Field Test 9/6: BIGfoot 120 mile Endurance Run
October 9-11, 2015
October 9-11, 2015
From: "AlertSeattle ACS" <seattle-acs@getrave.com>
Date: Sep 2, 2015 8:22 PM
Subject: Request Assistance for pre event field testing Bigfoot 120 event
Field Test 9/6:
Several of us are already set to travel to the
area this Sunday and conduct field tests of the planned 6-meter and
2-meter communications from as many of the sites as we can. Having
more hams (you didn’t have any Labor Day weekend plans, anyway, did
you?) would allow us to cover more sites more quickly, so if you can
come help out, please reply ASAP. Don’t worry about any particular
equipment you may not have, for now, we’ll be sorting that out this
week, hopefully with enough people to make some pairings and fill in
gaps
Message from Seattle ACS Sent to All ACS Members
Here is a request from Robert Grinnell, KD7WNV
Training Officer, ESCA RACES
Hi Mark,
Below is an email I sent yesterday to a list of hams I’ve recruited over the past couple months from among ESCA RACES, Mike & Key, and RAMROD support, regarding a new public service event, the Bigfoot 120. I had planned to recruit more widely, including from Seattle ACS, a bit later once we have the radio plan more settled, but we just realized late last week the happy confluence of availability of a core group for a communications field test this coming Sunday, and if we could get a few more hams to come out, it could make the difference in ensuring full testing of all planned stations/sites. Would you be willing to forward the appeal to your group? Anyone available for the field test and/or interested in the event itself should contact me via any of the means listed at the bottom.
Thanks & 73,
Robert Grinnell, KD7WNV
Training Officer, ESCA RACES
Public Service Committee Chair, Mike & Key ARC
Message from Seattle ACS Sent to All ACS Members
Here is a request from Robert Grinnell, KD7WNV
Training Officer, ESCA RACES
Hi Mark,
Below is an email I sent yesterday to a list of hams I’ve recruited over the past couple months from among ESCA RACES, Mike & Key, and RAMROD support, regarding a new public service event, the Bigfoot 120. I had planned to recruit more widely, including from Seattle ACS, a bit later once we have the radio plan more settled, but we just realized late last week the happy confluence of availability of a core group for a communications field test this coming Sunday, and if we could get a few more hams to come out, it could make the difference in ensuring full testing of all planned stations/sites. Would you be willing to forward the appeal to your group? Anyone available for the field test and/or interested in the event itself should contact me via any of the means listed at the bottom.
Thanks & 73,
Robert Grinnell, KD7WNV
Training Officer, ESCA RACES
Public Service Committee Chair, Mike & Key ARC
From: Robert Grinnell [mailto:r-grinnell@comcast.net]
Sent: Monday, August 31, 2015 10:58 AM
To: Robert Grinnell (ARRL forwarding)
Subject: Bigfoot 120 update, & Field Testing Operation, Sunday 9/6
Hi Public Service Hams,
You are receiving this email because you have indicated at some point (perhaps in a moment of weakness or duress J) an interest in potentially helping with this new and challenging public service event. Don’t worry, no one is considered committed as of yet. Please let me know if at any time you wish to be removed from further email distribution.
The purpose of this email is to give you a quick reminder and update, and to solicit participation in a communications field test this coming Sunday, September 6.
I have been working with David Williamson, WA7DGW (President, Snohomish County Hams Club) and Lee Chambers, KI7SS (President, Olympia ARS) to move forward in planning for this event. I had hoped to be sending you more information with this email, even an early draft comms plan, but the windstorm this weekend has interfered. For now, here are some quick facts about the event:
What: Provide radio communications to link the aid stations of a 120-mile run/hike in remote mountainous terrain, particularly passing information between aid stations and event headquarters at Finish (event website: http://www.bigfoot200.com/bigfoot-120.html). I encourage you to read the Runner’s Manual and review the map, linked below.
When: October 9-11 (Friday-Sunday).
