Remembering Lake Lugert near #AltusOK

According to Wikipedia, Lugert was once a thriving community with a bank, hotels, and a lumberyard.

Now, it normally sits at the bottom of Lake Lugert ... normally ... except there's a drought.

A foundation is one of the few memories remaining from Lugert.

A slab is normally well seen from both the road and the lake.  The overgrowth has it well hidden.

Proof that the lake owns the land normally.

A view from the railway looking to the switch at what is now named Lugert.

Here's Lugert with a pile of rail ties nearby.

One can easily see the lake level is low.

Here's a nice YouTube video of the old town.

Gander and Stranded Americans

If you ever wonder what the @RedCross does, read this and remember.

Red Cross, Salvation Army, your local CERT, Skywarn, and "Civil Defense" works because of volunteers.

If we ALL do something, you don't have to do it all.  Volunteer today, please.

snopes.com: Gander and Stranded Americans:

'via Blog this'

Getting the MOST from 60 meters #ARRL #hamradio

Thanks to Mick, LA5SAA for this information provided to the 60-meter reflector.


In an e-mail I was asked today to give some hints about how to work DX on 60 meters.
Note that I have only a moderate set-up, and that my signal is not very strong in DX.

A computer in the shack is a "must" for me.

To identify who is available in CW I open the Reverse Beacon Network (RBN) for 60 meters and watch it almost continuously:
http://www.reversebeacon.net/dxsd1/dxsd1.php?f=5

To find out which SSB stations I can receive, I scan 5403.5, 5371.5, 5366.5, 5346.5 and 5330.5 with my transceiver (USB). 5330.5 is not allowed in the UK.

I switch my computer periodically to the DX Cluster (DX Summit) where people report stations heard/worked:
http://www.dxsummit.fi/CustomFilter.aspx?customCount=50&customRange=5100

In addition I watch the DX-Atlas (you can use it for free for 30 days). Here I can see which parts in the world have darkness, greyzone or daylight.
You download the program here:
http://www.dxatlas.com/Download.asp

To my experience, DX conditions are often best when USA has darkness and the country in EU has greyzone. However, very long distance contacts (West Coast to EU)
are mainly only possible when both stations are in the greyzone.

You should also check the Solar-Terrestrial Data before you start up. To my opinion the data from Paul L Herrman are most useful.
You find them for free here:
http://www.hamqsl.com/solar.html

You may expect the best condx when the K-index ist low (K=1) and the geomagnetic field is very quiet. However, K=2 is still a good value.

Call cq in cw for about 15 minutes from time to time, and watch if you are being received by any of the skimmers on RBN. If so, stay on that
frequency and continue calling (with pauses) for at least another 15 minutes, because others will look for you. Do NOT be afraid to use low speed.
On 60 most people are polite and adjust their speed according to yours.

Unless you have a booming signal, you must take your time and be patient. Conditions often change very much within minutes.

However, there is often time enough to do some paperwork in the shack, while the procedure is going on.

I hope this was of interest for some of you. Any comments or other suggestions are very much appreciated.

73 es hope to meet you soon!
Mick, LA5SAA