7 July 2007
Bike Communications Test, Eastern Washington
[ APRS Map ]
I cannot put into words that come anywhere close to doing justice to my feelings of appreciation and gratitude for outstanding and enthusiastic support everyone provided for the communications tests we conducted on Saturday in preparation for the upcoming August Bike Ride event we will be supporting in August. Everyone that volunteered showed up as well as a few extras. Getting in excess of 100 percent participation is not common, as I am sure all of you so well know.
We deployed to five fixed sites (and tested a few more) and had three hardy members ride bikes on the trail from Plummer to Harrison while operating on APRS 144.39, a repeater we found and got permission to use on 147.1 MHz, and an FM simplex channel, 146.58 MHz. The terrian is very mountainous and has passages through deep cuts with turns and also runs along the lake with steep cliffs very close to the trail shielding the repeater and some of our other sites. Most participants were also able to attend a brainstorming and information exchange session in Plummer after the test.
Others of you that were not at the test have signed up, but we still need more volunteers for the actual event for Saturday, August 25. We have enough information to be able to do some serious planning. We can use people from 8 AM until it is over (hopefully around 3PM). If you cannot stay the entire time, you can come and go on shifts or for part of the time. Please let me know and or affirm. We will soon be collecting specific information on what type of equipment, antenna, power supply capability, and vehicle you will be using so we can best match operators and resources in the most optimum way. My only regret is I forgot to bring a digital camera (and sunscreen) and did not encourage others to bring a camera. We will have to do that during the event and make an electronic scrap book to share with others.
I will be getting out a summary of the test details, plans, and what came out of the cross feed session and send it ot those that participated or indicate they will particpate or are just interested in following our planning and execution of this epic upcoming event.
Steve, WG7S was kind enough to gather the APRS data and organize it (he also brought a box of donuts to Harrison Bluff). Here is the link to the data. I think you will find it interesting. This data is what made it to a digipeater and Findu.com. Technical difficulties prevented us from picking it up directly.
http://www.compguy.com/WG7S/AD7KVmap.phpThanks to:
- AC7CJ and KC7JAR, Ron and Jon who provided contact and support via simplex and the repeater for comm checks, liaison, telephone numbers we did not have, and some Intenret research for us as well as checking Findu-Com because I could not get my Radio and computer to talk for APRS.
- AD7MLS who answered a desperate call from me at 6:30 of the morning of the event where in I announced I had been sick as a dog and up all night and needed help. He came to my QTH within an hour, helped me load up and drove to the site on Harrison Bluff and helped me run the nets and then drove me home. Also WG7S, Steve. who found a prior committment he had was cancelled an showed up, joining Scott and me on Harrison Bluff. He also helped be net control, contributed ideas and had wireless Internet that permitted us to eventually get to FindYou.com.
- AD7KV, Scott, Mike, KE7GLL, and Jim, KE7EZM who rode their bikes from Plummer to Harrison and contributed, time talent and sweat to the endeavor.
- K7DWB, Dave, who singlehandedly ran the relay point on the ridge above Conklin Park on the west side of the lake to cover the route across the lake on the east side.
- KD7SKJ, Warren, who came clear from Newport WA and Greg, KE7LAV and anchored the communications at the Plummer trailhead
- And, last but not least, the Crossen family, Janet, Dave, Mark and Scott KE7HLB, KE7CHP, KE7MLA and KE7MKE who set up in Heyburn State Park and provided relay and coverage for testing at Chatcolet in Heyburn State park as well as biked around the park to test other sites. I must note their sacrifices to attend. Dave actually made the difficult decision to come with his family instead of staying home to fix a leaking kitchen drain pipe. Their two sons so willingly, and I know voluntarily, came along and supported the testing and went all over the park in lieu of other fulfilling important obligations with their teen-age friends and associates.
Again a thank you to all who participated and supported us, this event in actuality and in spirit.
We will endeavor to keep you posted and, perhaps even entertained from time to time. Let us know if you are interested in following this exciting pioneering saga as it unfolds or perhapse even joining it instead of enjoying it vicariously.
73
Vic K3SHD