[Fourlanders] VHF & UHF beacon question

[Rogers, Ron]

Hi again, E.R. !!

Well, thank you so much for checking on the 432.350 MHz beacon. We really appreciate you taking the time to visit the site. That extra 9 db of power improvement will certainly make a big difference.  We certainly missed hearing it during both the June and Sept contests this year when the W4NH operation was set up on Soco Bald.  The 2M station guys say they had no problem hearing your 144.286 MHz beacon.

With the K4IDC and WA4IOB UHF beacons not on the air now the only UHF beacon we had to work with was the K4UHF beacon and it is almost TOO strong for us to use in calibrating antenna direction setting when we are up at 5,500 feet on Soco.

It won't be until next June now before the W4NH operation is again on Soco to listen for the beacon so I am copying the entire Four Landers organization and the SVHFS organization on this response.  We have members and e-mail reflector monitors located in multiple states throughout the southeast and up and down the eastern seaboard who have the capability of listening for your "recovered" UHF beacon and I know will be happy to send you reception reports.

Thanks again...
Best regards and good DX to you !

Ron
WW8RR

________________________________
From: E.R. Hall [erhall at comcast.net]
Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2012 9:39 PM
To: Rogers, Ron
Subject: Re: VHF & UHF beacon question
Hey Ron,

I made a trip up on the mountain today to check on the 432 beacon. It was only putting out about 600 milliwatts. The main problem appeared to be in the isolator. When I removed it, the power went back up to 5 watts. The swr was OK so I left it out of line for the time being.

So, I would appreciate your (or some of the other fellows) checking and seeing if it can be heard. Whether you can or not, I'd appreciate your letting me know.

I do appreciate your emailing me about it because as close as I am to the beacon, even 600 milliwatts is enough for me to think everything is working OK.

I hope you all place well in the contest and appreciate the time and hard work involved in putting together all the stations. Thanks for the multi contacts you gave me on the various bands.

Be sure and let me hear from you.

73,
E.R. (WD4GSM)


On Sep 8, 2012, at 10:53 AM, Rogers, Ron wrote:


Greetings Ervin,

The W4NH contest group is set up on Soco Bald getting ready to start the VHF contest. We are tyring to pick up your 144-222-432 beacons but cannot hear them.

Wonder if they are all currently operational ??

TNX

Ron
WW8RR