Until next summer when I'll likely be mobile HF, VHF, UHF something! Sometimes bicycle, sometimes truck camper. 'Til then, the very best 73's to you and hope to QSO with you on HF somewhere on the lower bands: 20 or 40. KE1THR

History: (summer 2011)

Originally licensed in the mid '70s (Antrim, NH - WA1TGV) I let it lapse. Just recently I retested and made it to Amateur Extra. (now in Joseph, OR)

Back in the 70's I never would have been able to carry a full rig setup covering HF, VHF, and UHF on a bicycle. So this summer I'll have everything and begin a fairly long bicycle tour from Whittier, Alaska to Anchorage to Fairbanks and on to Brownsville, TX leaving on May 12. Five months and about 8000 miles. Periodically I'll be on 17, 20, 40 and 80meters and be looking for local contacts on 2 meters and 440. I'm also APRS for the entire trip. See www.aprs.fi and type in KE1THR-4 or -9in the search box or click HERE. You can select different time periods also. There will be places in the northern reaches which will have major gaps.

The two radios I'll be carrying: Yaesu VX-6R handheld 3 band and Yaesu FT-857 mostly for HF. Photos show the Outbacker Stealth-Plus antenna for HF and a 2 meter/440 whip for APRS and higher power VHF/UHF contacts. Power = dry cell 17AH battery and flexible solar panel for recharging. These photos are in my home town of Joseph, OR where Scott, KB7DZR helped with the build.

During my tour, updates will be posted on this site. www.wallowaavalanchecenter.org/cycletour

My Winter time job is with the Wallowa Avalanche Center in Joseph, Oregon.

These bands/freq. will be likely places to find me during the tour. Band conditions and MY conditions may cause me to miss some check-ins. Remember I'm on a bicycle without any cover from rain/wind/etc. When within reach of local 2M/440 repeaters I'll be monitoring them.

Tuesday's and Friday's: I'll try to check in with the following nets at the published times. Pacific Daylight Time. On/after May 13th.

80 meters: BC/Yukon net 3716 @8:30pm PDT; I'm having trouble tuning up on 80 meters so this may not be the place to look for me.

20 meters: Maritime net 14.300 around 8 pm PDT,or I will try 14.292 around same time

40 meters: Noontime net 7268.5 @ 12 noon PDT (in and out and random days, not necessarily Tues./Fri.)

40 meters: Until just before Watson Lake 130W I'll be checking in on 7.093 the Bush Net at 8pm AK time.

Keeping in touch with my hometown HAM buddies and anyone else who wants to join in Tuesday's and Friday's on the following:

20 meters: 14.157 1900-1910 PDT (Extra only)

17 meters: 18.157 1910-1920 PDT (General and above)

40 meters: 7.157 1920-1930 PDT (Advanced and Extra)

These different bands and times (hometown) are for conditions. Once I get a QSO going on the first available band I just stay there and ragchew for the evening. Likely if contacts are made on 14.157 I'll have folks move to 17 meters if it's open.

I made some great HAM friends in AK and YT. I was able to join the AK Bush Net on 7.093 MHz quite a number of times. And made contacts with friends back in Joseph on 20 and 17 meters. Numerous contacts on 2 meters locally (AK and YT) and through the well established irlp AK network.

73, Keith, KE1THR