[Milsurplus] AAR of Port Clinton Operation

Mon Nov 14 16:44:35 EST 2016

AAR of the Port Clinton detachment of the Able Archer 83 exercise, 12 November 2016.

Able Archer 83 is an annual event where period correct communications equipment is put to work in the field on Ham frequencies establishing communications with as many other fixed or mobile Ham radios stations as possible within the time period of the exercise.
This year I operated as a remote or auxiliary agent of the Able Archer 83 detachment (W3A). My mission goals were to establish a remote self-contained operating location at Port Clinton state game lands some thirty four miles from the Able Archer base located in Pottstown PA.
Mission goals were to establish a VHF (51.0 MHz) tactical link between the two locations along with participation in the Moose & Squirrel C-LRRP radio Net (5.357 MHz) and the opportunity to operate on any additional Ham bands between the two locations or other Ham stations with an emphasis on establishing a presence on the 17 Meter band (18.16 MHz).

Resources:
My 1967 M151A1 with upgraded 60 Ampere alternator was equipped with an AN/GRC-106 2 to 30 MHz SSB transceiver along with an AN/VRC-42 30 to 70MHz FM transceiver. Additional equipment included a AN/PRC-108 portable SSB transceiver and a AN/URC-110 VHF-UHF radio along with a push up mast and a low band Log Periodic antenna (AS-2851).
All items were transported by car trailer to the location and the M151 transported itself and the equipment to the operation location on the mountain.

Operations:
The trip to the site was uneventful with the exception of the last part towing the trailer up the dirt road to the parking lot mid-way up the mountain. Being use to flat land driving much was learned about traction or lack thereof.
The exercise was scheduled to start at 12:00 local and I arrived on site about one hour before. Installation of the 60 meter HF antenna on the push up mast was completed about a half hour before the event started and communications with Able Archer base (W3A) was established on 5.357 MHz The log periodic FM antenna was assembled and set up using the front of the mutt as a support with guy cables to the mutt and a stake driven into the ground.
Had QSO with K4CHE in Dover Delaware direct on 60 meters using the PRC-108 prior to events starting.
Checked into M&S Net at 12:00 and copied all stations. Was not able to copy the URC-35 that was in operation in Boston Harbor on the museum ship, but the majority of the other stations did not also. Comments from the Net control were that the GRC-106 was one of the loudest signals on the Net.
Large number of stations involved due to it being the sixth anniversary of its founding.
While participating in the M&S Net Established VHF FM (51.0 MHz) link between myself and W3A base. Had power output level problem with the RT-246 but with using the Log Periodic antenna aimed in their direction had 100% solid copy. Did test going between the whip antenna located on the back of the mutt and the pole mounted log periodic and found that was barely able to copy W3A on whip but had 100% copy using the AS-2851
Communications were established between my location and W3A on 60 meters, 17 meters and the 6 meter band. I did not have antenna for 40 meters and 20 meters proved to be too crowded. We did try the 10 meter band and 2 meter band but were not successful.
All coordination were via the VHF link between my location and W3A, in addition to this three additional stations were copied on 51.0 MHz but due to the low power problem the only two way contacts were between myself and W3A.
Between 13:30 and 14:30 additional contacts were carried out on both 60 and 17 meters. The GRC-106 was used on 17 meters with the onboard whip antenna but band conditions did not appear to be good for operations on the 10 or 15 meter Ham bands.
At 14:30 started to disassemble the operation taking down the push up mast for the 60 meter inverted V and disassembly of the 6 meter Log Periodic. Left the site around 15:30 and returned to the truck and trailer. Transferred some equipment to the truck and then drove the mutt down the mountain to the highway, walked back up and drove the truck and trailer down empty not wanting to repeat the experience of towing a loaded trailer on a steep dirt road again.

Thing Learned:

Successes, did establish VHF FM simplex link with good reliability over a 34 mile path. The AS-2851 Log Periodic is a huge pain when you are by yourself, the antenna takes several minutes to assemble but the pole sections become an issue when you're by yourself and also it's no joy in putting stakes to hold the base plate in rocky soil. With the issues in trying to put this up by myself ended up not using all the poles that come with the kit.  Without the AS-2851 the path would have been marginal, with it the path was solid, so it was worth the effort.
Operations on the M&S Net were excellent with good reports all around and the GRC-106 working perfectly. Did use the inverted V for the net wanting to copy all stations without issue.
Communications with W3A base resulted in operation on at least one new band, 17 meters at 18.16 MHz and although no other new bands were added there will be room for growth next year. The PRC-108 was very useful in having a second radio just to monitor 60 meters to coordinate contacts on other bands without having to change frequencies on the 106.

Failures, towing a trailer on dirt or gravel roads in mountain setting is nothing like towing on flat lands. Loss of traction while going uphill with a trailer in tow is an experience.  Also need to spend more prep time in testing all the radios that will be used. Did check the GRC-106 the weekend before assuming if there will be trouble that's where it will be but it worked without issues. But I failed to check the RT-246 and its low output could have been an issue. Additional antennas for 80 and 40 meter operation would be a plus also, W3A spent much of their time on 40 meters.
Will need a first aid kit to the M151, cut finger packing up one of the antennas and had to use black electrical tape as band aid. Will also look into an alternate 28 volt DC source. The M151 had no problems powering everything but having to run the engine on the 151 while the GRC-106 was in use is a real drag. Introduces vibrations and smoke being the exhaust is right next to where the radio is located. Maybe an external generator like a MEP-015 28 volt generator would be the solution but then have to deal with transporting and all that sort of stuff. I have a 120/60 cycle MEP-015 now and can trade for the DC version but there must be something smaller and easy to deal with.

Conclusion:
Despite the problems would rate the operation as a success. Links were established, Nets were operated and contacts were operated on new bands. Will plan on similar operation next year with the hope of having some assistance with the work.
I will be posting photos of the operation on my web page, and maybe trying to get something posted on the M&S Nets web page too. Attached is a couple low resolution images of the M151 and the radios in use.

Related Links:
https://sites.google.com/site/ablearcher1983w3a/
http://www.mrca.ar88.net/Old%20Pages/Net/MandS.html
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_20028406.pdf

Ray F/KA3EKH
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