Alpha - Ham Radio Power Trail Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

CaneMaster: After a ten year run, this series (and area) has (have) been cached out for all but the very newest of geocachers. It is time to archive this series and to make room for a new one which will be fun for new and old geocachers alike.

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Hidden : 2/21/2011
Difficulty:
1 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:


INTRODUCING THE HAM RADIO POWER TRAIL SERIES

This cache is the first (1st) of over twenty six (26) caches hidden approximately one tenth of a mile (or so) apart along an 11 mile paved jogging/cycling trail.

PURPOSE:

In hiding and maintaining this series of geocaches we have the following purposes in mind:

1. Health & Fitness: To help folks get fit and healthy by giving them a fun reason to get out hiking, walking, jogging, or cycling on a wonderful 11 mile paved fitness trail which goes around the Pelahatchie Bay portion of the Ross Barnett Reservoir.

2. HAM Radio: To help folks learn about another fun hobby which many Mississippi Geocachers, including the CaneMaster Family, are into, called Amateur Radio or HAM Radio. Each cache page in this series will introduce a different aspect of Ham Radio.

3. Power Trail Challenge: To give geocachers a new Challenge to complete. Once you have found all of the HAM Radio Power Trail caches you qualify to receive the coordinates to the HAM Radio Power Trail Challenge cache, which contains a congratulatory certificate suitable for framing.

5. Alphanumerical Challenge Assistance: To give assistance to geocachers who need fresh letters and/or numbers to complete the various Alphabet and Number Challenges in Mississippi.

THE CACHES:

The Plan:

To hide a large number of the caches in this series with-in a tenth of a mile of each other all the way around the entire trail. Due to logistic problems (a few other caches nearby, poor hiding spots, high water, etc) some of the caches in this series will be up to a third of a mile apart.

We are hoping that you will park your car at the small parking spot near the first cache in this series (Alpha - HAM Radio Power Trail) and hunt for each cache in its alphanumeric order. We are also hoping that you will use this series to get in shape by cycling, jogging, hiking, or simply walking through the entire series or as much of it as your current level of health and fitness allows.

The first 26 geocaches in this series are named using the standard Phonetic Alphabet used by Amateur Radio operators: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Golf, Hotel, India, Juliet, Kilo, Lima, Mike, November, Oscar, Papa, Quebec, Romeo, Sierra, Tango, Uniform, Victor, Whiskey, Xray, Yankee, and Zulu. The rest are named after special types of Ham Radio usage, or the call signs of Mississippi geocachers who are also licensed Amateur Radio Operators (HAMs).

Each cache page will introduce a different aspect of HAM Radio.

Locations:

Some of these caches are hidden very close to the trail and even right on the small bridges which take the trail over various small streams. Some are also hidden a short distance inside the tree line and others are a little deeper into the woods. We have attempted to place all of these above the reservoir flood plain, but in a few places you might want to wear rubber boots during the rainy season. A few are also hidden on the railing of the larger street bridges.

Containers:

Primarily we used bison tubes, magnetic key safes. However, we also made good use of a few fake utility plates and a few of those infinitesimally small magnetic nanos. You will need to bring your own pen for all of the caches in this series.

Tip:

The hardest part of bison tubes is putting the small rolled up log back in them after signing. If you place the rolled up log inside the tube first then the cap wont fit! This is because the inside of the tube is a bit wider than the inside of the cap. When you put the log in the tube it unrolls slightly and the cap wont fit. The SECRET to making it fit is to roll the log up tightly and place one end of it inside the cap first. That holds it tight enough for you to slip the tube over the other end of the log and then screw the two parts together.

Additionally, most our bison tubes’ caps are permanently strapped to a tree or tree limb which means that you will have to unscrew the tube from cap and not the other way around.

LOGISTICS:

The Trail:

The entire trail is paved and is used by a good many people for cycling, jogging, hiking, walking, and now Geocaching! A very small part of it runs along side of a few businesses and nice neighborhoods.. However, most of it runs along side a scenic woodland area and a good portion provides a scenic view of the Ross Barnet Reservoir.

