AFTER ACTION REPORT – Updated 6/3/19
Dateline: 23 June 2018, Forward Operating Base BIGFOOT
The West Coast Military Radio Collectors Group, Detachment ALPHA (FWD) conducted field ops in conjunction with the ARRL Field Day weekend and the 2 days prior, 21-24 June 2018. We deployed to a remote location in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, about 40 miles north of Yosemite National Park at a favorite spot along a perennial creek.
Spring was just starting to arrive up here in late June, plenty of snow still feeding the creek.
Although our camp was located at 7790 feet elevation, it is in a deep box canyon with 2000 foot higher ridges around 3 sides; NVIS operation was the order of the day. This site is also about 15 miles from the nearest cell-site connectivity and 10 miles from the nearest pavement so HF radio is otherwise pretty valuable out here. Just in case……WiFi? HaHa
The “smart phone drones” would be freakin’ out!! This is why we go here…
We set up operations with the long-range PRC-47 and GRC-9 for SSB and AM voice comms, and the 10 watt TRC-77 and GRC-109 sets for CW. All ops were on 80, 75 and 40 meters plus a VRC-7 and PRC-25 available for local tactical coordination. Antennas included low, horizontal resonant dipoles and the 15 foot whip for the PRC-47 as necessary.
Seven of our usual camping buddies there too, 3 of them are also Hams using 2 meters for convoy and recon ops / fishing SITREPs (HaHa) in the area.
Above: Speaking of signals, the trusty VS-17 Signal Panel helped our inbound camping buddies find our otherwise concealed site in the forest from points along the distant approach route. These things are hard to miss when you want to be seen; don’t leave home without one.
We worked many Field Day stations plus a lengthy round-table chat on the West Coast MRCG AM net on 3985 kc Saturday night with the GRC-9. That net closed and then resumed with many stations also checking in with us on LSB. We had the PRC-47 on LSB, a non-standard for us, as the USB radio was Tango Uniform, but we wanted to work LSB stations during Field Day anyway. (Looks like a USB post-MRCG AM net may gain some traction into the future, SSB worked well for us. 3996 USB on Saturdays anyone?)
We made several daily contacts with Andy during the Thursday and Friday Comm Windows (skeds) prior to the weekend Field Day. His “HQ” station was 158 miles/260 km away in the mountains outside Coalinga CA. He was also running a TRC-77 on CW as well as a URC-58 on SSB plus his BC-610E on AM.
We had very reliable Morse code comms with him as well as later AM and SSB voice contacts. We checked into the Military AM net with the GRC-9 and contacted about 10 AM stations all over California with good signals both ways. Propagation conditions were very good, our 10 watt CW and AM signals were easily making the distance, even the PRC-47 was kept at the 20 watt setting.
Some photos from the trip:
Above: The AN/TRC-77 station set up with a small solar panel to keep its internal Gel Cells “topped off”. Very reliable CW communications on the primary 3550 and 7050 kc West Coast Agent Guard Channel night/day frequencies. This off-grid setup will run indefinitely from The Bush. The TRC-77 was used by the US Army’s Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols, “LURPS”, primarily in Europe in the early-mid 1960’s.
For more information on the AN/TRC-77 take a look here: AN/TRC-77
Above: The GRC-109 set up outside my hootch. It was powered by that small 12 volt garden tractor battery via my homebrew 12V-HVDC power supply. It ran for days on that battery even without assistance from the solar panel.
The antenna was a 132 foot resonant dipole about 20 feet up between the big pine trees. Rigged quite low, it was perfect for “getting out” of this canyon. The GRC-109 also drove that same “jumpered” dipole on 40 meters with good results.
A reliable field radio in the boonies, as it was intended. It always works. Bullet proof.
The Mighty GRC-109 powered via the home brew 12 VDC power supply and the garden tractor battery. The ME-61/GRC field strength meter is handy for tuning the transmitter into High-Z antennas, but not necessary.
These sets were used in the early 1950’s by the CIA (as the nearly identical RS-1) and through Vietnam and later by them and the US Army. Many are still cached worldwide, either buried underground or hidden in “interesting” places elsewhere. Just imagine….
For more information on the GRC-109 and its history, take a look here: AN/GRC-109
Above: The Collins PRC-47 station being set up by the Assistant Radioman in a clearing about 200 meters from our main camp. It was powered by two 12 volt deep cycle batteries in series. These sets were widely used by the US Marine Corps in Vietnam, here in its “peacetime” element. For more on the PRC-47, take a look here: AN/PRC-47
We listened for, and heard, the new Midwest Military Radio Collectors Net on 7296 USB (with a monitor receiver) but their signals were too weak that early in the morning to ID anyone.
