First, thanks for the many fine comments I have heard on the radio and e-mails about the new postings on our web page! More will come in time but, don't hold your breath, its more important to work on the repeaters and get the nets going for now!

As far as activities or "field trip" events are concerned, we are going kind of slow with that as well. I have told a few folks about my plans for the January VHF/UHF contest, on the weekend of January 19th. through the 21st., and there seems to be some interest with this. So, here is how it would work.

VHF contests are intended for the purpose of testing and or confirming radio propagation phenomena. I myself go out and "work" nearly all VHF/UHF contests, its also a great opportunity just to go camping. The main motivation though is to go to some distant Maidenhead Grid Square of desirable signal location. This year I'm going to try a location that is about 30 miles east of Barstow, California on a high plateau that is North of Interstate 40 in Grid Square DM25. This is above the Mitchell Caverns State Park, which might be of interest to a few folks.

This campground is pretty basic! It offers fire rings and picnic tables, and the "out-houses" are of the pit toilet design. So, if your interested in attending, here is how you ought to equip yourself. Most vehicles can navigate these dirt roads, you don't have to have a 4- wheel drive vehicle, I don't. If your wondering about your motorhome or 5th wheel or other trailer, you had better ask the BLM about this area but, careful skilled driving should yield good results. Otherwise bring your own food, beverages, and other creature comforts.

So, e-mail and tell me if this activity is of interest to you? I will need to get some sort of RSVP list together to see if we are going to overwhelm the campground. If you want to operate the contest using your own radios, e-mail me, and we can compare notes. I will be on 6 and 2 Meters, as well as 135, 70, and 23 centimeters SSB and CW. I will make a more timely posting with directions and communications frequencies prior to the event.