This paved trail forms a complete 11 mile circle (more like a square) around the Pelahatchie Bay portion of the Ross Barnett Reservoir. The trail runs in a generally eastward direction along side of Spillway Rd (from Old Fannin Rd/Northshore Parkway to Hwy 471), then it turns left and runs in a generally northern direction along side of Hwy 471 (from Spillway Rd to Northshore Parkway), then it turns left and runs in a generally westward direction along Northshore Parkway (from 471 to the Northshore Parkway bridge), then it curves toward the left and runs in a generally southwestern direction as it crosses over the Northshore Parkway bridge and eventually reaches the starting point back at the intersection of Old Fannin Rd/Northshore Parkway and Spillway Rd (near McDonalds).

Parking:

The following coordinates give the location of the parking spot closest to the first cache in this series (Alpha - HAM Radio) N 32°22.7479 ' W089°58.8211 '

There are only a few legal parking locations along this trail! This forces you to cycle, jog, hike, or walk along the trail from one cache to the next (and thus get in shape, which is one of the main purposes of this series). Do not park in front of any houses, or along the side of the roads, or along the side of the trail (except in the designated trail parking locations). If you do your car will get towed off fairly quickly in this area. Only use the Trail’s Parking locations and nearby recreational or business parking lots near the trail.

ETIQUETTE:

As always please put everything back exactly as you found it.

Please pick up and take out any trash you find during your hunt so that we can give back to the community and earn their respect for our hobby.

Since this trail gets a good bit of use by cyclists, joggers, and walkers, please use the utmost stealth to insure that muggles don’t discover our caches. Its always a bummer hunting for a cache for a long time only to discover its been muggled. So please do your part to insure that this series remains fun for those who come hunting after you.

SUGGESTIONS:

As always when hiking, jogging, cycling, or walking long distances, dress appropriately for the weather, activity and length of time you will be spending on the activity.

If you plan to hunt for a large number of these all in one hike/jog/cycle session then you might want to bring a cell phone (or HAM Radio) with you in case you need to contact someone in the event of an emergency.

During hot weather you might want to bring along with you adequate water, sunscreen, and mosquito repellant.

During the rainy season you might want to wear rubber boots for some of these caches.

You might want to bring a camera for some of the more scenic portions of the trail.

Don’t forget to bring a pen to sign the logs with.

There are several other older caches located either along this trail or in close proximity to it. While you are in the area you might want to give them a try too.

THIS CACHE:

Alpha - Ham Radio Power Trail

This cache is hidden a short distance into the woods. The type of container used for this specific cache can be discovered by reading the following “Introduction to Ham Radio.”

INTRODUCTION TO HAM RADIO

Ham Radio is a fun hobby with a wide variety of avenues available for expression and exploration. We will be exploring these in subsequent Ham Radio Power Trail cache pages. This first installment will take the form of a brief introductory FAQ

Ham Radio FAQ:

1. Who are Amateur Radio operators or Hams?

Anyone you know could be an Amateur Radio operator or "ham" --no matter what age, gender or physical ability. From ages 8 to 80, people in many countries of the world can have fun as radio amateurs. A good number of Geocachers are also Ham Radio Operators. I personally know of eight geocachers in the Jackson, MS area who are also Ham Radio Operators. If you've ever had fun with CB radio or trying new things with your computer, wait till you see what you can do with ham radio!

2. What Can I Do With Ham Radio?

You can communicate from the top of a mountain, your home, behind the wheel of your car, or even via a hand held radio while out geocaching on foot. You can take radio wherever you go! You can talk across town, across your county, across your state, across your country, you can even talk to folks in other countries across the globe and there is NO monthly phone bill or monthly internet service provider fee to do so! Once you buy a radio it’s free communication from then on out.

