Welcome to the OARC Newsletter For June 2004

 

OARC provides communication for the Ogden Marathon.

The foot race started at about 6:30 AM Saturday morning just south of the turn-off to Causey Dam on highway 39. Gary Liptrot N7ZI provided mobile communication support at the starting line via the repeater on Mt. Ogden using the 448.600 MHz UHF repeater supported by the club.

 

The setup for timing the race was a little different this year than the setup used in previous years. According to last year the start of the race was indicated via a signal sent from the start line by a radio operator to the officials in Ogden. This year however; the marathon officials used a timing box to keep track of the official times. The official race timer was started when the runners moved across a sensor wire taped to the road. Once the timer was started the unit was transported over Trappers Loop to the finish line where the sensor wire was again taped to the road. As the runners crossed the finish line, the time for each runner could be read from the box negating the need to have the start signal relayed via radio.

Before the start of the race, Will (KD7UTX) tried to set up communication on HF via 40m to another station located in Ogden using his antenna. The antenna setup is unique and includes a portable stand and about thirty feet of extension coax. The antenna was set up just west of the starting line. Will tried to establish contact with the station in Ogden but didn’t have success.

 

Will "shotgun" Jones (KD7UTX) with his 40m Antenna

Gary "mom" Liptrot explainsmonitors for solar equipment and battery voltage

 

According to Will, he ran a test using his antenna and transmitter the night before and it worked fine. Unfortunately the antenna didn’t work as well at the race. Will supposed that the vibration from the trip up may have caused an open circuit between one of the elements inside the antenna. Because of this, the antenna wasn’t able to be used. Even if the antenna could have been used Will may not have been able to establish contact with the station in Ogden anyway.

It seems conditions weren’t very good for establishing contact. Gary Liptrot purchased a bumper mount antenna for work on 40m a few days before the race – He also brought along his MFJ antenna tuner for connection to his Yaesu radio. After the trial with Will’s antenna, Gary tuned up his antenna and tried to establish contact with the station in Ogden without any luck.

Gary’s truck is outfitted with solar cells and an energy management system that monitors voltage, input current and output current from his storage batteries located in the back of his vehicle. Gary showed his setup and explained how his control system works shortly after the race started.

From there Gary and Will became the SAG-Wagon and followed the last runners down the canyon past the aid stations.

 

 

 

 

Weather and race information was relayed back to the command center located at the mouth of Ogden canyon where “Sal” KD7JRX (not pictured), Lance Peterson, and Michele Horn (KD7THE) coordinated activities.

 

Jim Clarke (KD7SWL) was at the information station along the parkway (not pictured). Kim Owen (K07U) and Rick Hansen (N7EGA) shown below were locaed at 25th Street and Grant Avenue at the finish line.

Rick Hansen and Kim Owen - Check out the cool magnetic sign on Kim's truck!

Upcomming Events for 2004


June 19 Training - 10:30
June 22 Field Day

July 17 training -10:30
Aug 14 Ham Fest
Aug 21 Bar-B-Que

Sept 11, 2004 LOTOJA (Logan to Jackson) Classic

Announcements

 

LOTOJA CLASSIC 2004 - SEPT 11, 2004

On September 11, 2004, join us for the twenty-second annual LOTOJA Classic

and experience a European-style road race that's unparalleled in distance

and beauty. LOTOJA participants ride through three states (Utah, Idaho and

Wyoming) and climb well over 7,000 vertical feet. The race begins in Logan

Utah and concludes in Teton Village Jackson Hole Wyoming. The LOTOJA

Classic has matured into the longest U.S.C.F.-sanctioned event in the

country with over 860 cyclists participating in 2003. LOTOJA's grueling test

of endurance has traditionally drawn two types of competitors; the few that

want to finish first and the many that just want to finish. Come ride with

us in 2004!

 

COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

More than 50 Bridgerland Amateur Radio Club (B.A.R.C.) members are

responsible for all radio communications along the route including feed

zones and corners. Operators will be in contact with neutral support

vehicles, support crews, race officials, camera crews and emergency services

along the route throughout the race. Every year, B.A.R.C. members volunteer

hundreds of hours preparing for and participating in LOTOJA. The use of

their time, talent and amateur radio resources is a key ingredient to

LOTOJA's success and safety. This year, please make a special effort to give

them the respect and appreciation they deserve.

 

June Meeting:

The June meeting of the Ogden Amateur Radio Club has been moved from the
third Saturday to the fourth Saturday to coincide with Field Day.  Meeting
will begin at 4:30PM at Rohmer Park, 5075 S 600W, Washington Terrace.   Be there to help setup at 7AM on Saturday morning  - Sal's famous B BQ will follow the meeting.  Chicken will be provided by the club. Please bring a food dish to share.

Rumors:

Same rumors as last month:

 

The Earth Quake Lady -  Presented by Charles Horn KD7SST. Marlin Hoff dubbed “The earthquake lady” by elementary school age children – Because her presentation is about earthquakes and emergency preparedness. The Earth Quake Lady may be available to give a presentation to OARC as an upcoming event.

If we decide to have her come and speak at the club meeting, we may want to schedule our club meeting around The Earth Quake Lady’s schedule. Charles indicated that she brings with her enough teaching material that “it fills up her mini-van”. Be prepared to discuss this item at the next club meeting.