[CTSARA] Fw: Hams Needed July 25 For Harlem Valley Rail Ride

[ranceiii at aol.com]

Gang,

Once again I say, I'll be bringing the Red Stripe, but I won't be dancing!








-----Original Message-----
From: Jon Perelstein <jperelst at yahoo.com>
To: Stamford Amateur Radio Association <ctsara at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wed, Jul 14, 2010 9:42 am
Subject: [CTSARA] Fw: Hams Needed July 25 For Harlem Valley Rail Ride


A few people have just reminded me that this is the same day as the club 
icnic.  That's what I get for keeping two calendars.
The Mount Beacon people have called me a couple of times already to confirm that 
I'll be there (I volunteered a couple of months ago) and I think I'm going to 
ave to keep my commitment to them much as I would prefer to be at the picnic.  
 would like to get a few other people for this activity, but I also understand 
hat many of you would like to attend the picnic, especially since Terry is 
upposedly buying AND is also supposed to do some dancing (is that right 
erry??).
Jon
B1QBZ

----- Forwarded Message ----
rom: Jon Perelstein <jperelst at yahoo.com>
o: Stamford Amateur Radio Association <ctsara at mailman.qth.net>
ent: Wed, July 14, 2010 7:05:53 AM
ubject: [CTSARA] Hams Needed July 25 For Harlem Valley Rail Ride
Ham radio operators are needed to provide communications for the Harlem Valley 
ail Ride  (http://www.bikenewyork.org/rides/hvrr/index.html) and I'd like to 
ee if we can get one or two people from SARA.  I will be working this one.
I worked this ride last year.  It's an interesting communications problem 
ecause (a) the route gets much further from the base than do either the Bennett 

ancer Center ride or the Bloomin Metric ride, and (b) the ride uses five 
ifferent repeaters, including an IRLP link, because the terrain does not 
upport VHF communications.  Actually, the terrain doesn't support any 
oint-to-point radio communications.  Some of the ride takes place in the Harlem 

alley itself, but unlike coastal CT the Harlem Valley itself is hilly terrain 
hat is difficult for point-to-point communications.  Much of the ride crosses 
all ridge lines into other valleys, thus making it even more difficult to 
aintain communications.  Despite the five repeaters, there are sections of the 
ide that do not have good communications with base, and messages have to be 
elayed by hams stationed at the rest stops as well as hams strategically 
ocated on hill tops.
One of the things that struck me about the ride last year was the prep done by 
he Mount Beacon Amateur Radio Club, which organizes the coverage.  They issued 
 briefing book that was something like 25 pages long and included photos of key 

urns in the route where a support vehicle could become lost.  Last year they 
ad hams in official SAG vehicles as well as hams manning the rest stops and the 

elay points.  They had trouble getting enough hams for all the vehicles, relay 
oints, etc.
The area of the ride is just beautiful.  It starts in Millerton NY, which is in 
ortheast Dutchess County in NYS.  Millerton itself looks like a throwback to 
he early 1900s.  The ride includes much of eastern Dutchess County, sections of 

orthwest CT (up around Kent), and sections of southwest MA.  Beautiful valleys, 

eautiful if rugged terrain around the valleys, and a drive along the Housatonic 

iver.  
It is a long car ride up there (about 1-1/2 hours each way) and it is a very 
ull day. I think I left home about 6 am last year and didn't get back until 
bout 7 pm, but it was fun from a ham radio point of view and it was nice to get 

way from coastal CT.    They do of course provide food and facilities (pretty 
ood food too as I remember).
If you're interested, please contact me and we can arrange to car pool.
Jon
B1QBZ
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