[VHFcontesting] Re: [Mw] Shakedown Run for N2MH/R - Report

[W3HMS at aol.com]

Hi Mark, ....thanks for info....when you come near Harrisburg, pls let me 
know.
I have a Rover van and live 10 miles west so would like to join you. My Rover 
covers 2m-24 Ghz less 903.


73,


John
W3HMS
3 Sep 02
717-697-3633



In a message dated 9/3/2002 9:55:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
Stanka1ze at aol.com writes:


> 
> Hi Mark, 
>        Boy oh boy does this bring back lots of memories! I'd get so excited 
> looking at Topo USA thinking of the great site I found only to get there 
> and see that there was a great reason for the 200ft plus towers. I'll keep 
> searching and thank you in advance for doing the same. 
> 73, Stan, KA1ZE 
> 
> In a message dated 9/3/2002 4:47:53 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
> mugs at intac.com writes: 
> 
> 
> >> Folks, 
>> 
>> We got off to a late start, about 2 pm from northern NJ. Based on this, we 
>> decided 
>> to go to the Riansares Mountain site and work our way south, hopefully 
>> winding up 
>> at Blue Knob. We departed in rain and stayed in it almost all the way to 
>> Rianeses 
>> where the rain stopped and all that was left was heavy fog. 
>> 
>> Riansares Mountain (FN11hb, 41.052006, -77.379639) is in a state park 
>> (didn't 
>> notice the name or the hours they are open) and is not too far off of I-80 
>> (old 
>> exit 27). There is a gravel road off Route 477 that runs all the way to 
>> the summit. 
>> At the summit, there are 3 or 4 large, free-standing towers (large > 200 
>> ft high) 
>> with mostly high-band two-way equipment. Some low-band and some UHF 
>> antennas were 
>> noted also. When I reached the summit, the 146.52 FM radio squelch opened 
>> up on 
>> some carrier and stayed open. At the summit, there are these towers, a 
>> house of 
>> sorts and trees all around. The summit is not clear in any direction. 
>> Thus, it is 
>> ng for microwaves. 
>> 
>> However, about a quarter of a mile before you get to the summit (41.05332, 
>> 
>> -77.37727), there is an overlook, similar to what you find on the Blue 
>> Ridge 
>> Parkway. It is called "Penny Hill Vista". This spot is clear towards the 
>> north (I 
>> think - it was too foggy to see anything) and should be useful for 
>> microwaves. Most 
>> of the garbage heard on the summit was gone. The only thing I heard at the 
>> overlook 
>> was VE3 /B from Toronto in FN03 on 6 meters. 
>> 
>> Bottom line: The site looks to be useful, especially for microwaves. Keep 
>> away from 
>> the summit and its qrm. 
>> 
>> We then headed towards Big Poe Mountain (FN10ft, 40.81367, -77.52111). Big 
>> Poe 
>> Mountain, although it was not on our list of anticipated stops, is a site 
>> we 
>> identified from the maps as possibly being useful. 
>> 
>> Big Poe Mountain is located in Bald Eagle State Forest, and is only ap
>> proachable 
>> via oil-topped dirt roads. When we got there, the gate to the lookout 
>> tower was 
>> locked. While parked outside the gate, I talked to WA2FGK on 6 meters and 
>> heard the 
>> W3VD beacon on 6 meters. 
>> 
>> Bottom line: The site may be useful for someone who enjoys hiking. It is 
>> well off 
>> any decent roads and takes a long time to get there. And, with the gate 
>> locked to 
>> the summit, don't expect to drive there at all. 
>> 
>> After dinner at Big Poe Mountain, we headed off for Broad Mountain 
>> (FN10dq,40.68142,-77.73861). However, an hour and a half later, we found 
>> Route 322 
>> closed northbound which kept us from getting to Broad Mountain. Since this 
>> is the 
>> same route we would take during the contest, this site is now crossed off 
>> the list. 
>> 
>> Bottom line: Don't know anything about the site - can't get there from 
>> here! 
>> 
>> After finding this road block, we got something to drink and headed home, 
>> arriving 
>> back in NJ about 2:30 am. 
>> 
>> Other sites we want to check out in FN10 some day: 
>> 
>> Prayer Rock (FN10cn, 40.54442, -77.75626), and a pair of other sites near 
>> Harrisburg, both FN10ni: 40.34538, -76.86901, and 40.36613, -76.91000. 
>> 
>> Results for the day: 
>> 
>> 1 site looks to be good 
>> 1 site to stay away from 
>> 1 site unreachable for now 
>> 
>> Bottom line: it was a worthwhile trip. One site is a keeper - it will stay 
>> on our 
>> route list. We were able to scratch off one site from our prospectives 
>> list and 
>> were able to determine that one planned site is unreachable. This will 
>> give us time 
>> to replan our route in time for the contest. 
>> 
>> 73, Mark, N2MH and Karen 
>> The Lighthouse Rover 
>> IRLP Node 474 
>> 
>> 
> 
> 



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