[Rover] Getting HamIM Ready for Janauary VHFSS

[Ev Tupis (W2EV)]

First, my appologies for sending this to four lists, but these are the four most
likely to benefit from this information.

PropNET and HamIM occupy the same frequency... 147.585 MHz FM.  This is fine. 
PropNET devices probe for band openings by TXing once every 5-minutes.  Probes
are placed at altitude (hilltops) with high power (50-watts or more).  Probes
exist across Upstate NY, Northwestern South Carolina and Eastern Michigan.

Why do you care?  Because if you live in these areas, you may use the
transmissions from these stations testing beacons, as you await other stations
roving through your area for VHF Contest-based HamIM QSO's.

As far as I hear, there will be at least two HamIM equipped Rovers out for this
year's January VHF SS (one in WNY and one in EPA/New England).  I know of at
least four HamIM equipped home-stations in Western New York who will be "lurking
for rovers", too.  Along the way, they will probably use HamIM to coordinate
activity between themselves, too!

ROVERS: All you need is an FM transceiver interfaced packet TNC, a windows-based
laptop and the software (no GPS needed!-you can update your location by hand!).

Remember, HamIM is simplex, unassisted and all-amateur communication.  It's ARRL
approved (though they refer to it as BEACONet).

If you aren't active on it already, please do so.  It's a piece of cake to do. 
Visit the website shown below for more information.  There are even custom maps
of Western NY and the USA's Northeast that you can download for use (highly
suggested).

Here's hoping that there will be a VE-rover or two on Lake Ontario's Northern
shore who uses it!

Regards,
Ev, W2EV
-- 
PropNET: If the band is open and no one is TXing, does anyone hear it?
HamIM  : Messaging the all-ham way, find Rovers as they go to play.
         That HamIM, that HamIM -- I'm sure you'll like that HamIM.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
http://w2ev.rochesterny.org and look for the hyperlinks for more info.