[MRCA] Long Range Recon Patrol Comm Event at 2015 MRCA Meet

[Radio Station KW1I]

Recon Patrol Ops at MRCA in 2015

A Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol communication event is scheduled for Friday 
afternoon at the MRCA Meet this year.  This has become the signature event for
some of the attendees.  Six locations 10-12 miles distant from the base headquarters 
at the West End Fairgrounds, Gilbert, PA have been selected.

Brief descriptions of these sites along with driving instructions will be sent out 
shortly via the MRCA reflector.

This advance posting of recon targets will enable those using Friday as a travel day 
to drive directly to a site and begin their radio fun without prior check-in to 
communications headquarters at the fairgrounds.

Again this year we would like to encourage the use of AM field sets as well as SSB 
radios sets on HF frequencies.  We will be using AM ops in the 3875-3885 kHz (+/- ) 
frequency segment and SSB ops on 5357 kHz (USB, Chan 3, 60 Meters).    Some 
participants may use other frequencies and modes as well for this event.  1500 EDT 
is the time to plan to be at your recon location. If you are leaving from the 
fairgrounds, briefing and assignments will commence at 1400 EDT at the Howell 
Building.

Depending on the capabilities of recon stations, propagation and local noise, the 
control of the recon net will develop after deployment and might need to be 
shared to get reports to and from all stations.   

In recent years we have attempted some “scientific inquiry” with signal 
comparisons with vertical and horizontal antennas and the use of Near 
Vertical Incidence Skywave propagation.   

Some possible areas for a comm team experiment:  
   . Comparison of a stock AS-2259 antenna to one modified to amateur frequency 
     wire lengths 
   . Comparison of a stock AS-2259 antenna to a home brew AS-2259 configuration, 
     or a simple low dipole, or another commercial antenna. 
   . Repeat of an NVIS experiment from a couple years ago where signals were 
    compared using a dipole whose height could be rapidly changed.
   . Comparison of various mobile antennas, e.g. screwdriver, bug-catcher, 
     auto-tuned whip. etc.
   . Comparison of a whip antenna in vertical position to the same one tilted at 
     various angles 
   . Compare operation of similarly configured half wave antennas, one end fed 
     and the other center fed.   
   . Comparison of a low dipole with and without a counterpoise

There are MRCA Meet attendees interested in some of these experimental areas.  
Make your interest known by posting on the MRCA reflector. You may get some 
comments, ideas and volunteers.  You may have all the gear necessary for an 
experiment.  If not, other interested comm team members may be able to bring 
an extra antenna, supports, coax, tuners and switches, etc.  

You do not have to have a portable station to participate.  Participants who bring
stations and antennas enjoy having extra pairs of hands around to help with set up 
and tear down.  

51.1 mHz FM will be the principal mobile and pedestrian liaison frequency.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/mrca/attachments/20150910/caa2dbd9/attachment.html>