***************************************************************************
*                  ATGP 2018 Report for MT Greylock                      75
***************************************************************************

Report for Greylock-11;

Below is the List Data from my D72:

Alias      Time     Grid  Distance  Alt  Lat1    Long1	 First	  Last
--------- -------- ------ -------- ---- ------- ------- --------- -------
SAMSPT-10 03:06 PM FN21TQ   89.6   2260	4141.06	7421.30	HOP7-7	
EQUINX-12 02:54 PM FN33KD   36.7   3862	4309.96	7307.03	EQUINX-12	
UTSAY	  02:41 PM FN22QJ   74.5   3219	4223.94	7435.37	EQUINX-12	
CLNGMN-2  02:30 PM EM85GN  738	   6302	3533.38	8329.70	EQUINX-12	
MTWASH-13 02:29 PM FN44IG  146	   6234	4416.22	7118.09	EQUINX-12	
MDMTNS-7  02:23 PM FM19FM  311		3932.24	7730.01	UTSAY	
ROAN-3	  02:20 PM EM86WC  657		3606.26	8207.96	UTSAY	
GDHILL-8  02:12 PM FN10SF  237		4014.77	7627.33	EQUINX-12	
SPRNGR-1  02:01 PM EM74UL  824		3429.18	8419.86	EQUINX-12	
CMLBK-9	  02:00 PM FN21HB  157	   2113	4102.56	7520.92	EQUINX-12	
HWKSBL-6  01:59 PM FM08QX  380		3858.31	7835.08	EQUINX-12	
N2YP	  01:40 PM FN22QJ   74.5   3255	4223.93	7435.38	EQUINX-12	
COMERS-4  01:38 PM EM96JS  590		3645.53	8113.43	EQUINX-12	
AOMTN-5	  01:27 PM FM07FM  487		3731.03	7930.70	SAMSPT-10	
MTSTJO-14 12:07 PM JJ00AA  5284		0000.00	0000.00		
KB1POR-9  11:59 AM FN44IG  146	   6204	4416.17	7118.17	EQUINX-12
	

Left at 0600 from my lodging in Merrimack NH. Arrived about 09:30 at the 
Notch Rd pull-off (4238.09N, 07309.89W). I programmed my D72 per the link 
on the Spreadsheet. I am a novice D72 user that used it mainly for balloon 
tracking so I was very unfamiliar with most of the APRS settings. I wish 
there was a D72 primer. The manual provides some value and the setup on the 
golden packet site was very clear but really didn't explain what the 
settings did. There are various Internet sites that have bits and pieces but 
nothing that I could find that provides a strait forward primer.

My station consisted of a D72 with a 5/8 roof antenna. Power for the
D72 was planned to be via a vehicle cigarette lighter power supply. 
It did not work, still haven't trouble shot the issue as at first I thought 
the jack on the D72 was damaged. After getting back to my lodging I found 
it work fine. I was concerned that I would run out of battery power during 
the event but even after 6.5 hours use the radio was indicating just under 
half battery remaining. Pleasant surprise there.

I activated about 1000 at the notch. I stayed there for over an hour & half 
receiving EQUINX-12/N1JCM via packet.I was able to establish voice comms 
with EQUINX-12 on UHF for the entire event. We used the 146.91 repeater once 
or twice. I used a Baofeng UV-5R  for UHF voice with just the rubber ducky
antenna so there was no surprise that I couldn't be heard by anyone but 
EQUINX-12. I did hear UTSAY and I believe MTWASH.

Around 1130 I moved to the parking area and had a better copy of EQUINX-12 
packets but that location faces north and is blocked to the south by the 
summit. I was not seeing any activity except EQUINX-12 or via EQUINX-12. 
Moved back to the notch at about 1330 and stayed about 30 minutes no 
improvement  so went back to the parking area. 

Stayed there until around 1415. At 1415 I took the D72 with the rubber ducky 
to the top of the veterans monument in the observation room. Started hearing 
a number of the stations south but no voice comms. I suspect I might have 
digipeated from the memorial. I saw some symbols on the D72 display that I 
had never seen before. Anyone want to clue me in feel free.

Stayed in the Memorial till 1445 and went back to the car in the parking lot 
and set the D72 back up in the car with the roof 5/8 antenna. Continued in 
the car till about 1515 and then departed. I am still not clear if I ever 
actually digipeated anything??? I don't believe my station played any 
significant part in the event involving digipeating.

Next year perhaps making arrangements with the Park Management to operate 
from the lodge might be a better location. It is one the summit west side 
and likely would provide a better location.

I learned a lot about APRS from the event that I didn't know but I'm still 
a novice.

I'm interested in any feedback or helpful hints.

Jim Conrad/N4WFP
GREYLOCK-11