These maps were created with AZ Proj
They are based on the location of Meramec Springs
listed in the USGS's GNISfiles:
740041|MO|Meramec Springs (historical)|ppl|Phelps|29|161|375719N|0913205W|37.95528|-91.53472|||||803|||Maramec Spring
January 2005 - Ordered Mast and Quad antenna in time for VHF 'test
May 19, 2005- Used http://maps.yahoo.com to find an overview
of route to Missouri. Also found: http://www.reserveusa.com, http://www.koakampgrounds.com/.
Ordered Gazzeter maps for Missiouri and Kentucky, as well as Camping
with the Corps of Engineers from Amazon.
June 2, 2005- Worked on re-working the connectors on the quad. Cubex
uses direct coax connections, via a pair of screws on a small plastic block
in their normal configuration. I had used the two halfs of a RG-8X cable,
which had been cut during in a yardwork mishap last summer, for the January
VHF contest. I felt that I lost too much power on 440Mhz to the cable, and
so have been looking for solutions since. I purchased a 75ft piece of
LMR-400 and a db-products coaxial relay off of ebay. I also found a couple
chassis mount N jacks. Tonight I worked on getting them hooked up to the
quad. I built a bracket out of 1/16in plastic, which seems to have worked
ok for 2m - it looks pretty good anyhow. The added wire lenght has changed
the tuning on the antenna though. Need to get the connector closer, or use
a slightly shorter driven element, or go back to a coax solution. The
440mhz side also remains to be worked out. I did determine that the DB
Products 28v coax relay will trip on 12v's. Need to wire up a controller
for this.
June 4, 2005- Picked up 4x50ft ropes at REI to use as guy lines on the mast.
June 5, 2005- Power issue likely resolved - picked up a
100amp UPS battery at a hamfest. It is a sealed AGM battery intended
for UPS's, model UPS
12-370FR This should work well for this application. It shouldn't
spill and doesn't need to be ventilated. It should be safe enclosed spaces
and ok to transport in my car. Do want to get a battery box and, do need
to work out a fused wiring harness. Put the battery on the smart charger
when I got home. Also picked up a couple RG-223 cables with N-Connectors
on just one end. These are a bit more lossy than I'd hoped, but may make
for an easier solution to the Quad connectorizing question.
June 6, 2005- Battery is charged and the charger has switched over to "float" this morning. Found a Battery Box at Sportsmans's guide, via Amazon.com. Also found a box with built in outlet and charge monitor, a Seasense Powerstation. Unfortunately, an email to the company confirms that the battery won't fit into the box.
