Idaho 902 MHz EME

Date/Time: May 11, 2024 @ 1800z
QTH: DN44GQ, just south of Raynolds Pass
Call: KB7Q always 1st sequence
Mode: Q65-60C
Frequency: 902.107 MHz CFOM
Internet:Yes

Drone shot - DN44gq, a mile south of Raynolds Pass in Idaho.

 It was a lovely spring day for a ham radio outing. I even allowed time to stop in Ennis for a sit down breakfast at the local cafe. Light winds, 70 degrees, and no ticks made for perfect conditions setting up. I worked 12 stations and gave several folks a new State. I never saw the moon, but the SL-1 tracker did its job well.

Logged: W2HRO (-22), VE4MA (-24), VE6TA (-17), N0LNO (-22), KC0SKM (-22), W5AFY (-20), W7JW (-25), K0DAS (-22), W6TCP (-23), AC0RA (-24), K0DSP (-23), W6LUA (-22). LoTW upload done.

6,834 feet, the waters divide here.

Just too nice a day to not share the view. The road home south of Ennis, Montana.

Wyoming on 902 MHz EME

 April 19, 2024

As promised, I rolled down to Yellowstone Park this afternoon. I was surprised to find the dirt road into the Big Horn Trailhead was still under four feet of snow, but the wide pullout off Route 191 was still 25 yards into Wyoming so that was where I set up. I did have two different sets of "Lookie-Lous" stop and ask about what I was up to. The looks I got were priceless - they thought I was loonie!

Anyhow, I worked all callers again. I did have to grapple with wind moving the dish off axis, the fiberglass center post just was too slick to hold in the light breeze. A few cinch straps fixed the problem, and I already have a long term cure thought out. Once on the moon the SL-1 tracker kept me there.

Worked (at apogee no less) were AC0RA (-24), W2HRO (-20), W5AFY (-23), VE4MA (-23), W7JW (-23), K0DAS (-23), N0LNO (-23), KC0SKM (-24), W6TCP (-25), K0DSP (-24). I appreciate the activity, it makes these outings well worth the effort. LoTW upload done.

Bonus: I saw elk, a moose, and a small herd of big horn sheep on my travels to and fro.

 

DN44lw32ns Wyoming (just). Big Horn Trailhead was still snow bound.

Yellowstone Park, WY (DN44lw) with the moon riding high. Click on the photo to get a hi-res version.

Back seat station, no quick stops!

Easy 902 MHz EME

April 13, 2024

    Of course it's easy if you spend a week re-doing every cable in the station with heavy duty connectors, and pondering where is the quietest location within driving distance. A friends cabin in Tom Miner Basin (DN45me), just north of Yellowstone Park, is the ne-plus-ultra for a quiet spot. So that where I went today. It was an exceptional spring day - usually the road up to the cabin doesn't go snow free until mid-May. This year it was an easy drive in my Subaru Forester. We're talking 71 degrees at 6,500 feet elevation!

Of 11 stations calling I worked 10! W2HRO (-21), W7JW (-21), W5AFY (-20), VE4MA (-21), AC0RA (-22), K0DSP (-23), K0DAS (-23), N0LNO (-23), KC0SKM (-23) and finally W6TCP (-23) after an hour's chase. 

I have ready access to this location, so if you still need Montana I'm happy to roll uphill again.

2.4M dish, 500+ watts, and no stinkin' noise! The wicker chair was a nice touch.

The Theodolite app helps when setting the dish up. Looking 81 degrees.