Jake runs 20 watts into a 13-foot, shorted halfwave vertical mounted on the back of the bike

Rare 'pedestrian radio' contact between the USA and UK

This rare contact took place between Monument, Colorado and Essex in the UK.

Jake, N0LX/Bike Mobile, said he just heard Tom, G0SBW who was Pedestrian Mobile on 18157 kHz SSB.

I thought it was a joke, he said, the bands seemed dead for the past week.

Then Gary, N5ANF/pm heard him. He was really there! I tried to contact him with my 50 watt backpack radio and 10-foot whip antenna but he could not hear me.

Jake headed for a baseball field near by. There was no game being played on the field at the time. He heard Tom calling and walked to the focus of the baseball backstop fence, near home plate. The backstop was about 45 feet high and ‘pointed’ northeast. The bright idea worked out, Tom heard his call and responded. It was weak but readable.

Then Jake saw another 30-foot backstop that was ‘pointed’ in a slightly different direction and walked over to it; it worked much better.

"This baseball backstop is the ultimate HF Pack antenna accessory", he said.

• Visit Jake's website for lots of useful ideas and information on pedestrian and bicycle mobile operation

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