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| Forest fire smoke making a hazy day on the South Saskatchewan River. |
Shifting over to 6M meteor scatter after dinner logged K7MAC (2x), N7CW, KF7CQ, VA6SW, KR7O, W7KNT, NS7K, NQ7R, W7OUU, and VE5UF.
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| Now that is one bad boy meteor burn from KF7CQ. |
DO60aq - Saskatchewan Landing
Shifting over to 6M meteor scatter after dinner logged K7MAC (2x), N7CW, KF7CQ, VA6SW, KR7O, W7KNT, NS7K, NQ7R, W7OUU, and VE5UF.
DO53td - The Battlefords Provincial Park, SK
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| Putting things together. I fixed the coax routing on the 6M beam right after this picture. |
This particular campsite has almost all the attributes of a great VHF site: a/c power, on a hill top with a good horizon including a big lake to the south, no neighbors from southeast to southwest, on the outside of the loop, and NO mosquitoes. Did I mention no mosquitoes?! It is missing a key ingredient - 6M Es propagation right now - I'm scanning away waiting.
Nice sustained 6M opening late afternoon/evening. I worked 121 stations - best DX XE2S (MX), AC4TO (FL), and K1TOL (ME). LoTW has been fed.
I'm QRV 6&2 meters and meteor scatter will work too. One night here and on we roll farther south to DO60 I think.
Where does Waldo go next?
Where's Waldo - We're out in town basking in fast Internet and fast food and a Tim Horton donuts. It looks like DO53 Thursday, and DO60 Friday and back to the States Saturday to do some grids around Fort Peck Reservoir.
DO73ar - Anglin Lake, Saskatchewan
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| We're in the boreal forest lands and lakes now. Plenty of mosquitoes too. |
This morning worked 6M meteor scatter and logged W7MEM, W9JN, KF7CQ, K7MAC, KE7X, and N7BYD. My second contact of 600 miles with k7MAC was while he was on his halo omni antenna. :-)
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| Some nice pings from KE7X this morning. |
DO61 - Blackstrap Provincial Park
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| It was worth going to a vantage point to work W8BYA @ 1260 miles. |
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| What do you think a pawn shop would give me for this mess. The truck shack. |
DN76 - Making a mountain out of a mole hill, then DN78
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| DN76ck - No horizon from 100 to 175 degrees azimuth - I sure know how to pick 'em. |
Good 2M session again last night from DN76, Mile City. K0KUK, K7MAC, W7MEM, and N7NW logged. This morning we managed KB7ME, KF7CQ, N0KE, NQ7R, KC6ZWT, KR7O, KS7S, and ND0B again on 2 meters before we had to scoot. Lots of wind so no way to put both Yagis up at the same time without disaster.
I did have the 6M Yagi up for a bit and worked five stations.
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| In spite of my location, KS7S came blasting in from Arizona. Nothing like a 12 db burn to move things along. |
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| The wind died! Both Yagis are up and I'm ready for a beer. The bar is just 50 yards away. Bonus! |
DN65 a big 2 Meter morning
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| Just off Route 212 on my high perch at sunrise. A fantastic horizon in all quadrants. |
The hills behind the truck are part of the Little Big Horn Battlefield, troops under Reno and Benteen fought there way up and managed to hold off the Cheyenne and Sioux warriors. Custer? Not so much - Last Stand Hill is about 2 miles to the right.
Windy and rainy most of the way up to Miles City (DN76ck). Nap time for me!
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| If I leave the part of the 5th wheel hitch off then I can bolt the base of the mast in.. |
DN65 Garryowen, Montana
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| Looking west over the top of the trailer. Nice day after nasty weather yesterday. Fairly tight quarters here in the RV Park. |
Off to see the Custer Battlefield for a bit, then back to see if 6M wants to open up.
Nice 6M opening after dinner, 50 stations worked.
Tomorrow on to DN76 at Mile City.
Delayed in Bozeman
We'll head to DN65 on Saturday, June 28th and be there by mid-afternoon. We'll spend two days there before heading on to DN76. A few things have kept us in Bozeman longer then expected..
The good news is that I received the new PL lock board from Elecraft for the internal 2 meter transverter in the K3. It works as advertised.
The good news is that I received the new PL lock board from Elecraft for the internal 2 meter transverter in the K3. It works as advertised.
VHF to HF for W1AW/7
We stuffed the trailer into storage this morning and headed for the hills to do our part as W1AW/7 "The Montana Edition". VHF action resumes June 25th from DN65.
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| W1AW/7 alpine style - a 130' Doublet, 500 watts, and a tuner; mostly CW/RTTY for the next several days. |
DN48kh to DN46fj travel day
Up early to run 2M meteor scatter skeds with N7NW, W7MEM, K6EME, K7ND, and NQ7R. It was blustery enough to have to tie the antenna down at each new azimuth position. We just beat the rain packing up and the 11 miles of dirt road out to the hardtop held up fine. No Montana gumbo-mud for us!
