundary, I may stop at the DM34/DM44 boundary between Phoenix and Flagstaff for the morning VO-52 passes. I doubt I will wake up early enough to drive all the way to the DM35/DM45 in time for the VO-52 passes, but the DM34/DM44 boundary is a possibility. Since I was just at DM34 a couple of weeks ago and at DM44 in early June, the DM34/DM44 boundary isn't the primary goal of this day-trip - just another chance to put those two rarely-heard grids on the air on my way north. The worst-case scenario for the VO-52 passes could be simply working them from DM33/DM43 here in Phoenix, and then making the drive directly to the DM35/DM45 boundary in time for that AO-27 pass in the early afternoon.

While I am driving around northern Arizona on Saturday, I will have APRS running on my TH-D72A as WD9EWK-9. APRS coverage is good in much of northern Arizona, although I don't know how well it will be at the DM35/DM45 boundary itself. It was OK at my Field Day site last month, in a picnic ground just east of the boundary that is on slightly higher ground. Among other places online, http://aprs.fi/wd9ewk-9 should show my travels on Saturday.

As with my other trips, I'm happy to send out QSL cards to confirm any QSOs made at DM35/DM45 and - if I stop there - DM34/DM44. Just send me an e-mail with the QSO details. If you're in the log, I will drop a card in the mailbox. No need to first send me a card or SASE. QSOs will also be uploaded to Logbook of the World.

73!

Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/