[MRCA] Long Range Recon Comm Ops at the MRCA Rally

Sun Aug 19 12:58:32 EDT 2018

For the last several years I have been setting up the mutt on Friday at Beltzville State Park - Boat Launch (north shore) at the far end of the parking lot and run what may be considered a second MRCA base to the extent that the mutt has onboard facilities for HF/SSB VHF AM/FM 51.0 and 144.250 and other modes.
This last year operated 5.357 USB, 3.875 AM (USB+Carrier) and 51.0 FM.
Had some help last year but can always use additional support with several radios, antennas and generator all running.
Also tends to draw attention setting up all this stuff so it helps to have someone around to answer questions from the public and local law enforcement.
So this year will make a general appeal for anyone who wants to come along and help out with operations, no equipment needed beyond valid license.
Also have portable stuff if needed for field opps, so if there is not enough for you to do can load you with a backpack and send you out to the field.

Ray F/KA3EKH

________________________________
From: mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net <mrca-bounces at mailman.qth.net> on behalf of Radio Station KW1I <kw1i at earthlink.net>
Sent: Friday, August 17, 2018 9:53 PM
To: mrca at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [MRCA] Long Range Recon Comm Ops at the MRCA Rally

Long Range Recon Comm Ops

This activity on Friday afternoon, Sept 21 from 1400-1730 EDT is for many the highlight event of the MRCA Meet.  This year we are adding some features to encourage the use of additional frequencies and modes.  We are adding target activity times during the afternoon so that those with a specific interest will know when to look for other operators with the same interest.  Otherwise, times and frequencies throughout the afternoon are completely up to the participants.

Target Activity Times

1400-1500  5357 kHz USB
1500-1530  3875/3885 kHz LSB
1530-1600  3875/3885 kHz AM
1600-1630  3570 kHz CW
1630-1700  51 mHz FM

In addition several new operating locations in the Beltzville Lake area have been identified so that lower power manpack and field sets users can not only have fun setting up their equipment, but they can actually have strong signals with multiple other stations with modest antenna deployments.  The locations are spread out over seven miles with most within two miles of each other.  A few along the lake shore and across the lake are just thousands of feet apart for use with short range equipment.  Participants should plan to bring HF AM field sets for use on 3875/3885 kHz, SSB radios for HF use on 75 and 60 meters, 51mHz FM sets and anything else that you would like to try out .  Team up with others and erect more than one antenna and do some antenna comparison, directivity, polarization and NVIS experiments.  The Beltzville sites are close enough so operators may choose to move and set up at several locations during the afternoon.

>From the long range recon sites, e.g. Big Pocono, Pocono Raceway, Jacobsburg it should be interesting to see what equipment and antenna configurations at Beltzville can be heard approximately 10 miles away.

The brief information below about locations is for your advance planning. You may want to try a new location this year, or if you are traveling to the MRCA Meet on Friday afternoon you may want to head directly to one of these sites before checking in at the fairgrounds to set up for a specific target activity time.

Clicking on a link below will take you to a Google aerial view, and in some cases a ground level view of the site.  Cut and paste the URL info into your browser.   Directions and additional info will be available at the Howell Bldg before deployment.  If you will be traveling directly to one of these sites Friday afternoon and need directions or if you have any questions email kw1i at earthlink.net.

Big Pocono State Park
29 miles 34 minutes
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Big+Pocono+State+Park/@41.0431001,-75.3512796,1058m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c4f4b509d1a249:0x2a7e2a6c0323a662!8m2!3d41.0418245!4d-75.3499601?hl=en

Pocono Raceway
12 miles 20 minutes
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Pocono+Raceway/@41.0532252,-75.5107834,2113m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c4f76eb859273b:0x9fa8705e77138719!8m2!3d41.0543442!4d-75.511279?hl=en

Jacobsburg State Park
18 miles 24 minutes
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Jacobsburg+State+Park/@40.7839753,-75.2933683,427a,35y,270h/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c4685bdb097c79:0x41a4b397ac0e48e5!8m2!3d40.7842784!4d-75.2941346?hl=en

Beltzville State Park - Beach
12 miles 20 minutes
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Preachers+Camp+Boat+Launch,+Beltzville+State+Park/@40.8602413,-75.6288415,531m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c451b4b7ed5477:0x778824795705c097!8m2!3d40.8742285!4d-75.5749275?hl=en

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Preachers+Camp+Boat+Launch,+Beltzville+State+Park/@40.861595,-75.6085987,4251m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c451b4b7ed5477:0x778824795705c097!8m2!3d40.8742285!4d-75.5749275?hl=en

Beltzville State Park - Boat Launch (north shore)
12 miles 20 minutes
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Preachers+Camp+Boat+Launch,+Beltzville+State+Park/@40.8634776,-75.6182511,315m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c451b4b7ed5477:0x778824795705c097!8m2!3d40.8742285!4d-75.5749275?hl=en

Preachers Camp Boat Launch, Beltzville (south shore)
10 miles 16 minutes
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Preachers+Camp+Boat+Launch,+Beltzville+State+Park/@40.8738357,-75.5743161,263m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x89c451b4b7ed5477:0x778824795705c097!8m2!3d40.8742285!4d-75.5749275?hl=en

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8640361,-75.5821581,1154a,35y,24.43h,44.69t/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

South Shore Beltzville Kayak Launch
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.853545,-75.6144457,623a,35y,24.43h,44.84t/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8589773,-75.6106515,214a,35y,24.43h/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Church Road Site (TBD), Trachville (Beltzville area)
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8735071,-75.5252553,847a,35y,24.43h/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Wild Creek Reservoir (near Beltzville)
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.9156287,-75.5539199,3a,60y,24.43h,80.26t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sH18ja3SSyydZavATJvRDeA!2e0!7i3328!8i1664?hl=en

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8979728,-75.5647843,2165a,35y,24.43h,44.46t/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Pohopoco Drive Parking Area (Beltzville north shore)
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8682782,-75.6069532,304a,35y,39.39t/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8709286,-75.6071484,3a,60y,175.37h,92.45t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sw-8cJPBRtul9S-fb8Z2h5w!2e0?hl=en

Ball Fields (Beltzville area)
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8566697,-75.5760797,301a,35y,39.35t/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.852252,-75.5789104,1565a,35y,38.94t/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Penn's Peak (Beltzville area)
17 miles 27 minutes
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8844574,-75.6797536,503m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.8701015,-75.6722282,4135m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/mrca/attachments/20180819/b0022b44/attachment-0001.html>