AllDay T-Hunt Jan. 28, 2006  By WB6JPI

 

 

 

What a beautiful Day 

 

My back has been bothering me, but with enough pills to numb an army, I plowed on to the start. Got a good signal pointed right at Mt. Baldy and noticed the airplane fade. Vertical pol seemed about 1 dB better than Horizontal, but not much difference. Definitely a bounce.

 

Took a pleasant route to the 91 FWY and at green river the bearing was still off toward Baldy and the Cajon Pass. But it never wavered to other peaks like San Gorgonio or Crestline. Began to worry that it wasn’t over the hill, but was in San Diego county. On to Corona where I did hear something to the south as well as the “baldy Bounce”.

 

After a nice free lunch with Scott (I had to show my Bovitz guitar pick) I went down to Lake Ellsinore, no signal at all…mistake. On back north to Hwy 138 in the Cajon Pass where I decided that the transmitter was at Lake Silverwood and went east. Realize that it never shifted peaks or bearings. It must be local and not hundreds of miles away. …mistake. Off thru Hesperia and on to Barstow.

 

By now it is 4PM and things are still not looking too good. Weak signal, high gas prices, sore back, Bearing off toward Death Valley.  Bah..

 

Beautiful day, right time of the year for Death Valley, and also have a decision. The bearing goes thru Fort Irwin on its way to Death Valley. If I go to ft Irwin first, I must come back to the 15 FWY on to Baker before going north again. I pondered, and pondered. I decided that no one would hide a 500+ mile hunt with gas costing over $2.50/gal and went on to Ft Irwin….mistake.

 

At the guard gate I had 30 dB of attenuator, great signal but clearly the transmitter was in Death Valley. Rather than the 100 mile trip around to Death Valley, I opted to go home. Had a nice steak dinner with Marlene.  Not a mistake..

Jippy WB6JPI