Category Archives: Colorado

Colorado 14er Event – August 9th

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I woke up yesterday to the idea that it really is August 1st and that July is now history. I understand how that happens… I just don’t know how it happens so freeking fast!  If August is here, then it is time for the premier mountaintop ham radio event: The Colorado 14er Event.

What is that, you ask? It is ham radio guys having fun in the mountains, where Height Above Average Terrain takes on a new meaning.  

Amateur Radio operators from around Colorado will be climbing many of Colorado’s 14,000-foot mountains to set up amateur radio stations in an effort to communicate with other radio amateurs across the state and around the world. Radio operators with 14er climbing experience who plan to climb a 14er should log their name and intended peak at the HAM 14er Yahoo group.

I will be operating from the summit of Pikes Peak with a crew of other ham radio operators, using club callsign K0YB.

Last year we had a California operator (N6IZ) get on (yes, they have mountains there, too) and work one of the Colorado summits (N0B), for the first 14er-to-14er interstate QSO. See the goathiker (WG0AT) video for the full story:

 

We expect to have some California 14ers on the air again this year. Not only that, the K4S team in Kansas is planning to ascend the highest point in the state: Mount Sunflower at 4039 feet !

This is too much fun.

   73, Bob K0NR

Summits On The Air Video

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I’ve been thinking a bit about “Trail Friendly Radios” for VHF in preparing an article for QRP Quarterly. I came across this video about choosing radios for use in the Summits on the Air (SOTA) program. SOTA is a fun program from Europe that has found some interest in North America. The basic idea is an awards program that encourages operations from the various summits in a region. This has some similarity to the Colorado 14er Event and its associated awards.

Anyway, here is the video by Richard G3CWI:

Flag Pole Radio Tower

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img_23341I have gotten into the habit of taking photos of interesting radio sites. This all started as part of my general tendency to visit mountain summits to play ham radio. It turns out that for some reason, there are quite a few radio installations in high spots. Hmmm, imagine that.

So I started taking photos of the more interesting ones. One thing lead to another and I now have a photo collection of lots of different towers, antennas and radio sites. Fortunately, my spouse thinks this behavior is cute…other people find it a bit crazy.

So I am driving west on Highway 24 and I see this really big flag pole at Lake George, CO. It just doesn’t look quite right— a bit too fat. I drive closer to get a better look and, sure enough, it is really a cell site with an antenna disguised as a flag pole. (This is at the US Forest Service work camp. )

Clever design, I think.

73, Bob K0NR

One More Hamcon Colorado Reminder

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From: Steve Williams KØSRW <k0srw@earthlink.net>
Date: Tue, May 12, 2009 at 9:48 PM
Subject: [Committee] Email for your clubs!

HamCon Colorado 2009 kicks off in just over 2 weeks, May 29-31, 2009 in stunning Estes Park, Colorado. Estes Park is the gateway to one of our nation’s most treasured prizes, the incomparable Rocky Mountain
National Park.

Through May 14th, save $5 from the walk-in price!  Visit our on-line registration page at www.HamConColorado.org.  It’s easy, it’s fast and it’s secure!  While registering, be sure to sign up for our Saturday luncheon, our Saturday evening banquet, and our Sunday morning breakfast!  All three feature great food, superb friends, and
outstanding speakers!

Registration goes up $5 on May 15th.  And, on-line registration closes altogether on May 20th at 10 PM MDT.  You can always register at the event for only $20, but we won’t have any more luncheon, banquet or
breakfast seats available then.

Don’t miss out, register now!

We’re also pleased to announce our Grand Prize, an ICOM IC-706MKIIG with a remote kit!  If you registered before March 1st, 2009, you’re in our Early Bird Prize drawing for a brand new Yaesu FT-8900 with a
remote kit!  And, we’ve even got a Yaesu VX-7 as our Special Bonus Prize.

You won’t want to miss out on the more than 35 technical sessions covering just about every ham radio topic you can think of.  Check out the Conference Schedule page at www.HamConColorado.org for more information on these!

More prizes!  HamCon Colorado 2009 is delighted and grateful that more than 115 prizes have already been donated by a large cadre of wonderful manufacturers, vendors and organizations.  Take a look at
the Prize Donations page at www.HamConColorado.org.  Even if you’ve got bad luck, you’re bound to see it turn for the better at HamCon Colorado!

Visit with your favorite manufacturers, stores and clubs!  They’re all listed on our Exhibitors page at www.HamConColorado.org.

Need more?  Ok, stop by our Silent Auction where you’ll bid against each other for great radios from Yaesu:  an FT-950, an FT-857D, a VX-7R, and two FT-2800s!  These radios are completely factory refurbished, factory packed, and factory tested.  They come complete with a 90 day factory warranty.  You’ve not seen auction starting prices like the ones we’ll have on these beauties!  Cash and PayPal
only please!!!  This will be a lot of fun!

There’s even more:  a VE Session, and a massive W1AW/Ø operation (sponsored largely by ICOM and Heil Sound) where you’ll truly be on the other end of the pileups with some excellent equipment!  Try sending morse with your left foot in our hilarious QLF contest, and practice your skills in our dastardly CW Pileup contest, or our outdoor transmitter fox hunt.  If you’ve never been to an ARRL Wouff Hong ceremony, now is definitely the time!

There’s something for everyone at HamCon Colorado 2009, and we sure hope to see you in Estes Park, May 29-31, 2009!

73,

Steve Williams, KØSRW
k0srw@earthlink.net

Getting Ready for Summer!

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hamAs I sit here looking out the window, I see snow piling up on the back deck. Yep, spring time in the Rockies with a winter snow warning on Easter. It seems like a good time to take a look at upcoming amateur radio events this summer.

Here’s my starter list, with a definite bias towards Colorado, VHF, mountaintopping and radio contests:

Hamcon Colorado ( AKA the ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention) in Estes Park – May 29-31.  This is a wonderful event that comes to Colorado once every three years. As the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park is a great vacation spot, so don’t miss it!

ARRL June VHF QSO Party This is The Big One for VHF activity – June 13-15. June usually has very good propagation on 50 MHz, so we’ll usually have a band opening or two on 6 Meters during the contest. If you are new to VHF contesting, see the article How to Work a VHF Contest.

ARRL Field Day– June 27-28. We are still not sure if this is a contest or not but the truth is you can make it whatever you want it to be! Arguably the most well-known and publicized amateur radio event. See my previous post.

CQ Worldwide VHF Contest – July 18-19. This is The Other VHF Contest during the summer, sponsored by CQ Magazine. This contest is gaining in popularity and is focused on the two most popular VHF bands: 6 Meters and 2 Meters.  Hey, CQ, if you want people to take this contest seriously update the web site with the 2009 rules!

The Colorado 14er Event – August 9.  Focused on operating from the summits of Colorado’s 14,000+ foot mountains, this is The Premier Mountaintop Radio Event.   Check out the web site for full details….if you aren’t up to the mountaintop operating, then set your goal on working as many summits as you can from a more convenient location. Join the ham14er yahoo group to discuss and learn about the event.

The Colorado QSO Party – Sept 5-6. This contest is a fun event that focuses on activating the various counties in Colorado. Consider setting up mobile or portable to activate a rare one or two!

73, Bob K0NR