High Point N.J.

[KC8JPZ]

I managed to make it up to High Point New Jersey Friday morning. Had a blast and talked to a bunch ofpeople from all over. Had a few contactacts in New Hampshire, Upstate NY and down in South Jersey. I wasn't really prepared to go all out, all I had with me was a dual band mobile for FM only. All in all it was a fun trip and can't wait to come back out and do it again. I havent figured any exact distances but, furthest 2 meter was aprox. 250 miles to a repeater and 70cm was about 100 miles to a repeater also. Thought you guys might like to see a photo also. The top antenna is a 2 meter Moxon and the one on the bottom is a 70cm double diamond or bow tie.( 2 fullwave loops fed in the center witha reflector )

 

[elk2370bruce]

Neat! Glad you had a good time of it!

 

[ampulman]

I managed to make it up to High Point New Jersey Friday morning. Had a blast and talked to a bunch ofpeople from all over. Had a few contactacts in New Hampshire, Upstate NY and down in South Jersey. I wasn't really prepared to go all out, all I had with me was a dual band mobile for FM only. All in all it was a fun trip and can't wait to come back out and do it again. I havent figured any exact distances but, furthest 2 meter was aprox. 250 miles to a repeater and 70cm was about 100 miles to a repeater also. Thought you guys might like to see a photo also. The top antenna is a 2 meter Moxon and the one on the bottom is a 70cm double diamond or bow tie.( 2 fullwave loops fed in the center witha reflector )

I'd like to do some antenna experimenting, particularly with Moxons. Did you build them? Any chance of posting a close-up of those antennas?

AM

 

[902]

I think you have a neat setup, too. I tried to zoom in, but couldn't get good resolution. Are your antennas vertically or horizontally polarized - and was your activity in FM or SSB?

What/ why was your choice in antennas and why did you choose to use them rather than beams? Faster setup? What kind of transceiver?

11 years ago, my wife, daughter and I went to High Point and camped out (with permission) for the June VHF contest, along with a bunch of other weak-signal guys. We worked a number of VHF and UHF bands and had a great time at it. We moved to the midwest a little after that (no one in my current area goes for VHF weak-signal work, so I stopped doing the hill-topping), but I had the most fun in ham radio doing weak-signal work. We drove the Blue Ridge Pike in North Carolina this year (6,000+ ft, summits) and I tried a number of times for contacts on 146.52, but nothing (must be my 2-land callsign, or activity has really dropped off).

At home I have an Icom IC-751A and use Downeast Microwave 6 and 2 meter transverter kits, along with a home-made 7 element horizontally polarized 6 meter beam (worked Venezuela with 20 Watts) and I'm thinking of getting two M2 2 meter long beams and possibly a 432 transverter kit.

 

[KC8JPZ]

Here is a link to a larger picture of the above picture.
http://static.flickr.com/115/305251768_2ac89f6f0d_b.jpg

Ampulman, Moxons are a pretty neat and simple antenna, they are really easy to build. All of my antennas I have built. I do have pictures of them in better detail but I am still here in P.A. once I get back to Ohio I will be glad to post a better picture.I do have a picture of the double diamond.

902, The antennas were verticaly polarized. All I had with me was my Alinco 605T dual band mobile and my VX7R HT. When I get back to Ohio I should be able to get the Yaesu 857D ordered. I chose those antennas is kind of a hurry. I found out Wednsday that I would be able to set up for a while and I was leaving to come out here on Thursday. So I just grabbed them mainly because they are easy to transport and setup. I actually finished the mast setup out here. I could go higher but was limited on my coax that I had available.

Where at in the midwest did you move too? I think weak signal is pretty cool and when I get the 857 I will be very active, atleast building antennas, I have a few kinda loops, I guess they really arent a loop but simmilar. Here is one that I have built for 2 meter. It's a half wave curved dipole I guess, I fed it with a T match and use a 4:1 balun.

I bet camping out up on High Point was a blast. Sounds like a really nice setup you have. If you get a chance post some pics, I love seeing other homebrew antennas. W8OSP Jayson and I are going to do the VHF swepstakes in January as a rover, I'm building those curved halfwaves for the trip. 1 for 6 meter, 2 for 2 meter, 2 for 1.25 meter, and 4 for 70cm. I'm hoping I will be able to fit it all on the blazer.lol.

 

[KC8JPZ]

Here the picture of the 2 meter Moxon. It's a bit crude but works well.

Here is a link to a larger picture.
http://static.flickr.com/119/305863804_2d9afc04d3_b.jpg

 

[elk2370bruce]

I'm sure the bottle of Sam Adams has not been converted into a 4:1 balun!

 

[KC8JPZ]

I'm sure the bottle of Sam Adams has not been converted into a 4:1 balun!

You are correct, lol. However too many of those, and they act in the same way converting me.

 

[stvnd53]

Beer in a New Jersey State Park?What the hell were you thinking?We are a Death Penality state.You can buy all the guns,and drugs you want here,but don't ever bring beer into a State Park!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Word-Up

 

[KC8JPZ]

That picture was taken long after I made it back to the inlaws. My job is based on my ability to drive. I don't risk anything that will keep me from being able to work.

