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 Previous: FCC Amateur Radio Enforcement Letters for the Period Ending January 23, 2005 |  Next: FCC Fines Continue to Mount in Gerritsen Case |
By Jim Kuerbitz, KB8GOY
January 25, 2005
Operating out-of-doors is always an adventure. Doing it in the dead of winter with a snowmobile only adds to the challenge.
 KB8GOY/snowmobile mobile, and the stark winter scenery of Wyoming's Austin Peak. |
Each February, I embark to western Wyoming for a snowmobile trip with a group of friends from Michigan. In past years, I have carried my handheld transceiver with the hope of making a few FM contacts while at some high elevation of the Continental Divide. Last year was the best, with several contacts on 2 and 6 meter simplex. This kept my enthusiasm high with the possibility of talking back to Michigan.
I thought about carrying a 20 meter, low cost, portable,
quick assembly and disassembly station. I wanted to make a few radio contacts
while on my next snowmobiling vacation with a group of non-amateurs. The entire
system had to be set up, operated and dismantled quickly so as not to hold up
the group. Having been there before, I could spend time operating while the
rest of the group was enjoying the sights. As a bonus, the School Club Roundup
and trip dates coincided. I would have a unique opportunity to talk to students
with Amateur Radio while snowmobiling.
 Forward, the Yaesu FT-817 and VX-5 handheld are right at hand. |
Cold Weather Logistics
Everything had to be packed and transported on a snowmobile. Antennas, batteries, radio and logging equipment had to fit in two saddlebags. In addition, I had to carry something to keep the batteries and radio warm. The temperatures at this altitude can reach below zero with the wind chill at minus 20 F or lower. My target destination for this trip was Austin Peak at an altitude of 12,000 feet.
The radio and battery selection was easy. A Yaesu FT-817, Heil Traveler headset and three 7.0 amp-hour sealed lead acid batteries would allow 5 W operation for a short periods of time. I tossed around several ideas about how to keep the radio and batteries warm while transporting and operating. I've used small disposable hand warmers to keep hands and feet warm while enjoying the outdoors in Michigan. Borrowing from this experience, I taped hand warmer packs to the sides of the batteries and radio and wrapped them in a towel.
The Antenna
A simple wire dipole was chosen for ease of portability
and overall weight. Hanging the antenna would be a challenge, however. There
are no trees to anchor a dipole, so a mast would have to be designed and
transported as well. Over the weeks before the trip, several things were tried
in the back yard to see what might work. This mast had to be portable. Several options
were considered; fly-rod and folding tent pole ideas were scrapped--they were
too flimsy.
 Aft, the mast is simply three screw-together fiberglass chimney cleaning rods anchored in the snow and held tight to the grab bar with Vise Grips. |
Sometimes it amazes me how things just pop in your head when you're trying to keep to a budget. In the end, I used three screw-together fiberglass chimney cleaning rods. With these three rods assembled, my center height was 11 feet. These disassembled to 5 feet and fit nicely on the running board of the snowmobile. A simple S hook was welded to the end of one rod, allowing attachment to the dipole center. The ends had a short piece of clothesline and were anchored in the snow with two plastic tent stakes. The entire antenna and coax assembly could be rolled up to fit in my saddlebags.
Mounting of the mast assembly was accomplished with a ham radio necessity--Vise Grips. I simply slid the mast into the snow behind my grab bar on the rear of the snowmobile and clamped it solidly.
The Test
With all the parts assembled, I decided to test it all with conditions similar to the trip. I erected the antenna in the back yard and started calling CQ. Right off the bat, I was answered by John, KE4SCS, who said my signal was 59 in Virginia. I explained my system and what I was planning to do. I was surprised at how well the system performed, and continued to work several more stations that day from my portable set-up--all with positive results. It was 28 degrees and snowing that day in Michigan. Since it worked well at an elevation of less than 1000 feet, I figured it was going to work well in the mountains.
The Moment Arrives
The night before going up to Austin Peak, I placed the new battery on the trickle charger to warm it up for the morning ride. I continued to pack and double check my gear--making sure I had everything. All I needed to do was tape on the heat packs and wrap up the equipment. I also took along a Yaesu VX-5 for temperature and altitude readings. Everything seemed to fit into the saddlebags with no problems. I was ready.
Morning greeted us with a clear sky and temperatures near
freezing. I attached the saddlebags and the mast to my snowmobile--we were
under way. It is great when things work as planned. We reached the Peak and I
assembled the station while the rest of the group went to enjoy the sights.
Once set up, I was amazed at what I could hear. Many people were chatting with
the school club stations. The band seemed to be packed, with hardly any spots
to operate. I settled on 14.265 MHz and started calling CQ.
 The author and his snowmobile. |
I Work Washington
I worked several school club stations that morning, but the most enjoyable was working Roger, K7SMX, from the Lake Chelan Radio Club (Central Washington). Roger had a good signal and the students seemed to have fun operating Amateur Radio. Their questions varied from "How are you keeping warm and what altitude are you at?" to "where are you operating from?"
Thank you Roger for allowing me to work Brogan, Morie, Luke and Madison, and allowing me to be part of their Amateur Radio experience. I cleared with Roger as he thanked me for providing such an unusual contact.
I hoped to work my dad, KC8QNE, back in Oscoda, Michigan. I gave several local hams in Michigan my target frequency of 14.280 MHz. Although I was slightly below, I hoped they would find me.
I never did make contact with my dad in Michigan, but I did manage to work one of the locals from our VHF group. The trip and operation was a success and I enjoyed providing another example of the diversity of Amateur Radio operation.
Jim Kuerbitz,
KB8GOY, is a production manager at Dart Container Corporation. First licensed
in 1989, he now holds a General class license. Jim enjoys chasing DX on phone
and CW. A net manager for four VHF nets in Ingham County, Jim also participates
in National Traffic System nets and the Amateur Auxiliary. You can reach the
author at 4804 Hughes Rd, Lansing, MI 48910; kb8goy@arrl.net.
| Previous: FCC Amateur Radio Enforcement Letters for the Period Ending January 23, 2005 | Next: FCC Fines Continue to Mount in Gerritsen Case |
