[MRCG] Fwd: [Milsurplus] 10/11/12 May 2018 Aberdeen MVPA AAR

[Tim]

In case you don't read the east coast MRCA list, here is an AAR on one of
their recent combined-groups mashup in Aberdeen MD.  Note that our friend
"Ray from VK" (Australia) made it to the ease coast after visiting us at
Estrella Warbirds.. Now that's dedication!  Yay Ray!

FYI Tim
N6CC
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Ray Fantini <RAFANTINI at salisbury.edu>
Date: Mon, May 14, 2018 at 7:29 AM
Subject: [Milsurplus] 10/11/12 May 2018 Aberdeen MVPA AAR
To: "mrca at mailman.qth.net" <mrca at mailman.qth.net>, "
milsurplus at mailman.qth.net" <milsurplus at mailman.qth.net>

10/11/12 May 2018 Aberdeen MVPA AAR



This is the second year that MRCA was given a free location (A11/12) to set
up and operate from at the Washington Area Collectors/Blue & Gray Military
Vehicle Trust 2018 East Coast Rally in Aberdeen Maryland.

I have operated from this event for several years but only in the last two
years have been set up in the display representing the MRCA.



Goals: (1) Check into the Moose & Squirrel C-LLRP Net at noon on 5.357. (2)
Operate on 3.885, 18.150 or any other targets of opportunity. (3) Monitor
51.0 FM for any local traffic. (4) Connect with K3R at the Kutztown Antique
Radio Show on 60 meters.

Resources included the M151A1 (mutt) with the AN/GRC-106A SSB transceiver
for HF, AN/VRC-12 installation for 51.0 FM and a URC-110 for any VHF-FM 2
meter work.

I also brought along a Russian R-107 and a R-148 to set up a small display
of Soviet technology next to the mutt.



I transported the mutt and all the equipment to the site on Thursday and
did the set up at that time. The show provides MRCA with free space located
in the first row alongside a grass berm that’s convenient for setting up
antennas and driving a ground rod. Along with using all the antennas on the
mutt also pushed up the twenty four foot mast and installed an inverted V
for sixty meters. Wanted to operate Thursday M&S Net but arrived too late.
Did have the opportunity to walk around and see some of the vendors at the
show but did not see anything that I wanted to buy. There were several
PRC-25/77 sets some PRC-8/9 and 10 sets along with RT-67/68 sets to be
seen. Not as much telephone equipment as has been in the past but still
there was a lot of it there along with tons of VRC-12 installation kits,
intercom systems and cables and tons of military cables and accessories.

The sale itself appears to have had a somewhat increased attendance and
there was no rain during the event this year. However it did rain heavily
every night and destroyed several pop up tents.

On Friday attempted to contact special event station K3R at Kutztown
Antique radio show but was unsuccessful. I did spend time walking the event
and talking with friends in attendance.

Saturday arrived couple hours before the M&S Net and checked out the
equipment. Had the MEP-025 28 Volt 1.5 kW generator with fifty foot cable
and placed the generator as far from the mutt as possible but still had to
deal with the noise of that generator, but using that generator avoids the
possibility of discharging the battery on the mutt or having to run the
engine on the mutt so there are advantages to having it.

The M&S Net went off at noon with no issues, had a special guest operator,
another Ray VK2NO providing the opportunity for the net to work a DX
station.

After the net there was a small spontaneous 51.0 FM Net between me
(KA3EKH), Ray (VK2NO) and Mr. Smith (K4CHE) using combinations of VRC-12,
Russian R-107 and Mr. Smith’s PRC-25, PRC-10 and PRC-6

All operations were thru around fourteen hundred local and everything got
packed up and ready for transport with departing the site around fourteen
thirty local.



In summary, I consider the event a success and accomplished goals one, two
and three and not accomplishing four. Using the MEP-025 avoided the issues
of running the engine in the mutt, and getting that generator up and
running for the first time provided good entertainment for everyone. After
getting it to run it started on the first pull all the other times but the
first time was a bit of an issue being it was dry and had not run in some
time. Think Mr. Smith has a video of us pulling on it.

Showing and operating the Russian radios was popular and also served as a
test for using the R-107 out in Dayton next week and all the other
equipment worked without issue. Best of all there was no rain during the
show this year.

Thanks again to the Washington Area Collectors/Blue & Gray Military Vehicle
Trust (WAC/B&G MVT) Chapter of the Military Vehicle Preservation
Association for their hospitality and providing the operating space. And
will be looking forward to next year’s event.



Ray F/KA3EKH