Fred, KE7X put me onto the PJclient program that enhances the Ping Jockey web site - what a neat piece of software, it will sure help me stay organized, and on top of things.
235 miles south and we're now back in DM46 on the way into Bozeman to get ready for my part in the W1AW/7 operation. We're going up to a cabin just north of Yellowstone Park for that. I'll be mostly HF CW and RTTY.
Tonight during the contest I worked a bunch of stations on 6M out of 5-land.
Tomorrow on into Bozeman and we'll give VHF a rest for a week or so. All QSOs this week should be up on LoTW and I'll grab my mail and answer QSL card requests too.
Fred, KE7X put me onto the PJclient program that enhances the Ping Jockey web site - what a neat piece of software, it will sure help me stay organized, and on top of things.
235 miles south and we're now back in DM46 on the way into Bozeman to get ready for my part in the W1AW/7 operation. We're going up to a cabin just north of Yellowstone Park for that. I'll be mostly HF CW and RTTY.
Tonight during the contest I worked a bunch of stations on 6M out of 5-land.
Tomorrow on into Bozeman and we'll give VHF a rest for a week or so. All QSOs this week should be up on LoTW and I'll grab my mail and answer QSL card requests too.
DN48kh (Tiber Reservoir) in the rain
We have Internet, but with the heavy rain at times it was spotty as the extra absorption took out the signal; I ended up putting the Mi-Fi card up on the roof of the trailer under a radome (my wife's plastic bowl). Nothing like having to DX the cell tower to get to Ping Jockey.
I worked 13 stations in this morning's session - a credit to the discipline of folks on the list and being right there when their turn came. Thanks!
A great morning for meteor scatter from this very quiet location. 6 Meter Contacts: N8JX, KE7X, KE7NR, KD7DCR, K7ULS. 2 Meter contacts: W9JN, N0KE, KE7NR, KR7O, KC6ZWT, AA7A, KF7CQ, and K7ULS.
Es was slow last evening just three or four logged on 6M, K5YAA was best DX. Mid-day today is very good into CA and AZ single hop, I'm just running 100 watts to save some gasoline and logging a bunch. Raining again, and thunder-boomers all around.
I worked 13 stations in this morning's session - a credit to the discipline of folks on the list and being right there when their turn came. Thanks!
A great morning for meteor scatter from this very quiet location. 6 Meter Contacts: N8JX, KE7X, KE7NR, KD7DCR, K7ULS. 2 Meter contacts: W9JN, N0KE, KE7NR, KR7O, KC6ZWT, AA7A, KF7CQ, and K7ULS.
Es was slow last evening just three or four logged on 6M, K5YAA was best DX. Mid-day today is very good into CA and AZ single hop, I'm just running 100 watts to save some gasoline and logging a bunch. Raining again, and thunder-boomers all around.
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| DN48 is Big Sky country. |
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| The list/log sounds orderly, but here's the real deal. Thankful for LoTW. |
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| The one that got away! K6EME had terrible local noise, but I was sure getting him on 2 meters. |
DN47 finish up and on to DN48kh
This morning was more 2 Meter meteor scatter action from DN47 with W9RM, N5JEH, K6EME, and K7MAC worked.
We packed up and are now about 50 miles farther north at the Tiber Dam south of Chester, MT in DN48. We lucked out and have the highest camp site in the park with a clear shot 360 degrees. This a free campground that is an oasis in the midst of the high plains - one of our favorite spots for early season camping (way too hot in late July).
I have sked for 2M MS in the morning and of course the 6M CW machine is going!
We packed up and are now about 50 miles farther north at the Tiber Dam south of Chester, MT in DN48. We lucked out and have the highest camp site in the park with a clear shot 360 degrees. This a free campground that is an oasis in the midst of the high plains - one of our favorite spots for early season camping (way too hot in late July).
I have sked for 2M MS in the morning and of course the 6M CW machine is going!
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| Level, plum, and square. |
2M Meteor Scatter DN47fp and 6M double-hop
A great 2M meteor session this morning started by working WQ5S at 1030 miles. W9JN, WB0ULX, KF7CQ, KS7S, KE7NR, N7NW were also logged. Nine element Yagi, 200 watts, and LMR600 feedline - it seems to be working.
Off to town (Great Falls) for some bike riding along the Missouri River and a visit to the CM Russell Museum.
We got back in time for several multi-hop contacts into New England on 6 meters as well as VE2 and VE3. Nice!
