The operating plan for all trips is to run m/s FSK441 during the entire posted operating period unless Es kicks in. Then I will run m/s in the early AM, switch to Es when 6m opens, and return to m/s when Es fades. If no Es, I will continue through the entire period on m/s.
This year I expect that I will have cell coverage in most locations as this year I have both AT&T and Verizon internet and will be monitoring PJ. Since some of these grid locations will lack cell coverage, I will try to stick to my published plan and will depend on others to post to PJ/etc for me when I am heard. Please spot me on the various sites when you hear me if I am out of cell coverage.
For m/s FSK441; I will be CQ'ing on 50.260 and listening for calls and QSO'ing on 50.245 ONLY. Please do not call me on 50.260 as I won't hear you. As soon as I hear a ping on 50.245, I will QSY my transmit to 50.245 and operate simplex on 50.245 for as long as there are callers. Watch my CQ's as if 50.245 is QRMed or occupied I will be showing a different QSY freq. I will always be transmitting first period (standard Rover ops), and initially pointing the beam Southeast and working around counter-clockwise. If I have internet I will post QSY freq & beam azimuths on PJ and coordinate a queue.
I will be using my operating location grid as my FSK441 exchange. If I am in a single grid, I will use that (i.e. DM45). If I am on a grid boundary, I will be using both grids (i.e. 'DM4546' or 'CN9303' - meaning CN93 & DN03). If I am at a grid confluence (corner), I will be using diagonal grids (i.e. 'DM3647' meaning DM36, DM37, DM46, & DM47).
I have been asked to give the general procedure for FSK441 random operations so stations will have an idea which way I will jump. This kind of long winded but it is more art than science......
Generally, I start CQ to the Southeast and step 45 degrees at a time in the CCW direction every 3-4 cycles. I stop when I hear a reply to my CQ and 1) if I decode a call, I turn direct to the published grid of the station. If no decode, I will switch to "QRZ NJ0W" and wait for another ping. If the call's grid isn't published I will stay on the initial azimuth. 2) If no luck on direct heading, will try the HOT heading from WSJT. 3) If still no luck, will try 45 degrees left, then 45 degrees right azimuth. 4) If still no luck, will try 90 degrees left, then 90 degrees right. 5) if I still hear the station transmitting but still no exchange, I will try 180 degrees from initial azimuth. 6) If I am getting tropo I can't decode with FSK441, I will try switching ISCAT as a last resort.
Each one of the steps I will try for 3-4 cycles. If I hear you, I will keep trying to work you. If another station starts Tx, I will 1) add them to a list and try to complete our QSO, or 2) if they are not too strong and on the same azimuth, I will work them simultaneously, or 3) if they are too strong, I will work them to clear the frequency and return to the original QSO.
Basically, don't assume I didn't hear you because I didn't come back right away. Sometimes it can take a while.....
When working Es, I will start CQ'ing on 50.125 USB phone only and will base beam azimuth on openings. If 50.125 gets congested, I will announce QSY to a higher open frequency and operate there as long as I have callers. 50.138 will be my first choice of QSY frequency and if not available I will step up from there to the first clear frequency.
