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Updated Tuesday, January 10, 2012
June Contest W3CCX Beacons


Monday Night Nets

The Pack Rats initiated VHF nets on Monday night the first year the club was formed. The nets are open to all radio amateurs, the purpose is to promote activity and share information of interest to the VHF community. You do not have to be a member of the club to participate in any of the Pack Rat nets!

TIME (Local) Frequency Net Control Station Alternate Net Control Station
7:30 PM 50.145 K3EOD (FM29II) WA3QPX
8:00 PM 144.150 N3ITT (FN20KL)  
8:30 PM 222.125 KB1JEY (FN20JE)
8:30 PM 224.58R W3GXB (FN20JM)  KB1JEY
9:00 PM 432.110 WB2RVX (FM29MT) WA3GFZ
9:30 PM 1296.100 K3TRUF (FN10WE)  
10:00 PM 903.125 OPEN OPEN

 


June Contest Information and Pictures

Map to Camelback

Cotner Trailers
Map to Cotner Trailers
Directions to W3GXB

Each June finds the Pack Rats at some remote location with three yellow rental trucks full of radio equipment. The Pack Rats have been operating as a club during the June QSO Party contest for over 30 years. For about the first 20 years it was from the old civic grounds in the center of Hilltown, PA, EPA Section. Then it was Valley Forge Mountain, PA (EPA Section) , Spruce Knob, WVA (4863 Feet) (FM08), Chestnut Ridge (2405 feet) near Taterville, PA (Clearfield County) in FN01 and most recently from atop Camelback Mountain, Big Pocono State Park in Tannersville, PA (FN21). The pictures below are a small sample of the Pack Rat contest efforts over the years.


Pack Rat Beacons

Beacon Logo
W3CCX/B

FM29JW

N 39o 57.266' W 75o 10.733'

Philadelphia, PA

 

The Pack Rats operate 10 VHF/UHF/Microwave beacons which serve as propagation indicators and allow weak signal operators to test their receivers even when there is no other activity on the bands. The Beacons are located on top of a high rise building in center city Philadelphia in grid square FM29JW.

VHF/UHF Beacons
Frequency
50.080 MHz
144.284 MHz
222.065 MHz
432.288 MHz
Power Level
0.3 Watts
4 Watts
4 Watts
5 Watts
Antenna
3 Ele. Halo
Single Loop
Single Loop
Big Wheel

Microwave Beacons
Frequency 903.073 MHz 1296.251 MHz 2304.043 MHz 3456.204 MHz 5760.196 MHz 10368.045 MHZ
Power Level 5 Watts 5 Watts 1 Watt 5 Watts 5 Watts 1/2 Watt
Antenna Little Wheel Alford Slot 8 Slot 16 Slot 32 Slot 32 Slot

Latest W3SZ Beacon Frequency Observations - Excel Spreadsheet

 Warning: Do not use these frequencies to calibrate your pace maker.
The beacons are in an unheated/uncooled room and are subject to day to day frequency changes. Use common sense.