[Milsurplus] New stuff

[Michael Tauson]

Hi, Folks,

Oh, I know about short hop.  For local communications, the only reason
I may need to get some altitude is to be able to ensure I can hit one
of the 2m repeaters while I'm operating since both modes of
communication (2m FM and 40m SSB) are needed simultaneously for EARC
purposes.  For interisland HF, I need to be able to cover a line 75-80
miles on either side of Oahu for sure and possibly a bit wider.
Intraisland, the worst case is 40 miles but, again, I need to be in a
position to hit the local repeaters for EARC purposes.  Both of these
may well be satisfied by finding a likely spot near a beach which
would make life most pleasant after a net check in, drill or
simulation.

For hitting the mainland and beyond ... part of finding a hill or
somewhere like Ka'ena Point is finding enough space to set up a dipole
of the GRA-4 flavor while not butted up against a mountain.  I don't
know how familiar you all are with Oahu.  The coastal areas plus the
Center Island area are pretty well built up since that's the only land
available for construction and we're running out of that.  Most of the
land that isn't built up is forest preserve or military with some
agriculture and a few old cane fields that have gone wild.  Since I
want to stay local to Waianae (again, EARC thinking), my options are
limited since once I'm away from the built up area, I'm in the Waianae
Range and in box canyons in a few cases.

Does this help make clear the confusion?  (Nothing in the world like
clear confusion, is there.)

Best regards,

Michael