 

[902]

Jim,

Sorry it took so long to reply. I am impressed by your mobile setup! I moved to Missouri, but visit friends and family in NJ frequently and drive I-70 several times a year. My mobile setup is not very neat or inclusive, but did include an IC-725 with an LDG antenna tuner for HF at one point. I like to check in to 14.300 for a 'flight following,' especially during winter driving and inclement weather (seems the PA Turnpike is always filled with jackknifes and closures on our drives home). It only has an FM dual-bander, an Azden 6 meter FM rig and a scanner these days. If the kids get into weak signal with me, then I may get a trailer or something and deck it out. Sadly weak signal work is not that popular here.

Yes, camping in the park was a trip! Let me tell you, I don't think I ever needed a shower as much as I did when I got home from there (ICK!)

This isn't a picture of when I was up there, but the gentleman who owns the pickup mounted camper in the left of this picture was there with this vehicle. What a setup!
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/features/fd2kpix/NX2Q.jpg

I'll be looking for you on 6m SSB!

73 DE KA2AYR

Where at in the midwest did you move too? I think weak signal is pretty cool and when I get the 857 I will be very active, atleast building antennas, I have a few kinda loops, I guess they really arent a loop but simmilar. Here is one that I have built for 2 meter. It's a half wave curved dipole I guess, I fed it with a T match and use a 4:1 balun.

I bet camping out up on High Point was a blast. Sounds like a really nice setup you have. If you get a chance post some pics, I love seeing other homebrew antennas. W8OSP Jayson and I are going to do the VHF swepstakes in January as a rover, I'm building those curved halfwaves for the trip. 1 for 6 meter, 2 for 2 meter, 2 for 1.25 meter, and 4 for 70cm. I'm hoping I will be able to fit it all on the blazer.lol.

 

[EMD91123]

WAS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME UP THERE IF NOT i THINK i MAY HAVE SEEN YOU THERE BEFORE.I WAS UP THERE A FEW TIMES LISTENING TO AIR TRAFFIC WHERE I WAS GETTING AIR TRAFFIC FOR A GOOD 220 MILE AROUND(EVEN PICKING UP MONTREAL AND TORONTO CENTERS FROM HERE)

 

[902]

WAS THIS YOUR FIRST TIME UP THERE IF NOT i THINK i MAY HAVE SEEN YOU THERE BEFORE.I WAS UP THERE A FEW TIMES LISTENING TO AIR TRAFFIC WHERE I WAS GETTING AIR TRAFFIC FOR A GOOD 220 MILE AROUND(EVEN PICKING UP MONTREAL AND TORONTO CENTERS FROM HERE)

I've only been up there with Al, NX2Q, the owner of that 'back to the future-mobile' once, in 1995. The other places I've been to were Utsayantha Mtn. in Upstate NY (beautiful site! hang glider launch pad, too!) and North Haledon. I went out in 1987, too, but I'm not sure where that site was. I did some work up in Syracuse at a UHF TV station tower, as well as up in Plattsburg. Pretty interesting hearing Canadian traffic, particularly the French language transmissions.

We used to take rides up to High Point just to look around. I would, of course, listen to who was on what and write down PLs or DPLs. Then we'd pick up some fresh vegetables from the farm stands on the way home.

 

[BFIFM790]

Does going to a place with a high elevation like High Point increase the ability to recieve signals while searching the bands?

Can anyone provide other points in North Jersey that are good to go to for these high elevation searches?

Thank you

 

[srhuston]

Since VHF/UHF transmissions are "line of sight" (blocked mostly by ground cover and things like buildings and trees between you and the transmitter), the higher you get the better you'll hear. So yes, even from the parking lot at High Point Monument, you'll hear surrounding areas much better (even better yet if you go up to the base of the monument, but the wind can be a killer).

Second best place to come to mind is Sunrise Mountain in Stokes State Forest (just south of High Point). Easiest for me to get to is my parents' back yard (4mi SE of the Water Gap) on top of the mountain there :> But there's some good trails that follow the Kittatinny mountain range, if you're as interested in a hike as you are in what you can hear while out there.

 

[jaymatt1978]

I was up at High Point for the June VHF contest and took the 246T up there with me. I got three different weather channels, state fostery in PA and NJ. Wish I had more time to program some stuff in there. I just grabbed the radio and went up there. Although it's a good time t o use the radio's search feature!!!

 

[902]

Next time you get to go up there, try tuning through the 453 and 458 MHz, and 460 and 465 MHz 12.5 kHz splinter channels to listen for voting receiver feeds to comparators. You'll hear the 2175 Hz or 1950 Hz status tone on idle, then try to match those up with their main system counterparts in the three (or more) states you can hear from up there. Tons o' fun.

 

[Dispatrick]

i was up there a couple months ago. I was picking up a lot of dx and skip. I was listening to hackensack fd clear as when im in town. and i pick up a low band station from Indiana or Illions. I dont remember where or the freq or the callsign i lost the paper

 

[jaymatt1978]

If anyone does go up there with a scanner please bring a paper and pen to log what you hear. Secondly when you post your findings PLEASE tell us the equipment you used!!
Just a thought