There are hundreds of counties which have not a single Amateur in it, and maybe dozens of them even without permanent inhabitants. So we chased mobile stations.
I had a very good, detailed Rand McNally US road map (~60 pages),
And once I catch a mobile station not far from "tough" needed county - I used to give that US vehicle driver a directions, with road numbers and distances, asking him to go to that county, and "activate" it.
Counties usually have road signs marking county-line.
So the mobile just enter into new county, and makes a new, another contact with me. :)
Giving me one more. Step-by-step to 3144
Plus, it had to be at the right time of the day, on the right frequency band, to have a good enough radio-propagation conditions between USA and Europe.
Yes, this was two radio was the chat in that era. Long distance calls were expensive so having a radio and talking to someone from across the globe was as exciting when internet chats came out.
That's 3,144 counties!
Just imagining the dedication and patience needed to make two-way radio contact with every single one of them is mind-blowing.
Respect to anyone who’s pulled this off that’s not a hobby, that’s a legacy.
Ham radio legends in action!
There are hundreds of counties which have not a single Amateur in it, and maybe dozens of them even without permanent inhabitants. So we chased mobile stations.
I had a very good, detailed Rand McNally US road map (~60 pages),
And once I catch a mobile station not far from "tough" needed county - I used to give that US vehicle driver a directions, with road numbers and distances, asking him to go to that county, and "activate" it.
Counties usually have road signs marking county-line.
So the mobile just enter into new county, and makes a new, another contact with me. :)
Giving me one more. Step-by-step to 3144
Plus, it had to be at the right time of the day, on the right frequency band, to have a good enough radio-propagation conditions between USA and Europe.
It was a challenge.
Impressive work indeed, but somehow I am not surprised coming from you. 😜
That's incredible!
That level of strategy, coordination and patience is pure dedication.
Giving road directions across the Atlantic just to “activate” a county contact? Radio chess at its finest!
Huge respect for chasing 3144 one transmission at a time.
It looks like a tricky challenge ;-).
Yes, this was two radio was the chat in that era. Long distance calls were expensive so having a radio and talking to someone from across the globe was as exciting when internet chats came out.
That’s not just dedication that’s legendary ham radio history in the making. Total radio mastery.
That’s not just a hobby… that’s dedication on a national level!
Seriously impressive.
This is hilarious
Probably a lot of noise... or a party. :))
i can only imagine