In times of disaster, when regular communications channels fail, hams can swing into action assisting emergency communications efforts and working with public service agencies. There is a common saying among Ham radio Operators; “When all else fails...Ham Radio!” During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina Ham Radio operators were the only ones able to communicate information to and from disaster victims, and public service agencies operating on the Gulf Coast and in New Orleans. Even farther north in Jackson, MS while land lines were down and cell phone use was unreliable, Ham Radio Operators were able to communicate with, check up on, and assist one another.

What else can you do with Ham Radio? You can talk to International Space Station and Space Shuttle astronauts. You can send the world’s longest echo by bouncing a transmission of your voice off the moon and waiting for it to return back to your radio. You can use telegraphy (Morse Code), voice, digital (E-mail, FAX, BBS Bulletin Boards) even images and video, in communication with other hams over the air waves without the Internet or phones),. Know any other hobby with so much to offer? And this is just the tip of the iceberg. I’ll give a more comprehensive list on a subsequent Ham Radio Power Trail cache page.

3. Why Do I need A License?

Although the main purpose of the hobby is fun, it is called the "Amateur Radio Service" because it also has a serious face. The FCC created the "Service" to fill the need for a pool of experts who could provide backup emergency communications in times of need. In addition, the FCC acknowledged the ability of the hobby to advance communication and technical knowledge, and enhance international goodwill.

4. What will this cost me?

A basic new handheld radio can cost $100 to $200. A new mobile radio for your vehicle can cost $140 and up. Flea market bargains can cost a lot less. A new tabletop multi-band unit for your home radio shack can cost about the same as the PC you're reading this on. Materials to get you started are relatively inexpensive, and the exam fee you'll pay when you're ready to test is nominal. Remember, unlike Land Line Phone service, Cell Phone service, and Internet service, there are NO MONTHLY FEES to communicate around the world, just the cost of your equipment.

5. Who can help me out?

Amateur Radio clubs are located all over the US and are eager to help the newcomer get started. If you prefer to study alone, the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) website and study guides are invaluable in helping you find the fast track to on-the-air enjoyment. ARRL Website: (visit link)

If you live in Mississippi there are several Ham Radio clubs you can contact for more information. Some of them offer classes to prepare interested persons for the license exams.

SCARC - Scott County Amateur Radio Club - (visit link)

CMARA - Central Mississippi Amateur Radio Association - (visit link)

JARC - Jackson Amateur Radio Club - (visit link)

6. When was Amateur Radio started?

Nobody knows when Amateur Radio operators were first called "hams," but we do know that Amateur Radio is as old as the history of radio itself. Camouflaged bison tube. In 1912, Congress passed the first laws regulating radio transmissions in the US. By 1914, amateur experimenters were communicating nation-wide, and setting up a system to relay messages from coast to coast.

7. I don't have a lot of time. Can I still enjoy the hobby?

You bet! The beauty of ham radio is it can fit the time, space, and budget that YOU decide is right for you. It's got that low stress, high fun ratio that many busy people seek in their off-hours. It can also be great family fun or a solitary pleasure.

8. Where can I read more?
(visit link)
(visit link)

9. Please check out the next cache in this series for more information about Ham Radio.

Bravo - Ham Radio Power Trail

---

Congratulations to Eagle700 and his son Lucky52 for being the First to Find (FTF) this and a total of twelve (12) of our twenty six (26) plus Ham Radio Power Trail caches. The rest of the caches in this series extend all the way around the trail and across the old railroad trestle. We expect them to be approved very soon, so keep an eye out for them.

Congratulations to WarEagle59, a fellow Amateur Radio Operator (call-sign: KD5NSA) for being the First Ham to Find (FHTF) this and a total of eight (8) of our twenty six Ham Radio Power Trail caches.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Gur glcr bs pbagnvare hfrq sbe guvf fcrpvsvp pnpur pna or qvfpbirerq ol ernqvat gur “Vagebqhpgvba gb Unz Enqvb.”

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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