[SHARCbits] Over the horizon 2 meter contact in Chiefland.

[Paul Zimmerman]

On Saturday, I was monitoring 146.520 when I heard someone calling CQ. It was W4AR from Key Largo and he was headed up the Suncoast Parkway to his cottage in Chiefland. I picked him up before he hit the Pasco/Hernando county line. When he got to the Citrus county line on Hwy 19, I asked him to switch to the W4IIR repeater in Beverly Hills. We talked for a while, and then we agreed to try each other again when he got settled at his destination later that evening. So I told him I would leave the radio on. Well, it worked just fine. Looking at QRZ.com, there must be 80-85 miles between us and we could hear every word just fine. It was a little scratchy, but just as good as some of you rubber duck users on our Tuesday night nets! FYI - W4IIR 146.955 has a 100 ft. tower and puts out 100 watts. W4AR has a J-pole at 35 ft. with 50W, and I have a J-pole at 20 ft. with 50W. I'm 35 miles from the repeater and he is over 40 miles. So there you have it; over the horizon contacts on 2 meters!

73 Paul KJ4QAN