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| Now that is a 2 meter ping! W9JN at 1067 miles. |
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| Not a bad sunrise! |
Off to town (Great Falls) for some bike riding along the Missouri River and a visit to the CM Russell Museum.
We got back in time for several multi-hop contacts into New England on 6 meters as well as VE2 and VE3. Nice!
DN46 to DN47fp
Finished up DN46 with a nice run of FSK441 meteor scatter contacts on 2 meters this morning. Stations worked: W9RM, KC6ZWT, WA7HQD, K7MAC, KE7NR, KS7S, AA7A, K6EME, and W0VB.
Yesterday's problem is fixed - I even copied CX2SC off a rising moon yesterday evening on JT65b. Wowser!
On to DN47fp - It was about a 150 mile drive today up thru the mountains above Helena, MT, past Great Fall, down six miles of gravel road, and past a loaded missle silo and we're here. Here is Matt, K7BG's barn yard - I even found an a/c power outlet in the shed so we're all fat and sassy with some weather coming in. We're perched up on the high plains so it should be a great location. Just no propagation right now.
Yesterday's problem is fixed - I even copied CX2SC off a rising moon yesterday evening on JT65b. Wowser!
On to DN47fp - It was about a 150 mile drive today up thru the mountains above Helena, MT, past Great Fall, down six miles of gravel road, and past a loaded missle silo and we're here. Here is Matt, K7BG's barn yard - I even found an a/c power outlet in the shed so we're all fat and sassy with some weather coming in. We're perched up on the high plains so it should be a great location. Just no propagation right now.
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| On the high plains of Montana, but you can see the Rockies 50 miles to the west - It is going to get stormy. |
DN46gh continues
Disappointing morning try to get the 2M gear going. I ran five MS skeds with no joy. I have other gear to try thanks to K7MAC's generosity, so we'll see.
EUREKA! It turns out I was transmitting 4.71 KHz low on 2M this morning. My "Fancy Dan" PLL Lock board isn't working, so my offset compensation is back to the stock factory value i.e. +4.71 KHz. The PLL lock board will have to go back to Elecraft at some point. I may drift around a bit, but at least I'll be in the right place!
KO9A , N5RZ and about 15 others worked on 6M so far. Lots of beacons in too.
EUREKA! It turns out I was transmitting 4.71 KHz low on 2M this morning. My "Fancy Dan" PLL Lock board isn't working, so my offset compensation is back to the stock factory value i.e. +4.71 KHz. The PLL lock board will have to go back to Elecraft at some point. I may drift around a bit, but at least I'll be in the right place!
KO9A , N5RZ and about 15 others worked on 6M so far. Lots of beacons in too.
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| Today's wildlife. |
DN46gh Canyon Ferry Lake June 8, 2014
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| On the shores of Canyon Ferry Reservoir. |
We're just a 100 miles from home, but a great place to hang out for a few days and work the kinks out of the 2 meter gear which is all new to me. I'll be anxious to see how that all plays tomorrow morning on FSK441 meteors scatter. 200 watts and a nine element Yagi fed with LMR600 on 2M.
The rent here is right! Five dollars a day. As you can see I have shot over five miles of lake out to the east and southeast from here.
On 6M this afternoon W9RM, K0GU, KE7V, and K5WE were worked on a combination of scatter and meteors so far. The K3/KPA500 combo seems to work fine. Later in the day there were some short Es openings - best DX was AC4TO.
Gearing Up
Joyce and I are gearing up for another trot around Montana with the trailer putting grids on. I left the blog entries for the last trip (2012) as a reference. This will be a longer time out and about. This summer I'll add 2 Meter capability and head up to Saskatchewan for a visit to keep it interesting. Later we'll slowly head to the cooler mountains of western Montana. It is hard to tell exactly what grid I'll be in more then two weeks out, but I will keep things up-to-date here so you're in the loop.
Home right after the Perseids. I'm thinking it would be fun to do the Perseids from Beartooth Pass in DN54 Wyoming.
Lost of gear to get working together and herd into the trailer. If you need a grid on 6 or 2 meters in Montana be sure to let me know.
Joyce and I are gearing up for another trot around Montana with the trailer putting grids on. I left the blog entries for the last trip (2012) as a reference. This will be a longer time out and about. This summer I'll add 2 Meter capability and head up to Saskatchewan for a visit to keep it interesting. Later we'll slowly head to the cooler mountains of western Montana. It is hard to tell exactly what grid I'll be in more then two weeks out, but I will keep things up-to-date here so you're in the loop.
Home right after the Perseids. I'm thinking it would be fun to do the Perseids from Beartooth Pass in DN54 Wyoming.
Lost of gear to get working together and herd into the trailer. If you need a grid on 6 or 2 meters in Montana be sure to let me know.
