Subject: [147120] Re: 07-AUG Greencastle OHW Bike Tour Comm. Event -- what to do when we have no event traffic to pass? From: "D. Daniel McGlothin, KB3MUN" Date: Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:25:28 -0400 To: 147120@yahoogroups.com; I'm also sending this BCC to all of the confirmed volunteers for this communications event. This will also be posted to this communication event's webpage www.w3ach.org/OldHomeWeek/ . I had earlier sent out this query asking for ideas on things to do to pass the time. From the landslide mandate given by the overwhelming response (a plurality of 2) of the underwhelming number of votes cast (about 4) I have selected the Reverse RDF of the SAG wagons as the recommended thumb-twiddling occupation. ;) Participation is entirely voluntary. Here are the 'rules': 0. With a course of somewhat in excess of 10 miles diameter, and the checkpoints scattered on the circumference of that course, there should be detectably wide separation between the checkpoints. Review the checkpoint locataions, as well as the likely route(s) of the SAG wagons, at this event's webpage: www.w3ach.org/OldHomeWeek/ . 1. At no time is this activity to distract you from the event at hand, or from safe behavior as we are mostly posted at roadsides. 2. Bring your favorite RDF equipment along with you. (At a minimum, a antenna with a noticeable null/'bright'-spot and a magnetic compass.) Set it up at your assigned post. 3. If we are using the W3ACH repeater, listen on the input frequency 147.720 MHz (of course, you can also radiolocate the repeater from your checkpoint by listening on the output 147.120 MHz); if we are using simplex, radiolocate using that frequency. 4. At sometime attempt to obtain a directional vector on each of the checkpoints that you can hear. 5. Regularly attempt to obtain directional vectors on the SAG-40 and SAG-20 vehicles as they move around the course. Keep these vectors time-stamped. 6. Report the vectors obtained to KB3MUN when polled. 7. KB3MUN will plot the reported vectors on maps. You are encouraged to plot the results, too. KB3MUN will be using a composite of the North/South course checkpoint maps for this plotting. KB3MUN will have some of these available if you want for your own plotting--just ask. 8. KB3MUN will make the final results available at the next club meeting. You are encouraged to bring your own maps (as well as RDF equipment) to that meeting too (that meeting will be 19-AUG-2010). We will likely opine the preliminary results on the net during the event. 9. Anyone, not directly participating in the communications event, but interested in this project, is encouraged to follow along and make their own plots from the vector information passed to KB3MUN. Bring your finished results to the club meeting, too. The idea of this secondary activity is to encourage us to improve out radio direction finding skills, as well as to provide a teaser for a future club meeting topic. 73 de Daniel KB3MUN PS, If you don't know what RDF is, here is an opportunity to learn something. RDF is the acronym of Radio Direction Finding, and has a number of other names throughout the world (it is an international radio-sport, but has far more important uses than fun-and-fitness). Read more starting at these web sites: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_direction_finding http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_direction_finder http://www.homingin.com/SCalStyle.html http://www.homingin.com/equipment.html http://www.homingin.com/joemoell/80intro.html http://www.homingin.com/boxes.html http://www.homingin.com/intlfox.html KB3MUN On 31-Jul-2010 23:59, D. Daniel McGlothin, KB3MUN wrote: > > I sent this by BCC to all confirmed participants in this event. Anyone can > > respond to this question, but only the 'votes' of the actual participants will > > count towards choosing the activities we might decide upon. > > > > The Greencastle Old Home Week bicycle tour comms event will likely have > > relatively little traffic related directly to the event. Certainly less than > > MTeC. Maybe less than the Mercersburg Parade. > > > > So what should we do to help pass the time? ...