Past Events
2008
Jamboree On The Air
This was a great event that allowed scouts all over the world speak to each other using amateur radios. This year Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts from the Missoula area were able to make contact with Scouts from all over the U.S. At one point the cabin at Fort Missoula crowded with a bus load of Scouts and their parents from Florence and the competing sounds of morse code keyers and an HF SSB pileup. It was also a great time for Hams to get together for a fun radio event.
Field Day
A greatful thanks goes out to all those hams who helped make this year's Field Day a great success. Special thanks to Eric, N7GS, for bringing out the trailer with the antenna and doing an excellent job training other hams in its installation. Additionally, our club president spoiled us with those burgers. Someone get that recipe from him.
4th of July
Another great time was had by all at this year's 4th of July Special Event station at Fort Missoula. Setup proceeded smoothly in spite of the distracting smell of bacon cooking next to the museum. Lewis (AC7UZ), Paul (N7PAS), Mike (KE7IZG), and Craig (KE7NO) set up a 200 foot dipole through the trees on one end and attached to the future trolley station on the other.
Together with Bill's (W4YMA) mobile setup around thirty-two contacts were made on 20 meters through much fading. Around three hundred members of the public were able to witness and talk to local hams in action on both HF and VHF.
Blackfoot River Cleanup
We were short of operators this year but it worked out well thanks to W4YMA & K7vk. Between the 3 of us we covered it quite will although we sure could have used more help. It really takes 5 to cover it well and 6 wouldn't hurt.
Bill brought the repeater and set it up on a mountain overlooking the river with the help of a local with keys to the gates. However, for some reason I could not get into the repeater so we switched to simplex which worked really well. I had an antenna atop a 30 ft. pole which done the trick. I would suggest it for next year.
Vick and Bill moved back and forth between two locations one up river from base and one down river from base. I, AB0CY, was at the Pfisters which was home base. The purpose for the operators was for safety first in case anyone was injured. Then there were shuttle vehicles which delivered waders, rafters, divers and so forth. The operators called into base if someone needed to be delivered or picked up. Also if there was trash or boats to be moved or picked up. In other words for whatever communications were needed. The Fish, Game and Wildlife supplied me with a handheld so I could monitor and communicate with them and I did so. Of course, they are on different freq's. Next year we need to expand the coverage to start at Whitaker bridge down stream to Wishert bridge which will require 7 operators to do it right.
Again, thanks to Bill and Vick it was successful and rewarding. A good time was had as well as an excellent lunch. Next year I will not coordinate the radio activities and Bill Farrell, W4YMA, has said he will. Good luck Bill and thanks.
Russ Westberg AB0CY
There was a lot of junk and trash picked up including pieces of old cars.