[aprssig] Appalachian Trail Golden Packet Event update

[Jim Andrews]

Following this project with some interest (I'm in the UK, so not able to
help!) and was intrigued by the "no electronics" rule in Baxter, so went
looking on their website for any background.

Interestingly it's specifically "Audio devices" (rule 25), so use of APRS
equipment so long as the volume is muted would appear to be OK? I guess it's
down to the intent of the rule.


Best of luck with the challenge!



Jim, G1HUL

-----Original Message-----
From: aprssig-bounces at tapr.org [mailto:aprssig-bounces at tapr.org] On Behalf
Of Robert Bruninga
Sent: 31 March 2009 22:50
To: 'TAPR APRS Mailing List'
Subject: [aprssig] Appalachian Trail Golden Packet Event update

The date of the Golden Packet event on the Appalachian Trail has moved to
the weekend of the 25/26 July to avoid QRM at the mountain tops with our
teams and the CQ World Wide VHF contest on the original 18/19 proposed date.
Those guys try for 50,000W ERP to make DX contacts... See updated web page:

http://www.aprs.org/at-golden-packet.html

An interesting wrinkle is that the rules of the Baxter State park, prohibit
any electronics (from radios, to walkmans, to cell phones) from Mt Katahdin
in Maine, and so we may have to use a human eyeball and flashing light for
that final leg.
Woultn't that be a hoot.  Trying to close the 91 mile path from Sugarloaf to
Katahdin with a CW keyed laser at 5 WPM to an eyeball receiver.  Actually,
that would be quite easy to build.

But the only allowed TX capability will have to be a flashing mirror and
hope for sunshine.  A small relay mechanically coupled to a 1 foot mirror
would do it, though the combination would have to be on a motoroized polar
mount to maintain basic alignment with the movement of the sun.  I guess
smoke signals could also be used, if anyone has any ideas how to generate
big ones without using any electronics.

So, pass this to any OPTICAL crazies out there..  We wouldn't want to cheat
with a D7 now would we.

FOUR of the 14 sites so far now have good photos and images of the mountain
peaks and the parking lots.  The goal is to do this with drive-up D700
mobiles to keep it simple and repeatable...

Still need volunteers along the way...

http://www.aprs.org/at-golden-packet.html

Bob, WB4APR


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