Signal mirrors and long distance flashing

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Signal mirrors and long distance flashing

Postby Norm5710 » Wed Jul 09, 2014 4:22 pm

Is anyone using their signal mirror as more than a rescue item? I work at Mt. Wilson and enjoy signaling friends and family down below with an 11 inch mirror. Yesterday we reached 31 miles from the mountain to the west end of the San Fernando Valley. It wasn't even a clear day, but it was easily seen. I would like to coordinate a signal from here to San Jacinto next week on Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon. Will anyone be willing to participate and video the signal or flash back with a mirror of their own? I have a spotting scope and binoculars so I should be able to pick out any signal at that distance. Mt. Wilson has the TV and radio towers and historic observatory on it. They should be visible from there pretty easily with binoculars. I have wifi signal from several places here on the mtn. and can text messages, (esp. to an iphone), but if you don't get signal there, we will have to coordinate a time to signal. Let me know also if you hike San Gorgonio, Palomar, Baldy or any other prominent peaks or locations with line of sight to Mt. Wilson.

Thanks, Norm
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Postby Florian » Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:02 pm

This sounds like fun. I'd like to participate. You're not a radio amateur by any chance? We could talk simplex or meet on a repeater. I like to talk to the Catalina repeater from San Jacinto.

-Florian
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Distance plot from Mt. WIlson to San Jacinto

Postby Norm5710 » Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:38 pm

It's 84 miles from peak to peak so it will shatter my distance record so far. The nice thing is that we are well above the haze of the valleys and have a clearer line of sight. Here is a link to the line of sight.

http://tinyurl.com/o2qz5at

Norm
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Postby Florian » Wed Jul 09, 2014 6:46 pm

Looks good. SJ peak or Black Mtn fire lookout next week work good for me.

-Florian
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Re: Signal mirrors and long distance flashing

Postby Andy » Wed Sep 17, 2014 6:48 am

I was curious if you two ever went through with this test?
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Re: Signal mirrors and long distance flashing

Postby Florian » Wed Sep 17, 2014 7:08 pm

Andy wrote:I was curious if you two ever went through with this test?

Hi Andy. Timing didn't work our for me. But i'd still like to try sometime.

-Florian
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Re: Signal mirrors and long distance flashing

Postby momphrare » Thu Oct 16, 2014 1:34 pm

I'm also curious if this will work, keep me posted as well. :wink:
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Re: Signal mirrors and long distance flashing

Postby zippetydude » Mon Dec 01, 2014 6:39 pm

I brought a mirror up on San Bernardino Peak a few years back and flashed directly to my house in Yucaipa. It was remarkably easy to see (they flashed back to me as well) and it wasn't overly hard to aim. I'd like to trade signals from the top of San G and the top of San J one of these days. I may do San G this weekend, if so I'll post and see if anyone wants to flash back and forth. Could be fun!

z
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Re: Signal mirrors and long distance flashing

Postby Florian » Tue Dec 02, 2014 6:17 pm

I can see San Gorgonio from my house. San Jacinto have to drive a little but still easy. Anytime you want try let me know.

-Florian
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Re: Signal mirrors and long distance flashing

Postby Hikin_Jim » Thu Dec 04, 2014 4:00 pm

zippetydude wrote: I'd like to trade signals from the top of San G and the top of San J one of these days.
OK, now that would be cool.

Another obvious place to "flash" from would be the Washington "monument" on the flanks of San Bernardino Peak. Colonel Washington chose this spot quite deliberately because of it's views.

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