How Far Can You Go?

Sunday night August 30, 2020 the Cumberland Amateur Radio Club Weekly Two Meter Net had two visitor check-ins.  We welcome visitors.  In that sense, there was nothing unusual about one or even two visitor check-ins that evening.

What was impressive is that Denny KC3PVU was operating from on top Blue Mountain near Linglestown with a Yaesu FT-60R hand-held transceiver and a mag-mount antenna.  He was operating in the “Light Up Two Meters†on-the-air activity event where the object was to get as many two-way radio contacts (we call them QSOs in ham radio jargon) as possible on the 2 meter Amateur Radio band between 1800 and 2000 EST.

That little 5 watt radio and antenna successfully reeled in Valli N8QVT and Harry K3EYL in York Springs, Doug KC3CPT in Mt. Holly Springs, Andy AF3I in Dillsburg, Glenn K3SWZ in New Cumberland and other club members in the Mechanicsburg area.

I do not know how many contacts Denny made overall, but he got 9 entries in the log by talking with CARC members.

Denny was joined on Blue Mountain by his mentor – Mike W3MSB who had the same objective to Light Up Two Meters.

I am impressed.  If you need proof that ham radio is all about location and the more elevation the better, this is it.  If you ever thought a little handheld has too little power, you could be wrong.  From his Blue Mountain location to York Springs, home of N8QVT and K3EYL, was about 40 miles.

And even better – Denny had been licensed just 10 days at that point.  He has more QSOs in his log now than I did after 5 years in the hobby under my own call sign!

Thank you everyone who was not only willing to devote their time to assisting two fellow hams, but who eagerly added to their scores:

Andy — AF3I,
Harry — K3EYL,
Glenn — K3SWZ,
Doug — KC3AB,
Frank — KB3PQT,
Doug — KC3CPT,
Logan — KC3FFI,
Steve — N3FWE, and
Valli — N8QVT.

This activity was not planned, but that is part of the magic of ham radio!  Things happen.

The CARC Two Meter Net meets each Sunday evening at 7 p.m. on 146.490 MHz FM simplex.  If you are within ear-shot we invite you to check-in.  Listen for Net Control Station KB3PQT as he calls the net and invites check-ins.

If you are beyond the ear-shot distance you may wish to participate in our net using EchoLink.  Our EchoLink station can be reached on Node 259045 using Station ID AF3I-L

See ‘ya down the log.

Frank KB3PQT

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