Flagstaff, AZ to Fargo, ND: 15 Apr - 19 Apr
32.3 driving hours over 1881 statute miles while transiting 29 grids, burning an estimated 118 gallons of regular unleaded, and programmed to log 51 operating hours in 25 different grids (131 total grid-hours)
APRIL
DATES ARE LOCAL/TIMES ARE UTC
|
15Su
|
0800-1230
|
.Transit DM45/44/55
|
.Enroute
|
|
|
1230-1530
|
.B DM56/57
|
.North of La Plata, NM
|
|
|
1530-1900
|
.Transit DM56/66
|
.Enroute
|
|
|
1900-2200
|
.B DM66/76
|
.West of Tres Piedras, NM
|
|
|
2200-0100
|
.Transit DM76/77
|
.Enroute
|
|
|
0100-0400
|
.B DM77/87
|
.West of La Junta, CO
|
|
16M
|
1100-1400
|
.B DM77/87
|
.West of La Junta, CO
|
|
|
1400-1700
|
.Transit DM87/88
|
.Enroute
|
|
|
1700-2000
|
.B DM88/DM98
|
.West of Sharon Springs, KS
|
|
|
2000-2100
|
.Transit DMDM98/DM99 |
.Enroute |
|
|
2100-2400
|
.B DM89/99 |
.East of Kanorado, CO |
|
|
2400-0130
|
.Transit DM89/DN80 |
.Enroute |
|
|
0130-0400
|
.B DN80/90 |
.Between Sanborn & Haigler, NE |
|
17T
|
1100-1400
|
.B DN80/90 |
.Between Sanborn & Haigler, NE |
|
|
1400-1700
|
.Transit DN90/EN00 |
.Enroute |
|
|
1700-1900
|
.B EN00/01 |
.Northeast of Gothenburg, NE |
|
|
1900-2030
|
.Transit EN01 |
.Enroute |
|
|
2030-2230
|
.B DN91/EN01 |
.Southwest of Brewster, NE |
|
|
2230-2400
|
.Transit EN01/02 |
.Enroute |
|
|
2400-0300
|
.B DN92/EN02 |
.West of Springview, NE |
|
18W
|
1000-1200
|
.B DN92/EN02 |
.West of Springview, NE |
|
|
1200-1300
|
.Transit EN02/03 |
.Enroute |
|
|
1300-1600
|
.B DN93/EN03 |
.West of Winner, SD |
|
|
1600-1830
|
.Transit DN93/EN03/04 |
.Enroute |
|
|
1830-2030
|
.B DN94/EN04 |
.West of Blunt, SD |
|
|
2030-2230
|
.Transit DN94/95 |
.Enroute |
|
|
2230-0300
|
.C DN95/96/EN05/06 |
.South of Hague, ND |
|
19R
|
1000-1700
|
.C DN95/96/EN05/06 |
.South of Hague, ND |
|
|
1700-2030
|
.Transit EN06/EN16 |
.Enroute to Fargo, ND |
Yes the last operating location is a confluence (grid corner). It is located on a section road for easy public access. Please refer to the notes at the end of the page for operations in the event of access issues at grid boundaries & confluences.
APRIL-MAY IN FARGO, ND (EN16)
DATES ARE LOCAL/TIMES ARE UTC
|
TBD
|
AM Local
|
.B EN16/17
|
.Just North of Fargo
|
|
TBD
|
AM Local
|
.B EN27/28
|
.East of St Hilaire, MN
|
|
TBD
|
AM Local
|
.B EN08/18
|
.West of Grand Forks, ND
|
|
TBD
|
AM Local
|
.B EN14/15
|
.Near Watertown, SD
|
Note:
While in Fargo, I have a few day-trip activations planned for Saturday and Sunday mornings (see above). I will post to FFMA Yahoo and PJ when I have dates.
Fargo, ND to Flagstaff, AZ: Approximate dates 23 May - 29 May
I finished planning the return routing and was aiming for a somewhat truncated version of last year's return trip. The general routing is West of the trip North. Hopefully the mountain weather will be more hospitable in late May than in mid-April (mountain pass snow was an issue heading North).
The three Confluences (grid corners) are ony accessable if it is dry (as in no rain/snow/etc). Last year it was wet so I skipped them, this year I will play it by ear when i get there. The chances that DM18/19/28/29 will have cell coverage is virtually zero so watch my grid exchange. I would expect all the other locations to have either AT&T or Verizon available but I have been wrong before.
Planned times will be kept as much as possible but weather, road conditions, and inaccessable locations can cause detours and delays. I have researched the planned locations and they should all be accessable, but last year I encountered numerous instances of No Trespassing that kept me from getting where I wanted too. In other words, I will try but I cannot guarantee success.
NOTE: These dates are NOT fixed. If issues arise, I may have to extend my stay in Fargo.
