[NLRS] KK6MC and Eclipsemania

Wed Jul 12 20:12:56 EDT 2017

On 7/12/2017 12:29 PM, WA2VOI, Donn wrote:
>
>
> 'Morning, Jim.
> Good to hear you'll be out and about for the contest. I hope to work you
> (several times !) but at least for the "new station" on 10GHz.
>
> If you don't already have hotel/motel reservations in North Platte you
> may be in for several surprises ! One, there may not be any, at any
> price, or 2) they may want a months salary, plus an arm and a leg PLUS
> your first born. North Platte is a center for eclipse trips farther
> north to the center line of totality. Yes, the eclipse is Monday, but
> people will show up starting Friday (or earlier).
>
> A bunch of us will be in the "area" for the Contest: The "southern
> group" will be starting in Beatrice and moving west more or less along
> US136 and spending Saturday night in Holdrege. Sunday, west along US6
> and spending Sun day night in Ogallala. Not many stops either day.
>
> The "Northern Group" will start in Norfolk (?) and move west along US275
> (?). Don't know where they're spending Saturday night. Sunday will be
> more or less the same with them also spending Sunday night in Ogallala.
>
> Monday morning (OMG early) we all head to Tryon, NE for the Eclipse.
>
> There will a third group west of Tyndal, SD. Operating from "Radar
> Hill." (Promising name, what ?) I think they'll be staying at an Indian
> Casio on the Reservation. At the moment, I "think" it will be 3-4
> operators.

It appears that this will be Gary, the normal organizer of rovers. I 
haven't tied down plans, but I might be there, I suppose I should be 
working on a room or fixing my Airstream. Without rovers in range of 
Buck Hill without the use of digital I don't see any reason to be on 
Buck Hill. I'm sure the Radar Hill group will be able to work Buck Hill, 
but only one time counts. I don't think I can find any spots in NW Iowa 
that I have used for working Buck Hill that will work for the NE rovers 
because of the high ridge on the west edge of Iowa called the Loess 
Hills. The times I have crossed them the main roads have not been on top 
of ridges anywhere, but been in stream valleys though I haven't explored 
off the paved roads. If the population on Buck Hill was 5 or 6 I might 
consider roving east on Saturday and West on Sunday staying at home 
overnight using places I have been to several years. I'd start at the 
I-35 overpass on 350th street south of Ellsworth, IA EN32FG, crops don't 
affect it and its good to Omaha too. I'm sure many will have to be 
adjusted for avoiding tall corn. Roving solo I'm sure I could get to 15 
or more stops per day. Otherwise operating from Radar Hill appears to 
provide the greatest point return. I'd suggest that those planning on 
Buck Hill would have a much better score by replacing Buck Hill with 
Radar hill. I'd wish the NE rovers could find more than half a dozen 
spots a day. If I rove near here I'll be sure to drive a few days before 
the weekend to confirm the affects of crops. I don't gather than the NE 
rovers plan that prescouting.
>
> I am told there will be on operator in/near Scotts Bluff (don't remember
> the call). Also there's a station in Omaha. I (don't know, but) believe
> that Mike, KM0T. in Sioux City, IA will NOT be available during the
> contest. There may be one or maybe two Rovers in Western Iowa on
> Saturday, MAYBE Sunday... not sure.

KM0T is NOT in Sioux City, he lives in Sioux Center about 43 miles up 
the west branch of the Floyd River NNE of Sioux City.
>
> There MAY be one to 3 or 4 operators on Buck Hill on the south side of
> the Twin Cities. Again, don't know for sure. Omaha to Buck Hill has been
> done with good propagation, 3W and 18" plus dishes. Not sure 200mW and
> 20dB would work, even with good conditions. (If Dave, N0KP, is on the
> hill with his 6' dish and 8w, it would help. :-) The only other fixed
> station in the Cities is W0GHZ and again, I don't know what his plans
> are. (18" dish and 3W for sure, maybe 8W, on the tower.)
>
> Hopefully, others will hop on here and make comments. I know Bruce was
> planning on making a general announcement re: Contest Plans shortly... a
> number of us have CSVHFS to get over with first.
>
> As an aside, this Contest, the contest is secondary; the Eclipse is
> first ! If Bruce,W9FZ. and Janice, KA9VVQ), had not come up with this NE
> Contest/Eclipse Expedition I wouldn't be participating in the Contest at
> all. (Janice is the astronomer.)
>
> Let's talk some more !

I have been through a solar eclipse at least once and I haven't a great 
interest this time.

I don't plan to be at CSVHF, though I have five papers in the proceedings.

73, Jerry, K0CQ
>
> 73 Donn
> WA2VOI/0
>
> PS Will you be at CSVHFS ? Bruce/Janice, Jon, W0ZQ, and myself will be,
> maybe others. Good chance to make plans. (dbb)
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "James Duffey" <jamesduffey at comcast.net>
> To: <NLRS at mailman.qth.net>
> Cc: "James Duffey" <jamesduffey at comcast.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2017 4:35 PM
> Subject: [NLRS] KK6MC and Eclipsemania
>
>
>>
>>
>> I will be in Nebraska and South Dakota for the first weekend of the
>> 10GHz contest with my modest 10GHz setup. We are formulating travel
>> plans now. We are preliminarily planning on getting to western
>> Nebraska, perhaps North Platte, on Friday the 18th. Then operating on
>> the 19th moving east, depending on where other’s activity is. Then,
>> probably spending the night of the 19th in Mitchell, SD. From there I
>> would rove or find a high spot to hang out or both. I have roved in
>> VHF contests from the Corps of Discovery Welcome Center in EN12HT, on
>> a bluff, in Nebraska south of Yankton on HWY 81. That was a good spot
>> and probably worth staying at while others relocate. I think that
>> several fixed stations with 10GHz capability are within range of that
>> spot with my rig. I have 200mW Kuhne transverter with a KX3 IF to a
>> 20dBi horn. I can work CW as well as phone.
>>
>> What are other people’s plans for Eclipsemania? If possible, try to
>> consider me in formulating them. I am flexible and would like to meet
>> other 10GHz rovers in the area at least once, if that is possible.
>> Keep in touch. Thanks - Duffey KK6MC
>> —
>> KK6MC
>> James R. Duffey
>> Cedar Crest NM 87008
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