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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Trains are tough! They follow valleys, rivers, and such. And, are almost always in the lowest spots!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>You need to travel in an observation car if available! It will be a bit higher and have less shielding around you. Not only will the radio get better coverage, your eyes will too! </span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:Wingdings;color:#1F497D'>J</span><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> Too bad if this is not an option!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>A better-than-HT-antenna (1/4 – 1/2 wave?) and more power should help.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>If you look into building a battery pack, you may want to look at this page, <a href="http://oh8stn.org/">http://oh8stn.org/</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I am a fan of LiFePO4 batteries and am considering building a pack myself. A 4S pack would be a good voltage, then just add capacity. These two items may be of interest.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="http://www.batteryspace.com/LiFePO4-40152SE-Cell-3.2V-15-Ah-150ASurge-Rate-48Wh-with-6M-screw-Termin.aspx">http://www.batteryspace.com/LiFePO4-40152SE-Cell-3.2V-15-Ah-150ASurge-Rate-48Wh-with-6M-screw-Termin.aspx</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="http://www.batteryspace.com/LiFePO4-40152SE-Cell-3.2V-15-Ah-150ASurge-Rate-48Wh-with-6M-screw-Termin.aspx">http://www.batteryspace.com/LiFePO4-40152SE-Cell-3.2V-15-Ah-150ASurge-Rate-48Wh-with-6M-screw-Termin.aspx</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Buddipole has built battery packs. They are build using the A123Systems batteries. They may do a custom configuration. They use 3.2V cells.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Best regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Fred N7FMH<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> aprssig [mailto:aprssig-bounces@tapr.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Robert Bruninga<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, May 31, 2018 10:08 PM<br><b>To:</b> TAPR APRS Mailing List<br><b>Subject:</b> [aprssig] APRS on Amtrak, DC to Minneapolis<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>ANyone have experience with 5 watts on the Capital limited and Empire Builder AMTRAK routes, DC to Minneapolis?<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>My 5 watts was abysmal from DC to Connecticut (a few hits in 6 hours), so I guess I should pack a 25 watt Amp?<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>with antenna taped in the window. I have a month til I go to build a battery pack for the current.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>In fact, maybe I should build a nice Train-Go-Kit which includes the battery pack and power distribution center for all the other stuff I want to plugin while I RELAX!<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Too bad I cannot run a cable out the back of the last car for a magmount HF antenna...;-)<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Bob<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>WB4APR<o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div><div id="DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2"><br />
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