Hellgate Amateur Radio Club
W7PX - Missoula Montana
2011
Skywarn 2011
Jerry N7GE and I would like to thank the 17 people that assisted with the 2011 Skywarn. We made approximately 60+ contacts and overall the event was a success. If you have any suggestions for next year that might improve our operation of Skywarn, Jerry and I would appreciate hearing from you. Jerry N7GE, Eric NZ7S and myself will be meeting with representatives of NOAA in the near future to review the operation and discuss how we might make things better for next year. Thanks again for your help, it was appreciated. 73's Jerry N7GE and Elmer WG7P.
Jamboree on the Air 2011
About 50 Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts had the opportunity to contact other Scouts around the country on 15 October. Propagation was excellent, thus the kids had a much easier time calling CQ and chatting back and forth. We worked mainly on 15 meters with one SSB and two packet stations. Notable contacts were the Boy Scouts in San Diego and the U.S.S. Lane Victory in Los Angeles Harbor. Frank set up a Carolina Windom and Eric brought a really nice vertical antenna. During antenna installation we helped the Fort Missoula people identify a weak point in their flag pole when it fell over! The Museum Director seemed to think they needed a new pole anyway. Phew! Ham volunteers were Frank W7PAQ, David KB1BED, Eric NZ7S, Byron NN8A and Mike K7MSO.
Labor Day Point Six Repeater Repair Party
Eight hams, Eric NZ7S, Paul N7PAS, Wilma Jean KD7HP, Byron NN8A, Mike K7MSO, Phil KJ7Z, Jim N0XPO, and Rich K7QNZ made the journey up to Point 6 on a fantastic Labor Day morning to work on the packet and APRS repeater systems at the National Weather Service radar site on top of Point 6. Both the APRS and Packet Antennas were relocated. Additionally, both the packet and APRS equipment racks were moved. This movement required digging about 100 feet of trench that was accomplished by a tag team.
Repeater Repair Party PhotosFourth of July Special Events Station
July 4th was mighty fine at Fort Missoula this year. Many HARC hams represented the club’s display of amateur radio equipment and operations. Steve KK7UV brought his 1940s ham station (Harvey Wells transmitter and National HRO receiver!), and Craig KE7NO and Walter KJ7NL brought more vintage Heathkit gear. The operations included more than 70 SSB, CW and PSK 31 QSOs with hams across the continent. Again our ½ wave 20 meter wire vertical was held aloft by red, white and blue helium-filled balloons that attracted plenty of attention. Public visitations were up from last year, and many people were genuinely interested to ham radio. MNI TNX to the following hams for supporting our efforts: Steve KK7UV, Craig KE7NO, Allyson KE7FAH, Lewis NQ7D, Mike K7MSO, Walter KJ7NL, Bob N7MSU, Paul N7PAS, Vick K7VK, Bruce WB7OTC, Dean N7DLP, Donna KC5WRA, Jake KE7ONP, Bill W4YMA, Lance W7GJ, Betsy KF7ECS, Danne KC7ZO, and Todd K2GCN.
Fourth of July Special Event Photos
Field Day
More than 18 HARC volunteers put in 119 man hours to earn an unofficial 2,056 total points for ARRL Field Day 2011. Many thanks go to Eric NZ7S for bringing the beam antenna, food, drinks and barbecue. Volunteers like him make a lot possible for the rest of us. Additionally Tom K0SN brought his really nice Yaesu Transceiver and 40 meter vertical. Setup started as usual at 0900 on Saturday and by 1200 noon everyone was ready to start, but the antennas needed some additional work. After some quick ham troubleshooting that included swapping out baluns on the 40 meter dipole and rearranging the elements on the 20 meter beam we were ready by 1300 MDT. Two HF radios were used this year without any reported interference. The all hands effort involved Eric NZ7S, Byron NN8A, Lewis NQ7D, Bill W4YMA, WilmaJean KD7HP, Mike K7MSO, Jerry N7GE, Paul N7PAS, Wayne KE7BPV, Frank W7PAQ, Betsy KF7ECS, BobW7BA, Greg NL7WB, Larry K7GIS, Donna KC5WRA, Todd K2GCN, Bob N7MSU, Tom K0SN.
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.