RMVHF+ Group Members,

    On or about 9 September 2011 Fred – WAØSIK and I met with Russ – WØTTT at the Como restaurant in the thriving metropolis of Como, CO. Had a nice lunch in the homey old restaurant and discussed what we had for beacons and got a feel for Russ’s desires on how to implement them. Talk about a layed back, congenial gentleman we found one. His take on the new beacons location was like “Hey do what you guys want!” We then adjourned to Russ’s 200+ acre cattle ranch on which is the most beautiful log home one would ever want to live in, along with a 1500 sq ft guest house above a huge four car garage and workshop. In his front yard my GPS indicated 9951′ ASML. This is almost 500′ higher than our previous beacon location. What a view!

    Fred had the beacon rack in his truck and we placed it in one of the bedrooms of the guest house which Russ uses for a ham shack. He suggested we use his 2M and 70cm antennas for now until we get a tower and mast erected someplace near the house for our own omni antennas. We weren’t able to reprogram the beacon keyer on site so I took it home, reprogrammed it and sent it to Fred. The 144.282 MHz and 432.360 MHz beacons went on the air probably 13 September under the call of WØTTT/B DM79bh. Fred suggested a possible problem with the 70cm beacon as it was heard at his QTH only an S-5 and should have been at least 30 or 40 over 9.

    I am refurbishing the beacon antennas, coming up with a tower (maybe 30′), mast, guy wire and anchors. Not much of a base should be required as our wind load is minimal. Fred is going to have to be our man-in-the-mountains as the distance is 100 miles from Russ’s to my QTH. We probably can’t do too much more before snow flies this year but in the Spring hope to have 2M, 1.35M, 70cm, 33 cm & 23cm beacons back on the air with our omni antennas. Just keep those cards and letters with your donations coming and we will give you some superior signal sources for your use, however and whenever you want or need them. And, a great big THANK YOU to Russ – WØTTT for his hospitality. CU 73, Dave W6OAL… of the RMVHF+ Beacon Consortium

   Since that time Terry KCØVFO donated a triplexer, Fred – WAØSIK installed that we now have three beacons operating for the winter 144.282, 432.360 and 1296.225.  All of them are audible on the Front Range…