MAY
DATES ARE LOCAL/TIMES ARE UTC
|
23W
|
1700-2300
|
.Transit EN16/06/DN96
.DN86/85
|
.Enroute
|
|
|
2300-0400
|
.B DN75/85
|
.West of Buffalo, SD (same spot as last year)
|
|
24R
|
1100-1300
|
.B DN75/85
|
.West of Buffalo, SD (same spot as last year)
|
|
|
1300-1600
|
.Transit DN75/74
|
.Enroute
|
|
|
1600-1900
|
.B DN64/74
|
.West of Gillette, WY
|
|
|
1900-2030
|
.Transit DN74/73
|
.Enroute
|
|
|
2030-2330
|
.B DN63/73
|
.Near Linch, WY
|
|
|
2330-0100
|
.Transit DN63/62
|
.Enroute
|
|
|
0100-0400
|
.B DN62/72
|
.Near Glenrock, WY
|
|
25F
|
1100-1400
|
.Transit DN62/61
|
.Enroute
|
|
|
1400-1700
|
.B DN51/61
|
.Near Wamsutter, WY
|
|
|
1700-1900
|
.Transit DN51/61
|
.Enroute
|
|
|
1900-2200
|
.B DN42/52
|
.Near Fontennelle Reservior, WY
|
|
|
2200-0230
|
.Transit DN41/40/30
|
.Enroute
|
|
|
0230-0500
|
.B DN20
|
.In NV SW of Wendover, UT (primarily East)
|
|
26Sa
|
1200-1400
|
.B DN20
|
.In NV SW of Wendover, UT (primarily East)
|
|
|
1400-1530
|
.Transit DN20/21
|
.Enroute
|
|
|
1530-1830
|
.B DN20/21
|
.Near Halleck, NV (primarily North)
|
|
|
1830-2000
|
.Transit DN20
|
.Enroute
|
|
|
2000-2200
|
.B DN10/20
|
.Near Carlin, NV (primarily West)
|
|
|
2200-2330
|
.Transit DN10
|
.Enroute
|
|
|
2330-0130
|
.B DM19/29
|
.Eureka, NV (same spot as last year, T-Storms chased me off early)
|
|
|
0130-0300
|
.Transit DM29
|
.Enroute
|
|
|
0300-0500
|
.C DM18/19/28/29
|
.Out in the middle of &#$@ nowhere in Nevada
|
|
27Su
|
1200-1500
|
.C DM18/19/28/29
|
.Out in the middle of &#$@ nowhere in Nevada
|
|
|
1500-1700
|
.Transit DM28/18
|
.Enroute
|
|
|
1700-2300
|
.C DM17/18/27/28
|
.SE of Warm Springs, NV (rain kept me out last year)
|
|
|
2300-0330
|
.Transit DM18/28/29/39
|
.Enroute
|
|
|
0330-0500
|
.C DM28/29/38/39
|
.In UT East of Great Basin Nat Park (rerouting skipped last year)
|
|
28M
|
1200-1700
|
.C DM28/29/38/39
|
.In UT East of Great Basin Nat Park (rerouting skipped last year)
|
|
|
1700-2000
|
.Transit DM39/48
|
.Enroute
|
|
|
2000-2300
|
.B DM48/49
|
.Salina, UT (rerouting skipped last year)
|
|
|
2300-0300
|
.Transit DM48/58/57
|
.Enroute
|
|
|
0300-0500
|
.B DM47/48
|
.West of Natural Bridges Nat Park, UT (rerouting skipped last year)
|
|
29T
|
1200-1700
|
.B DM47/48
|
.West of Natural Bridges Nat Park, UT (rerouting skipped last year)
|
|
|
1700-2100
|
.Transit DM57/47/46/45
|
.Enroute to Flagstaff, AZ
|
Notes:
Dates are Local
Times are UTC/Zulu
S - Single Grid Operation
B - Grid Boundary Operation (2-fer-1). Will announce Both Grids.**
C - Grid Confluence Operation (4-fer-1). Will announce Diagonal Grids.**
** - Planned Grid Boundaries and Confluence locations should not be a problem (thank you Degree Confluence Project). However, if upon arrival access has changed, alternate boundary locations have already been determined. In the case of Confluences, two boundary locations will be used and the block time will be split between them (priority will be given to FFMA designated Rare-Grids).
