Same here yesterday when I particpated in a "Show and Tell" for Explorer Scouts at a camporee on top of a 10,000 Ft. mountain in AZ. We really had to search to get a couple of signals who were of strength and clarity to conduct an open air demonstration of HF communication.
A K3 sitting on the hood of my Suburban running directly connected to the battery for power, and connected to a 20 Meter dipole in the clear, strung between two fir trees, found VERY few signals on SSB and CW. The group of ~35 scouts and leaders found it exciting to communicate directly via the ether with a station in eastern CO and OH (a 3-way). Some of the scouts were intrigued with the CW demo, and tried their fingers on the iambic paddles while listening to the dits and dahs on the K3 monitor. Hopefully we set the hook in a couple of them. This mountain is named Heliograph Peak, and was used in the 1880's by the US Calvary for relay communications via Heliographs between forts down on the desert floor. Hence the name Heliograph Peak. To demonstrate the method of communications from 130 years ago, we used mirrors to flash to pre-arranged parties in the City of Safford, AZ, 7,000' below and 20 miles away from us. This mountain top is also a modern communications site and we gave them a tour of the towers, buildings and electronic equipment. We showed them amateur VHF and UHF repeaters, IRLP, remote controlled base stations and APRS systems that our club has operating at this location. All in all a great day with a fine group of youth and their leaders. Just needed more signals on 20 Meters. Milt, N5IA ----- Original Message ----- From: "ussv dharma" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]>; <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2010 1:44 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Very Efficient Ear Buds AH....for the good old days. When I could tune across twenty meters and loads of signals....now, here in kh6, I have to hunt just to find a signal. Grandmaw Susan ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
