The EM97 grid operation on 24 October came off as planned. The operating location proved to be quite good. The lowest western AO-27 pass was only 8 degrees and I was able to hear the entire 7 minutes of it. The last pass of AO-51 at 2338z was the most difficult because of the many competing signals. Many are not full duplex and cannot hear the buzz and continue to transmit. Even so, 21 different callsigns were heard and nine of them were worked. It was very hard to transmit into the bird but very easy to hear it.
The operating location elevation was over 2500' AMSL. Only a few hills around me were higher. All of them were covered with trees. It's very hard to find high spots that are accessible, and that makes EM97 very difficult to work if you are in the western part of the US. Temps during the daytime approached 60 degrees but temps during the last pass of AO-51 dropped to 45 degrees with a brisk west wind blowing directly at me. The first pass of AO-27 was a little wet but all in all the weather cooperated. Fifty-six contacts were made and I hope some of you came away with a new grid.
QSL cards are being printed and should be out within two weeks. Everyone in the log will receive a card. No return cards are requested. Info is on my qrz.com page along with the card design.
Not unlike last weekend, there were others operating away from their home location. Rodney, KC0ZHF, was in EN04 beginning on Friday evening and Gerald, N0JE operated on the EN05/06 grid boundary on Sunday morning. John, W6ZKH, was worked in DM05. Thanks to all of you for operating out of your comfort zone for the benefit of those working on their VUCC totals. Also noteworthy was the appearance of TF3ARI on the early morning 1047z AO-51 pass. Ari is running a TS2000 and is working to improve his receive capabilities.
If you are looking for a challenge, try operating in an adjacent grid or take your radio with you when you are on vacation. More and more are trying it and you'll find that you'll really enjoy the change of pace from operating at your home location.
73, John K8YSE
Hi John!
The EM97 grid operation on 24 October came off as planned. The operating location proved to be quite good. The lowest western AO-27 pass was only 8 degrees and I was able to hear the entire 7 minutes of it. The last pass of AO-51 at 2338z was the most difficult because of the many competing signals. Many are not full duplex and cannot hear the buzz and continue to transmit. Even so, 21 different callsigns were heard and nine of them were worked. It was very hard to transmit into the bird but very easy to hear it.
Thanks for making the trip down there! I missed you on the earlier AO-27 pass (work got in the way), but was very happy to get you on that AO-51 pass.
In addition to your trip, I was able to log KC0ZHF in EN04 and N0JE in EN06 (I missed his Sunday effort from a grid boundary), during that AO-51 pass Saturday afternoon. It is nice to hear so many different grids on the birds lately. It's even better to be close to home and have a chance to work others going out to unusual or rare places. :-)
For those who have worked me on many of my trips in the last couple of years, don't worry - I'm not stopping. I have to be a little more creative, since I've operated from so many different places out here as well as on my trips to Dayton and Baltimore this year.
John - maybe we can get you to take a drive through Ontario, away from the heavily-populated FN03 grid to some of the other places up there. How about a Canadian road trip around the lakes ending up in northern Minnesota? :-)
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/
participants (2)
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John Papay -
Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)