If we had the USB PRC-47 working we would have tried checking into the MRCA Moose and Squirrel Net on 5357 kc…..MRCA Moose and Squirrel Net
We have other like-minded operators and organizations. See:
MMRCG.ORG, and of course MRCGWEST.ORG
Above: An HF operating position with a view. Ham radio and remote camping are a great combination! The icy creek is right there, cutting its way through the granite. It sounds just like the “white noise” emanating from the radio speaker.
The mid day propagation over our short 158 mile path to HQ on 40 meters was unusually good for this solar cycle. This no doubt a result of the 10.7 cm solar flux hitting 80 on Friday – the highest so far in a year. That resulted in the NVIS Critical Frequency, fo, being at least as high as 7.3 mc. That enabled very good regional “short skip” conditions that we were planning to use. (By Sunday the flux had dropped to 74, that made a difference.)
Consequently, the stock 15 foot whip antenna made surprisingly good comms out of this canyon for 2 days without the need for the much more effective low dipole. The “up” takeoff angle was probably also helped by the reflective granite canyon walls surrounding us.
RF Boogga Boogga.
The last day, nada NVIS using the whip; back to “normal”; back to the low dipole.
Above: We included the “Control Group AN/GRA-6” remote control field telephone set for the PRC-47 station. H-33 carbon handsets all around. “By the book” deployment – whip, legs, 8 radials deployed. It was about 25 feet from the creek so the “grounding” was good.
Above: The Assistant Radio Operator talking with “HQ” on the PRC-47 radio via the GRA-6 remote control from his hootch – with the radio actually located well back in the forest.
Good contacts were made with Andy at HQ who reported that it sounded exactly like the PRC-47 with its local H-33 handset. This gear works great. We only ran it over about 200 meters of WD-1A/TT assault wire but it is spec’d to operate over 1.6 km of that telephone wire. Very handy!
The GRA-6 also has provision to turn the PRC-47 power on/off remotely, so no local operator at the radio is necessary. Stand your Watch on the Alert Net from the sleeping bag!
It can also be used as a full duplex field telephone between ends if needed. Cool. I have previously utilized it with my VRC-7 FM set which also worked great.
For more information on the GRA-6 system, look here: AN/GRA-6 Radio Wire Integration
Above: Working the MRCG post-Net with the PRC-47. It’s getting dark, the band is getting long, but we still had solid comms up and down California on 3985 kc with another low horizontal dipole.
The receiver only draws 600 ma and with the low duty cycle of SSB, and keeping the output at 20 watts, these big batteries will keep you going for a week of casual operation at least. The small gas genny was available for recharging, but was not necessary over 4 days. Some say the Tune signal sounds like a harmonica.
Above: Here in its element, the PRC-47 is a capable campsite radio, even with just the whip. Here working K7ZA in western Washington on 40 meters during Field Day. At least a 1000 km shot from here. Good signals both ways.
Above: Then there’s the GRC-9, permanently mounted in the old Bronco – Always reliable low power CW or AM voice comms up and down the coast from remote campsites, or even while mobile. T-17 carbon microphone (of course) but powered by a homebrew 12 volt-HV power supply mounted under the seat. No room for a big DY-88 in here!
But I miss the sound of the dynamotor – The Song of Our People.
Available too late for WWII, the GRC-9 was widely used in Korea, throughout the 1950’s and early-on in Vietnam. For more information on the GRC-9, take a look here: AN/GRC-9
Oh, and good food; here breakfast with toasted cheese and bacon. Plus BLT (Battalion Landing Team) sammitches for lunch and all kinds of steaks, corn, ribs, potatoes, sausages and creek-chilled watermelons (and Survival Cylinders) for dinner. No avocado toast….
Here at Forward Operating Base BIGFOOT the trap is set at the Fuel Dump.
Did you hear that really loud THUMP at 0245 this morning? Woke everyone up….
Many strange noises in the mountains at night. Not just CW…
BTW, Bigfoot is a qualified Morse Code operator! Who Knew?
Sending his traffic from our RS-6 position.
Get out there and operate those old field sets! No Shelf Queens!
“Shoot. A fella’ could have a pretty good weekend in Vegas with all that stuff.”
Major T. J. “King” Kong
BT
Ditdahditdahdit
Great report, great fun!
