I had obtained a cable for the Motorola with the correct two-pin plug to make up an interface. I cut the tip off the 3.5mm jack so that inserting the plug did not cut off the speaker and I programmed a channel on the radio with 144.800 as the transmit frequency and 145.500 as the receive frequency. This meant that I could hear anyone calling CQ during the periods between transmitting position beacons. The downside is that the FoxTrak cannot tell if the APRS frequency is clear before transmitting. But many dumb trackers do that already because they don't have a receiver. In any case, the APRS activity level here is so low that the chances of a collision occurring are about the same as winning the lottery.
Although the path we walked along was quite high, this was not a very good location for radio. Only one position beacon was received by a gateway and I made just one voice contact - with Phil M0AYB/P activating the summit of Blencathra for WOTA. (Phil later went on to activate Mungrisdale Common which completed activations of all of Wainwright's Northern Fells. I'm doubly sorry to have missed contacting him there, but congratulations Phil on the achievement.)
Our walk took us down through the woods to the lake shore and then back to the car. The autumn colours were wonderful - my pictures don't really do justice to them. I expect most of the leaves have now gone. Last night there was a gale and this morning through the overcast we could see wet snow on the mountains down to quite a low altitude. I doubt that there will be many more opportunities for a walk like this before the end of the year.
You're pictures may not do the scene justice, but they sure make some of us living in scenery-challenged areas a bit jealous. The one thing I miss living in Florida is the lack of "real" trees. Give me Oaks (not the scruffy things they call "Live Oaks"), majestic Maples (I have yet to see a majestic anything here), Elms, Poplars, or any non-palm/pine tree for that matter. However, the one thing I DON'T miss living in Florida is that white stuff that you mentioned, solid water, aka snow.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the pictures and keep up the walks as long as you can. Our walk-able weather is just starting as the temps have finally fallen below the mid-80s for a high (like today we have the house windows open for the 70s coolness).
Lynn (D) - KJ4ERJ - EL97qx
Hello Julian..I always enjoy your posts about the outdoors. It's true that sometimes pictures can't capture the real essence of a place but you do a pretty good job with them. I find the scenery absolutely stunning and think your photographs are great. The weather here is getting a little cooler everyday with winter approaching. It's "leaf raking" season and we've had a dusting of snow in the mountains. Time to spend a little more "radio time" in the winter months. In a way, I'm looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteThat first picture of Loweswater is stunning enough and then you say photographs cannot do it justice. That just about says everything about the Lake District.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me almost despise Alfred Wainwright for being able to make his living from wandering around and looking upon such outstanding beauty while I work beneath the black towers of Mordor by the stinking pits hell. Sorry Shell.
Radio for a pound! I always walk past those bargains without seeing and then someone walking behind says to me "look what I bought". well done on getting it all working.
I just got Duckshit as the word verification that is just not right!