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  1. Travel
  2. Apr '25 DN07
  3. Nov '24 DN19-29
  4. April '23 CN76
  5. Sept '22 CN76
  6. May '22 CN93
  7. Feb '22 CN93
  8. Jan VHF '22
  9. Dec '21 CN78
  10. Aug '21 CN76
  11. July '21 CN78
  12. May '21 Ely, NV
  13. July '20 CN98
  14. June '20 DN08
  15. June '20 N7G
  16. July '19 DN27-07
  17. Sept '18 CN98
  18. June '18 DN08
  19. June '18 DN22-43
  20. June '18 EN02
  21. June '18 Article
  22. June '18 EM87
  23. Summer '17
  24. Sept '16 CN87
  25. Apr '14 CN82-92
  26. Mar '14 Plan
  27. Jan VHF '14
  28. Jan '13
  29. Oct '12
  30. May '12
  31. Jan VHF '12
  32. Sept '11
  33. June '11
  34. May '11
  35. April '11 CN97
  36. March '11 CN97

DN07rm Coffee Pot Ridge
Eastern Washington
April 22, 2025

Ed N7PHY and I made a shakedown cruise to DN07rm Coffee Pot Ridge in eastern Washington on April 21-23. The goal was to see if we can operate on different bands while a few yards apart, and to test our camping gear in preparation for a bigger trip together next month.

Coffee Pot Ridge

We set up on a high spot in the scab lands 50 miles west of Spokane and 30 miles north of I-90, on a bluff above Twin Lakes, a popular local fishing hole.

Ed operated 2m and HF, while I made contacts on 6m with a large antenna and high power. We were only ten yards apart. The flags on yellow sticks mark the directions to metro centers.

Barry K7BWH and Ed N7PHY on their shakedown cruise to DN07rm Coffee Pot Ridge

Interference

If I turned my antenna toward his radio, the noise floor came up a little, but Ed's transmitters didn't affect me. If they did, we both came prepared with additional bandpass and lowpass filters we could put in line. Next month, all we have to do is arrange our campsite so our antennas don't look at each other's rig for most of the paths we expect to use.

Solar Panels

I have 5 kWh of LiFePO4 batteries and, importantly, 800 watts of untested solar panels. This trip was my chance to run my new solar panels in field conditions. After all, our trip next month to Big Bend National Park prohibits using generators. In DN07, we enjoyed mid-60s temperatures and clear skies. It was a relief to find the panels produced 500-600 watts of power with almost no effect on the received noise floor.

After operating FT8 at high power all day long, it was a welcome surprise to find my 48v battery was fully charged. Until today, I've never been able to charge while operating (the Victron MultiPlus charger from any 120vac source has far too much RFI).

In case you're interested in what worked well, my new charging system is:

Renogy solar panels provide up to 800 watts for Barry K7BWH at DN07rm Coffee Pot Ridge

Earth-Moon-Earth

My equipment worked well: IC-7300 with a DEMI LNA, 7-el LFA, and kilowatt SSPA. However, after running for an hour with another station on the moon, we did not see or hear each other. The moon conditions were not good - degradation of 3.2 is a bit too high for two "small" stations of about my size to work each other.

Terrestrial

DN07 is not rare on 6m and PNW propagation was poor. However, I worked one ham that was desperately in need of this grid, so that was nice. Otherwise, there were several contacts into Seattle and to 400-800 miles out in most directions.

Finally, we tested lots of software and camping gear and van-loading arrangements. For example, I started storing antenna elements on my van's roof, which is 9' 6" high. Coincidentally, I'm the proud new owner of a 12-foot telescoping ladder.

Summary

I'm looking forward to our big adventure in DL88 next month. Ed and I leave May 12th and will be on the air May 20-25, chosen for its low degradation with the moon. Wish us luck and cool weather. Mostly cool weather.

73 Barry K7BWH
 
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