[amsat-bb] Re: Lake Superior Grid Expedition update

[Larry Teran]

Congratulations John you are doing a great job, and so your movile satellite

station.
Say Hi! to your wife for been out with you as a vital part for this
expedition.

Good luck and keep it going!!!!

73's Larry KI6YAA

On Sat, Aug 14, 2010 at 10:12 PM, John Papay <john at papays.com> wrote:

> This is our first night in a motel with internet access
> since we left Sault Ste Marie, MI 9 days ago.  We have
> traveled 2300 miles and operated in at least 18 grids and
> have made 888 contacts on 65 passes.  We have been camping in our tent
> for the last 9 nights but tonight it is windy and raining
> so the motel was a good choice.  Monday we should operate in
> EN38 and possibly EN28 late in the day.
>
> New grids that were not part of the plan were EO20 (today)
> and EO31, Red Lake Ontario, as far north as the roads go. We
> have operated on two grid lines.  There are very few grid
> lines that have a good shot at the sky.  There are hills and
> trees most everywhere.  Northwest Ontario is a beautiful and
> for the most part unspoiled land.  Lakes are everywhere and
> usually provide a shot at the sky if you can find a road that
> doesn't have a barrier of trees.
>
> The equipment is working very well.  SatPC32 is controlling
> the radio and the rotor (with the LVB tracker) and not missing
> a beat.  The only casualty has been the 5 el 2 meter Mosley beam.
> Two of the directors have broken off  One was repaired using copper
> wire and a inline crimp connector.  The other one was replaced with
> a brass rod found at a Home Depot in Thunder Bay.  We have been down
> some really rough dirt roads to get to these grids off the beaten
> path and the antenna is constantly vibrating.  The UHF 7x7 Arrow
> is holding up well.
>
> Weather has been warm for the most part and not much rain at night.
> We have had some rain during our travels but it has not affected
> the satellite activity since the only thing you need to do before
> each pass is to orient the antenna north.  After that you are in
> the truck.  The antenna setup in the truck is a magnet for questions.
> Everyone wants to know what it's for.  Tuesday we will camp in EN48.
> Wednesday it will be EN58 briefly and EN57 back in the US.  This is
> subject to change if we see something that we want to take in.
>
> I am trying to work stations as quickly as possible.  The record is
> 26 contacts on an AO-51 pass but it is not unusual to work over 20
> stations.  AO-27 is not as productive since I can't hear it
> when it turns on being so far north.  HO-68 netted some nice
> contacts including OH8MBN. I have not made any contacts on AO-7.
> A few contacts have been made on FO-29 and VO-52.
>
> Thanks to the AO-51 control team for keeping things running, and
> to Alan Kung for scheduling HO68 for central North American passes.
>
> If you have any special requests, send them to KD8CAO.  We have
> a daily sked on 40 meters.
>
> 73,
> John K8YSE/VE3
> EN29
>
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