My thanks to everyone who participated in the 10 meter range tests on Sunday,
November 5 at 8:30 PM on 28.450 MHz, USB.
Our goal is to establish simplex communications without using repeaters, on a
band that all hams are licensed to use, and on which antennas are small enough
that most hams either have a suitable antenna or can put one up. Remember that
a 10 meter dipole is less than 17 feet long.
We were quite successful in establishing 10 meter communication across central
Vermont. The following stations were able to establish contact, although some
relays were required as not everyone could hear everyone else.
Power used ranged from 50 watts to 700 watts.
W1AIM -- Cabot
K1MZM -- Montpelier
N5WVR -- East Barre
KC1EKV -- Randolph Center
N1GBB -- Northfield
N1FMP -- Plainfield
KA1HQR (Morrisville) also attempted to contact N5WVR prior to 8 PM, but neither
station was able to hear the other at all. Getting into the heart of the Green
Mountains is challenging.
It appears that communication is fairly reliable over 25-30 miles, but gets
more difficult beyond that, and may be very terrain-dependent. Power definitely
helps, but the 100 watt stations were able to make contact. N1GBB running 50
watts was weak but easy copy in Barre.
We will continue to do these tests every Sunday night at 8:30 PM on 28.450 MHz
USB for the next 3 weeks. Please join us and spread the word to other hams,
especially those in the Burlington and Rutland areas.
Even hams who cannot reach central Vermont should test whether they can reach
each other. Also, we may be able to connect the various metro regions by relay,
e.g. we may find that Rutland and Randolph can communicate directly, and we've
already confirmed that Randolph and Barre can communicate directly.
Eventually we will create one or more regular 10 meter nets that meet each week.
73,
Cathy
N5WVR