QRT - For this trip
We'll head for home in Bozeman tomorrow, but the last month was fun - even if this wasn't one of the best Es seasons. Our travels took us to some wonderful spots. All the contacts should be up on LoTW now and I'll get any paper QSL requests done as soon as I grab my mail.
I packed up and bailed off of Sula Peak this afternoon just before the front hit. We had 45 mph winds here at the RV Park when I got back. The band had been flat for the last 3 hours up there.
I packed up and bailed off of Sula Peak this afternoon just before the front hit. We had 45 mph winds here at the RV Park when I got back. The band had been flat for the last 3 hours up there.
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| A last look at the Bitteroot Range, as the clouds started arriving. |
DN25/DN35 - The sequel
Good meteors this morning. Worked: K6EU, KU7Z, W9JN (1180 miles), W7OUU, KB7ME, KA9FOX (1132 miles), N7EA, VA7SW, KC7I, VE6CPP, VE7DAY, and W7ID.
Nice quick double hop opening on CW worked: N3LL, W4AS, N4ZQ, and K4NNX so far.
Windy and hot so we'll see how long I last.
Nice quick double hop opening on CW worked: N3LL, W4AS, N4ZQ, and K4NNX so far.
Windy and hot so we'll see how long I last.
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| Even hooked everything up right this morning the first time. |
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| W9JN's 14 db ping, not bad for 1180+ miles. |
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| Two pings from KA9FOX, 1132 miles. 9 and 14 db. |
DN25xu/DN35au
It was a good day up at the Sula Peak fire lookout on the DN25/DN35 grid line, but it was hot even being at 6,400'.
I worked about 50 stations as far east as W4, south to XE2, and places in between. I felt like I was just on the edge of the action all days long and only my high and clear position allowed me to hook into the skip. Best DX: XE2OR, XE2S, NN4R (AL), K4PI (GA), K4YMQ (AL), and a 750 mile meteor scatter contact with ND0B in the afternoon - not the best time to expect that result.
I'll give it another shot tomorrow, starting at 1300z for some meteor scatter work.
I worked about 50 stations as far east as W4, south to XE2, and places in between. I felt like I was just on the edge of the action all days long and only my high and clear position allowed me to hook into the skip. Best DX: XE2OR, XE2S, NN4R (AL), K4PI (GA), K4YMQ (AL), and a 750 mile meteor scatter contact with ND0B in the afternoon - not the best time to expect that result.
I'll give it another shot tomorrow, starting at 1300z for some meteor scatter work.
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| Another look, and the storm that missed the peak. |
DN25/DN35 grid line we're here
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| Looking west, the Bitteroot River just shining way down below. |
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| Looking east. |
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Right smack on the DN25/DN35 line. The "shack". |
DN25xu - Tomorrow and Monday
Tomorrow we'll give DN25xu a shot from the top of Sula Peak. I should be on the air by 1900z. I'll go back up Monday morning for some meteor scatter actions with FSK441 also and stay as long as I can. I will have Internet access I just found out.
CW 50.099 Mhz moving to SSB up band if I get a decent opening
ISCAT 50.260 MHz moving to 50.250 MHz when spotted
FSK441 CQ D10 50.260 MHz.
CW 50.099 Mhz moving to SSB up band if I get a decent opening
ISCAT 50.260 MHz moving to 50.250 MHz when spotted
FSK441 CQ D10 50.260 MHz.
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| A bit of luck would be nice too. |
Missoula, Montana
We're in Jim & Mary's RV Park in Missoula seeing friends and taking a break from all that white noise on 6 meters. We spent a total of five days in DN28 and worked 6 folks. Grr.
Anyhow - taking an RF break and then we'll see if we can get to the lookout on the top of Sula Peak Sunday afternoon/evening and Monday morning for DN25. If there is interest I can hang around and add more time.
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| Even in B+W DN28 is quite the place for camping, fishing, and someday 6M! |
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| A teaser photo from K7VK, this is what Sula Peak looks like on the DN25/DN35 line. |
DN28ip
We're still in DN28 looking for Es. The single hop opening to NM/AZ/CA was one grid short of making it up here a few days back, so W7GJ got to take up the slack. We moved yesterday about 25 miles south and found a great Forest Service campground on Lake Koocanusa (Co-Canada/USA get it?). This is a great place to hunker down and stay out of the way of the holiday, so we'll be here for the next three days. The price is right too; $4.50 a night with my Golden Age Card.
No Internet here, but it's only a 25 miles run back up to Eureka, the Subway Sandwich shop, and Cyberspace.
The antenna is up, the gear assembled and we're scanning. Here are a few picture that share a feeling for Rocky Gorge Campground with you.
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| Lake Koocanusa |
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| You can always do wheel bearings on the homemade RV. |
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| Another look at the lake. |
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