[na0tc] Preliminary Information - Sep 9. 2023 Meeting

[285 TechConnect Radio Club - Morrison, Colorado]

Hello Everyone.

 

The next 285 TechConnect meeting will be held on Saturday, September 9th, 10AM, at Chatfield State Park.  Setup, coffee & doughnuts at 9:30AM.

 

Note this is a date change, and a location change.  We are planning on having several radios available for portable operation.  This email provides preliminary information so you can plan for the event in advance.

 

Meeting Location:

Chatfield State Park -  Dam Trail Parking Area <https://www.google.com/maps/place/39%C2%B033'39.0%22N+105%C2%B004'01.0%22W/@39.5587801,-105.0743194,1705m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m4!3m3!8m2!3d39.560841!4d-105.066938?entry=ttu> 

39.5587801,-105.0743194

Grid: DM79ln

 

Entrance fees (note fees are per vehicle, not per person, so carpool to share costs).  The Keep Colorado Wild Pass is new this year and a great option, particularly if you are into Parks on the Air:

*	Daily Vehicle Pass <https://cpw.state.co.us/buyapply/Pages/DailyPass.aspx>  - $10 per vehicle 
*	Annual Affixed Vehicle <https://cpw.state.co.us/buyapply/Pages/AnnualPassInfo.aspx>  Pass - $80 per vehicle. 
*	Keep Colorado Wild Pass​ <https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/Keep-Colorado-Wild-Pass.aspx>  (Colorado ​Residents Only) - $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass is added to annual vehicle registration through the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). 

The Dam Trail Parking Area is on the Perimeter Rd, just west of the dam.  It has several tables, some with covers, that are near the parking lot.  The area doesn’t get a lot of use, but it should be just right for portable operations since it is high above the lake with no trees or other obstructions which should be good for radio propagation.

 

Parks on the Air (if interested):

For those who are interested, we are working to register for Parks on the Air club activation <https://docs.pota.app/docs/activator_reference/activator_guide_clubs.html> .  In addition to club activation, you can use your existing membership or register for individual activation credit.  More POTA information is at https://docs.pota.app/  We will spot a couple of watering hole frequencies to make it easier for POTA “hunters” to connect with us.

 

Radios:

HT radios can be used in simplex, for POTA.  Contacts using repeaters don’t get credit for POTA activations.  We will spot our event so that POTA “hunters” know we are operating.  In addition to HTs we want to have club members set up their portable rigs.  Please reply to this email with the following information if you are planning on using something other than an HT for portable operations.

 

For example I’ll be setting up:

Radio:  Yeasu FT991a

Antenna:  homemade 20m EFHW on an MFJ mast <https://mfjenterprises.com/products/mfj-1910> 

Power Supply:  Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 240Wh

Misc:  Windows laptop running Ham Radio Deluxe and WSJT-X

 

Other Information:

*	Restrooms are located down the hill at the North Boat Ramp.
*	We will stay and play as long as there is interest.
*	There are charcoal grills at the meeting location, but we aren’t planning on an organized cookout.  Please feel free to bring something to eat.
*	Although there will be tables (some with covers) you should bring chairs, and maybe your own table or sun shade.
*	There is no water at the site, so bring plenty.
*	Towels are useful for the galactic adventurer…

 

Please let me know if you have questions, ideas or concerns.

Looking forward to a fun outing!

 

Tony Montoya k0mcw

285 TechConnect Radio Club – Program Coordinator