[GCARC] Ever make HF cross-band ham contact with a US Department Of Defense (DOD) station? Try Saturday!

[Jim n2gxj]

right now:  NSS strong 7.536.5 (LSB) is where you tune to RX, and he tells
you to transmit 7.240 (LSB)
                  WAR weak  7.375   (USB) is where you tune to RX, and she
tells you to transmit 7.247.5 (LSB)
Managed to get both with just wire antenna in attic.
good luck if you try!
Jim

On Fri, May 12, 2023 at 3:15 PM Jim n2gxj <jim.n2gxj at gmail.com> wrote:

> Another "unusual" activity for you to try with ham radio is available to
> us Saturday!
>
> What?
> DoD MARS armed forces day (AFD) test of cross band operations with amateur
> radio stations.
> Military stations transmit outside the ham bands on HF saying where they
> are listening inside the ham bands where we are allowed to transmit for any
> ham radio operator who wants to try and call to make contact with them.
>
> Up for the challenge?
>
> How?
> All you have to do is figure out how to set up your radio to operate
> split, where you listen on their frequency outside the ham band, and then
> when you key up, your transmitter transmits within the ham band where they
> say they are listening for you.
> Easy, right?
>
> Learning and reward
> If you are successful, you'll have learned how to operate split between
> military and ham bands in this exercise, and there's some QSL cards
> available for bragging rights you can get from the DoD to celebrate your
> accomplishment.
>
> What frequencies, what to listen for, and when?
> the details:
>
> Key is knowing what frequencies and at what times the military stations
> might be on the air.  They may only transmit once/10 minutes, or they
> may actively be calling CQ.  You'll just have to listen in to find out.
> Listen for their callsign (which will not be a ham callsign), and for
> on-air instructions as to what frequency they are listening to that is
> inside the ham band for you to call them on.
>
> Examples of stations you might hear:
> Callsign   Where from, Frequency, when
> WAR        Pentagon, Washington DC:  7,357.0 kHz USB  (starting 1200Z)
> NSS         US Naval Academy, Annapolis MD: 7,533.5 kHz USB (starting
> 1300Z)
> AAM3D    DISA Cyberspace Operations Directorate, FT MEADE, MD, 7,421.0 kHz
> USB (starting 1300Z)
> AAN         US Northern command in Colorado: 14,550.5 kHz USB (starting
> 1400Z)
>
> There are mores stations than just these!
>  and there's more frequencies for these stations, I just listed ones we
> may have a good chance to hear in New Jersey.  You can try the others too!
> Details:
> https://www.dodmars.org/mars-comex-information-website/armed-forces-day
>
> Parting thoughts
>
> As you may already know, the AFD Crossband Test is a unique opportunity to
> test two-way communications between military communicators and radio
> stations in the Amateur Radio Service (ARS), as authorized in 47 CFR
> 97.111. These tests provide opportunities and challenges for radio
> operators to demonstrate individual technical skills in a tightly
> controlled exercise scenario.
>
> Good luck to anyone who tries!
> Jim, n2gxj
>