Where: Gifford Pinchot National Forest & Mt. St. Helens National Monument (see CalTopo map of the course: http://caltopo.com/map?id=1M6L)
Driving Access: Most of the stations are accessible by paved road. Bringing an RV would be an option for several of the stations.
Accommodations: Hams will be camping at the aid stations. The organizers will provide water, food, sanitation, electrical power and shelters (exact sleeping arrangements to be confirmed.) Hams will be encouraged to bring backups and address their own personal preferences, of course.
Radio Plan: We are not aware of any repeaters that would cover the course--if you know of any, please let us know! Based on modeling with radio coverage prediction software, it appears we can set up a net, with one major relay point, using a combination of 6-meter and 2-meter FM simplex. We are also interested in conducting HF NVIS trials during the event, but probably will not have it as a backbone of the comms plan unless the field test indicates a further need.
Field Test 9/6: Several of us are already set to travel to the area this Sunday and conduct field tests of the planned 6-meter and 2-meter communications from as many of the sites as we can. Having more hams (you didn’t have any Labor Day weekend plans, anyway, did you?) would allow us to cover more sites more quickly, so if you can come help out, please reply ASAP. Don’t worry about any particular equipment you may not have, for now, we’ll be sorting that out this week, hopefully with enough people to make some pairings and fill in gaps.
Thanks & 73,
Robert Grinnell, KD7WNV
Sent: Monday, August 31, 2015 10:58 AM
To: Robert Grinnell (ARRL forwarding)
Subject: Bigfoot 120 update, & Field Testing Operation, Sunday 9/6
Hi Public Service Hams,
You are receiving this email because you have indicated at some point (perhaps in a moment of weakness or duress J) an interest in potentially helping with this new and challenging public service event. Don’t worry, no one is considered committed as of yet. Please let me know if at any time you wish to be removed from further email distribution.
The purpose of this email is to give you a quick reminder and update, and to solicit participation in a communications field test this coming Sunday, September 6.
I have been working with David Williamson, WA7DGW (President, Snohomish County Hams Club) and Lee Chambers, KI7SS (President, Olympia ARS) to move forward in planning for this event. I had hoped to be sending you more information with this email, even an early draft comms plan, but the windstorm this weekend has interfered. For now, here are some quick facts about the event:
What: Provide radio communications to link the aid stations of a 120-mile run/hike in remote mountainous terrain, particularly passing information between aid stations and event headquarters at Finish (event website: http://www.bigfoot200.com/bigfoot-120.html). I encourage you to read the Runner’s Manual and review the map, linked below.
When: October 9-11 (Friday-Sunday).
Where: Gifford Pinchot National Forest & Mt. St. Helens National Monument (see CalTopo map of the course: http://caltopo.com/map?id=1M6L)
Driving Access: Most of the stations are accessible by paved road. Bringing an RV would be an option for several of the stations.
Accommodations: Hams will be camping at the aid stations. The organizers will provide water, food, sanitation, electrical power and shelters (exact sleeping arrangements to be confirmed.) Hams will be encouraged to bring backups and address their own personal preferences, of course.
Radio Plan: We are not aware of any repeaters that would cover the course--if you know of any, please let us know! Based on modeling with radio coverage prediction software, it appears we can set up a net, with one major relay point, using a combination of 6-meter and 2-meter FM simplex. We are also interested in conducting HF NVIS trials during the event, but probably will not have it as a backbone of the comms plan unless the field test indicates a further need.
Field Test 9/6: Several of us are already set to travel to the area this Sunday and conduct field tests of the planned 6-meter and 2-meter communications from as many of the sites as we can. Having more hams (you didn’t have any Labor Day weekend plans, anyway, did you?) would allow us to cover more sites more quickly, so if you can come help out, please reply ASAP. Don’t worry about any particular equipment you may not have, for now, we’ll be sorting that out this week, hopefully with enough people to make some pairings and fill in gaps.
Thanks & 73,
Robert Grinnell, KD7WNV
r-grinnell@comcast.net
Posted by PSRG FUN BLOG at 9/03/2015 12:46:00 PM