0 R.A.O.T.A. Recap 11/24/2011

Well it went sort of like this. KF5FEI and I showed up at the rest stop just before 5 am CST. 
We got set up and the noise from the lights lighting up the rest stop was horrible. 
Way to much for SSB even with DSB, oh well so I waited for daylight. Bill was setup for PSK31 and 
not having much better luck with all the noise. As daylight arrived the band started to wake up with 
it. Bill made a handful of contacts and I could hear a lot on phone but no one heard me.
I switched to Bill's antenna and spun the dial to 14.325 and called CQ. Well VK3LAA came back 
and answered my call. That's right VK. Problem was that he was not in Australia but off the coast of 
Mexico. In a boat, dead in the water and looking for help. Bill started looking on how to get a hold 
of the Coast Guard while I was talking to him getting to location and his current status. He was in a
35 foot sailboat but his motor was not working and he is adrift with no winds. Well Bill got a hold of
the USCG in California and we were relaying information back and forth. The USCG was trying to 
raise the Mexican Coast Guard as VK3LAA was having no luck on Maritime VHF. Bill then called
Scott McBain to see if we could find a club member with a base station and maybe a beam that might
be better suited, remember we were portable at a rest stop south of Fort Worth. Robert AD5VJ 
signed on and took over the lead as he was able to get with the folks over on 14.300 with the 
Maritime Mobile Net. They in turn got in contact with all their support personnel and got him the 
help he needed. I signed off with VK3LAA as he was in very good hands. I spun the dial again and 
made contacts with CA and MO. We then called it a day, packed up and headed for Turkey time.



     Just your average day and the rest stop...........


73's
Jon N5JLD

0 Burleson Rest Stop Activation 11/24/2011

N5JLD & KF5FEI

Will be activating the Burleson Texas Rest Area
as part of the Rest Stops On The Air

on 11/24/2011
The rest stop is located on Interstate 35W @ exit 31

• Grid Square = Em12il
• IH 35W - North Bound, South of Burleson
• Latitude = 32.4733 Longitude = -97.2719
• Milepost: 33

We will be in operation from 11:00 utc (5:00 am CST) until 17:00 utc (11:00 am CST)

We will be starting on 20 meters @ 14.290 +/- QRM

We may also try 10 meters @ 28.390 +/- QRM

And 40 meters @ 7.290 +/- QRM

QSL via LOTW, EQSL or direct via callsign

Follow N5JLD on Twitter for last minute updates and frequencies.

73's
Jon N5JLD