Hi guys. Yes, I'm alive and well.
I have not had internet access (Except on my phone) for several days since I've moved here. And teaching has taken up 90% of my time. Ziply Fiber is so disappointing. They say they will get around to hooking up to the new place, yet after days of follow-ups, zippo and nada and zilch. So I'm having to use Wifi at a coffee shop!! And I will be calling Sparklight early next week (the former Cable One) to see if they can get out here faster.
Cascade, Idaho is in Valley County, 60 miles north of Boise. It is a DX paradise for FM. I live about 2 blocks from a 3-watt translator on 90.9 (K215BN), but the rest of the band is fine. There are several channels where I haven't heard any DX yet because it's so wide open here. Aircraft and tropo scatter happens several times an hour and usually results in Spokane, KXDD 104.1 Yakima, occasionally Tri-Cities, and often KMGI-102.5 Pocatello. Other Eastern ID stations have been heard too. Have not hooked anything up for AM yet. I will be starting that in September. The KA7U SDR in Weiser should be a reference to everyone as to what I should pick up in Cascade/McCall.
So far the FM log stands at 102 stations as of today, August 24th. I did have Perseids Ms on 8/12, several stations logged on the TEF. All from NE, BTW!
- 98.9 KKPR Kearney (RDS)
- 98.5 KHAQ Maxwell (RDS)
- 99.9 KGOR Omaha (song match)
- 98.1 KFGE Lincoln (RDS)
- 99.7 KOGA Ogallala (song match)
For non-meteor scatter, the furthest DX has been KBBZ-98.5 and KHNK-95.9 from the Kalispell area, and KPQ-102.1 Wenatchee WA. Both in the 280 mile range. Tentative on X96 (96.3) KXRK Salt Lake, 300+ miles. I have heard KYPL, KDNA and KXDD from Yakima. KOLU Pasco (90.1) is common on scatter and often quite strong. Spokane is in the 220 mile range, and KDRK-93.7 is often the strongest when the scatter pops up.
Logan UT should be possible on 92.9, but not yet. Nor have I heard anything from Bozeman, Butte, or Jackson WY. I'd think KAAR-92.5 (or even KZHR-92.5) would have been heard by now. Nah. But I will be back at the lake later today and try from my favorite hidden beach.
I went on a hike yesterday north of McCall, a place called Box Lake. Elevation about 7200 with a 300 foot downhill trail to the lake. 100s of little spotted frogs, tadpoles, and even a garter snake noted at the lake. *It is bear country - but no bears or big game noted.* The first 3/4ths of the trail only had Boise, Baker City and McCall on FM. At the lake, weak Spokane, strong Grangeville (KGVI 89.5, KORT 92.7, the 1230 AM translator on 96.9, KKRH 90.9), Lewiston, KIYE-88.7 Kamiah noted. KIYE has been heard already at Cascade (~140 mi). But it was COLD and it started to rain on my way back for about 10 minutes. The wildflower show was marvelous. Pictures whenever I can get internet at home.
Many nearby recreational areas have been shut down for weeks due to wildfires. A 25,000-acre wildfire is one of them. We are often socked in smoke and the air quality ranges from moderate to unhealthy. That (for the most part) leaves the north, Donnelly/McCall area, as the only area available for recreation. Brundage Mountain is popular around here but I haven't been there yet. I plan on doing another hike to the north on Labor Day weekend. Thinking Jughandle Mtn, which is an easy scramble across a 30-foot wide cliffside of granite. Or into the West Mountains, if they can get a handle on the Boulder Fire and the area reopens. Tripod Lookout near Smiths Ferry (closed right now) is easily accessible and over 8K feet.
Hopefully everyone is doing well, and I look forward to reporting more from this new oasis for radio and DX!
Grid square - DN14xm.
I have not had internet access (Except on my phone) for several days since I've moved here. And teaching has taken up 90% of my time. Ziply Fiber is so disappointing. They say they will get around to hooking up to the new place, yet after days of follow-ups, zippo and nada and zilch. So I'm having to use Wifi at a coffee shop!! And I will be calling Sparklight early next week (the former Cable One) to see if they can get out here faster.
Cascade, Idaho is in Valley County, 60 miles north of Boise. It is a DX paradise for FM. I live about 2 blocks from a 3-watt translator on 90.9 (K215BN), but the rest of the band is fine. There are several channels where I haven't heard any DX yet because it's so wide open here. Aircraft and tropo scatter happens several times an hour and usually results in Spokane, KXDD 104.1 Yakima, occasionally Tri-Cities, and often KMGI-102.5 Pocatello. Other Eastern ID stations have been heard too. Have not hooked anything up for AM yet. I will be starting that in September. The KA7U SDR in Weiser should be a reference to everyone as to what I should pick up in Cascade/McCall.
So far the FM log stands at 102 stations as of today, August 24th. I did have Perseids Ms on 8/12, several stations logged on the TEF. All from NE, BTW!
- 98.9 KKPR Kearney (RDS)
- 98.5 KHAQ Maxwell (RDS)
- 99.9 KGOR Omaha (song match)
- 98.1 KFGE Lincoln (RDS)
- 99.7 KOGA Ogallala (song match)
For non-meteor scatter, the furthest DX has been KBBZ-98.5 and KHNK-95.9 from the Kalispell area, and KPQ-102.1 Wenatchee WA. Both in the 280 mile range. Tentative on X96 (96.3) KXRK Salt Lake, 300+ miles. I have heard KYPL, KDNA and KXDD from Yakima. KOLU Pasco (90.1) is common on scatter and often quite strong. Spokane is in the 220 mile range, and KDRK-93.7 is often the strongest when the scatter pops up.
Logan UT should be possible on 92.9, but not yet. Nor have I heard anything from Bozeman, Butte, or Jackson WY. I'd think KAAR-92.5 (or even KZHR-92.5) would have been heard by now. Nah. But I will be back at the lake later today and try from my favorite hidden beach.
I went on a hike yesterday north of McCall, a place called Box Lake. Elevation about 7200 with a 300 foot downhill trail to the lake. 100s of little spotted frogs, tadpoles, and even a garter snake noted at the lake. *It is bear country - but no bears or big game noted.* The first 3/4ths of the trail only had Boise, Baker City and McCall on FM. At the lake, weak Spokane, strong Grangeville (KGVI 89.5, KORT 92.7, the 1230 AM translator on 96.9, KKRH 90.9), Lewiston, KIYE-88.7 Kamiah noted. KIYE has been heard already at Cascade (~140 mi). But it was COLD and it started to rain on my way back for about 10 minutes. The wildflower show was marvelous. Pictures whenever I can get internet at home.
Many nearby recreational areas have been shut down for weeks due to wildfires. A 25,000-acre wildfire is one of them. We are often socked in smoke and the air quality ranges from moderate to unhealthy. That (for the most part) leaves the north, Donnelly/McCall area, as the only area available for recreation. Brundage Mountain is popular around here but I haven't been there yet. I plan on doing another hike to the north on Labor Day weekend. Thinking Jughandle Mtn, which is an easy scramble across a 30-foot wide cliffside of granite. Or into the West Mountains, if they can get a handle on the Boulder Fire and the area reopens. Tripod Lookout near Smiths Ferry (closed right now) is easily accessible and over 8K feet.
Hopefully everyone is doing well, and I look forward to reporting more from this new oasis for radio and DX!
Grid square - DN14xm.
