[CTSARA] Simplex Test From Stamford Government Center

[Jon Perelstein]

On Sun Nov 15, we ran a simplex communications test from the EOC in the
Stamford Government Center.  The goal of the test was to develop a coverage
map for 2 meter simplex communications from the Stamford Government Center
-- especially in places that are likely to be shelters in case of a disaster
(e.g., the city's schools).  For those of you who don't know, the city
maintains a 2m base station in the EOC and a 2m 1/2-wave vertical on top of
the Government Center building.
 
For the test, we used three drivers covering various sections of Stamford:

*	Dr. John (N1EOL) drove the west side of Stamford including
Stillwater Rd, Roxbury Rd, and Long Ridge Rd up to the NY State border, plus
side trips west of Long Ridge Rd in areas north of the Merritt.  As many of
you know, those areas are iffy at best from the Stamford repeater.
*	Frank (KB1IFX) drove the center of Stamford, including the Nature
Center, Interlaken/Lakeside, and High Ridge Rd up to the NYS border -- all
of which are difficult to hit with the repeater (as those of you who have
ever tried to hit the repeater from the Nature Center on Field Day can
attest).  Frank also drove Route 1 out to Greenwich.
*	John (WB1GRB) drove the east side of Stamford, including Hope
Street, Glenbrook Ave, the Research Drive area (on the other side of a ridge
that's on the other side of and below an even bigger ridge), Courtland Ave,
and the Cove.

Each of the drivers used a car-mounted vertical antenna and a mobile station
(25-50 watts).  The base station at Government Center operated between 25
and 50 watts.
 
The results were astoundingly good.  In contrast to the repeater, we had
good coverage in all of the areas tested.  The lowest signal strengths
recorded anywhere were a couple of S9s in some of the dips along Erskine Rd
near the Long Ridge School and an S7 in the area of Interlaken/Lakeside.
Other than that, receive signal strength at the EOC was a minimum of 10 over
S9 and usually 20 over S9.  The drivers in the field reported similar
results, and about mid-way through we reduced power at the EOC from 50 watts
to 25 watts but the reduction made no noticeable difference.
 
During the course of the test, we received signal strength reports from
stations in Nassau and Suffolk County, Queens, Manhattan, and New Haven.
All were S9 or better.  One station from Long Island wanted to know if we
would be interested in renting out space in Government Center for a repeater
targeted at covering the north shore of Long Island (we referred him to the
new mayor).
 
Clearly, the EOC is far superior to the current repeater for coverage of the
city.  That may change when Sterling Farms becomes operational, but until
then ...
 
Many thanks to Dr. John, Frank, and John -- and to Captain Tom Lombardo of
the Stamford Police who was our escort for the day.
 
Jon (KB1QBZ)