73,
RD
Hi Richard – Yep, was a fun time! We didn’t try to transmit any “Out Station” logistics requests to KPH, our little ancient receivers were pretty much swamped by field day signals on Saturday! Always great to know that (K6)KPH is always listening.. 73, Tim
A great posting. Over there (in USA) your geography and landscape is quite different from the drier climate we have here in Australia. And so the photos of both equipment and environment are very interesting.
Your report of 1000km contacts using modest aerials (no antennae here!) and power show what can be done with a simple rig.
I look forward to your report next year.
Les.
Hi Les, thanks for checking in. I’ve learned that even with “average” propagation, low power HF radios with reasonable wire antennas can work very well. Portable and easy on batteries as well while camping. I’ve even taken my ARC-5 station camping – a bit clumsy in a campsite but lots of fun!
We are fortunate to have some nice terrain and scenery around here, I go as often as I can. 73 from this side of the Pond & have fun…Tim
Excellent report. A real field day out in the real field! BZ
& 73 de Bart, K6VK ##
Hi Bart – Thanks! In the MilRad tradition we also ate real well too, thanks to You Know Who….LOL
We were also conjuring up another Mt Diablo Op, probably once the WX cools off. 73 – es CUL, Tim
Great report Tim, although I didn’t understand much of the Sparkie Speak. The infection hasn’t gotten to me yet, although I do have a few SCR-528 sets gathering dust and hopefully rising in price [;^) I’m not a radio guy but now I know how the WWII OSS, SOE, SAS, and resistance types could call England for supply drops from anywhere in France with puny power.
Great country up there. I’d love to join you someday. Maybe just watch your backs in case of infiltrators. But there are rumors of Sasquatch moving out-of-state due to high taxes and politics.
Love the red “I’m not a deer” cap. Not deer season but there are always poachers around, and Indians.
Looking forward to seeing you at the Camp Delta meet. Plan to join us for a bracer!
Hi John – These “camping” trips are a great way to understand the capabilities and limitations of this old equipment and to appreciate the efforts of those who used them operationally.
Nothing yet on the Training Schedule into the near future but I’ll send you the next FRAG Order when plans firm up – would be great to have you along! We need to pass the virus along! Tim
Tim,
You really sell it whenever you talk about radio-camping:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOery2pF0NA
I loved your report.
Sean
Hi Sean – Thanks – Well, camping and ham radio sell themselves as a fun combination! No help needed from me Haha. Funny clip you sent!
73, Tim
Well Tim, I hope the Forest Service (Circus) doesn’t do to you what they did to our favorite Field Day site. They turned it over to a concessionaire and now it costs $20/nite or $10 if you have your seniors pass. You may dodge the bullet if your area doesn’t allow RVs.
I’d be willing to get on 3996 upper, what time on Saturdays? I don’t have any military gear but I do have the next best thing, a Collins KWM-2 .
Chuck, WB6FQZ….Navy Seabees 1968/1972
Hi Chuck…Well I always avoid “Campgrounds” and prefer to go to “dispersed camping” areas to camp. No facilities or improvements of any kind but that fact filters out the crowd for sure. Specifically authorized by the USFS, you can camp almost anywhere (for now….). No noise, fees, neighbors, Boom Boxes, yahoo’s, problems and no Rangers. Rangers have to deal with the usual morons who seem to be everywhere there are designated campgrounds, but we don’t bother anyone and attract no attention where we go. I’ve camped in this general area for over 40 years and have been visited by a Ranger only once; we are very hard to find.
Well listen in to 3996 Wednesday nights around 2000 local time for the West Coast MRCG USB net. Also, your KWM-2 IS a military rig – the AN/FRC-93 !!
Thanks for visiting and thanks for your service..Tim
Hello Tim. Nice to see you guys are still out there keeping the Nation’s backup communication network ready to go. Always fun to see what you guys are doing.
Joe N8TI
Hi Joe – Well camping and ham radio make for an interesting nexus of interests of mine…Always fun and quite practical to exercise…
Thanks for stopping by! Tim
Finally found a military group. Had given up for the last 15 years since moving to Arizona. Had been to Fort Mcarthur a few years ago and really enjoyed buying and selling at the flea market, Been collecting and using since 1948 when I got my BC-455 and started listening. Like to get in the swing again since I still have about 30 stations left and am cutting back on the hardware. Just went to the Prescott hamfest and had a few mil rigs there and no one recognized them for what they were. Keep in touch and let me know when you are having events as I have lost contact with W7QHO Dennis, that kept me informed of events.
Hi Norman – Thanks for checking in….Fun in the sun! Camping, mil radios and hamming are a great combination..
You might check out the MRCG website for info on our events (but we usually make our own): http://www.mrcgwest.org/
73 & have fun..Tim