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DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

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wayne burdick

DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

Administrator

Have you seen those cell-phone company maps showing how much of the country they cover? Inevitably, they reveal a patchwork of Dead Zones (DZs): places where coverage is not just bad...it's non-existent.

In such inhospitable realms, your choices are smoke signals, sat phone, or ham radio. This smacks of an opportunity. Hence DZOTA.

DZOTA places are often DeZerted. In fact, they are often in dezerts, in contrast to many of the conspicuous high places typical of SOTA. This may be a benefit to outdoor radio enthusiasts who, when hiking, prefer level ground or even a gentle downward slope. And in an emergency, those hikers might be the only ones around with comms.

Where are the most notorious DZs? I have a few tiny cell network black holes in my urban neighborhood, thanks to AT&T. But the truly inspiring DZs are far from civilization, covering tens or hundreds of square miles. Typically, they're also far from sources of noise.

I have no illusions that DZOTA sites will be officially tracked and chased anytime soon. Still, the "NO SIGNAL" icon on my phone now has new meaning. It's a bug you, too, can change to a feature just by keeping a radio in your vehicle at all times.

In my case, it's the spare KX2 and AX1 under the driver's seat.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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Joseph Street

Re: DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

DZOTA so....most of Canada then. This jives perfectly with my desire to go hike where nobody else wants to go. I might just get bitten by this bug along with a few thousand mosquitoes and blackflies. One problem though, I've never owned a cell phone. I need some other way of knowing when I'm in a dead zone. Any suggestions?

Joe ve3vxo

________________________________
From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> on behalf of Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]>
Sent: December 10, 2019 9:46:09 AM
To: Elecraft Reflector
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

Have you seen those cell-phone company maps showing how much of the country they cover? Inevitably, they reveal a patchwork of Dead Zones (DZs): places where coverage is not just bad...it's non-existent.

In such inhospitable realms, your choices are smoke signals, sat phone, or ham radio. This smacks of an opportunity. Hence DZOTA.

DZOTA places are often DeZerted. In fact, they are often in dezerts, in contrast to many of the conspicuous high places typical of SOTA. This may be a benefit to outdoor radio enthusiasts who, when hiking, prefer level ground or even a gentle downward slope. And in an emergency, those hikers might be the only ones around with comms.

Where are the most notorious DZs? I have a few tiny cell network black holes in my urban neighborhood, thanks to AT&T. But the truly inspiring DZs are far from civilization, covering tens or hundreds of square miles. Typically, they're also far from sources of noise.

I have no illusions that DZOTA sites will be officially tracked and chased anytime soon. Still, the "NO SIGNAL" icon on my phone now has new meaning. It's a bug you, too, can change to a feature just by keeping a radio in your vehicle at all times.

In my case, it's the spare KX2 and AX1 under the driver's seat.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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wayne burdick

Re: DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

Administrator

Hi Joe,

I'd just google each company's coverage maps.

Wayne
N6KR

> On Dec 10, 2019, at 7:12 AM, Joseph Street <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> DZOTA so....most of Canada then. This jives perfectly with my desire to go hike where nobody else wants to go. I might just get bitten by this bug along with a few thousand mosquitoes and blackflies. One problem though, I've never owned a cell phone. I need some other way of knowing when I'm in a dead zone. Any suggestions?
>
> Joe ve3vxo
> From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> on behalf of Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]>
> Sent: December 10, 2019 9:46:09 AM
> To: Elecraft Reflector
> Cc: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air
>
> Have you seen those cell-phone company maps showing how much of the country they cover? Inevitably, they reveal a patchwork of Dead Zones (DZs): places where coverage is not just bad...it's non-existent.
>
> In such inhospitable realms, your choices are smoke signals, sat phone, or ham radio. This smacks of an opportunity. Hence DZOTA.
>
> DZOTA places are often DeZerted. In fact, they are often in dezerts, in contrast to many of the conspicuous high places typical of SOTA. This may be a benefit to outdoor radio enthusiasts who, when hiking, prefer level ground or even a gentle downward slope. And in an emergency, those hikers might be the only ones around with comms.
>
> Where are the most notorious DZs? I have a few tiny cell network black holes in my urban neighborhood, thanks to AT&T. But the truly inspiring DZs are far from civilization, covering tens or hundreds of square miles. Typically, they're also far from sources of noise.
>
> I have no illusions that DZOTA sites will be officially tracked and chased anytime soon. Still, the "NO SIGNAL" icon on my phone now has new meaning. It's a bug you, too, can change to a feature just by keeping a radio in your vehicle at all times.
>
> In my case, it's the spare KX2 and AX1 under the driver's seat.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
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Dale Chayes

Re: DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

> On Dec 10, 2019, at 10:17 , Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Hi Joe,
>
> I'd just google each company's coverage maps.

The AT&T 4G map for my state (Massachusetts) is some kind of wishful thinking at best.
https://www.att.com/maps/wireless-coverage.html

There are lots of holes even within the relatively metro area inside I-495.

I would be very happy to find a source of actual (ground level) coverage.

-Dale
KB1ZKD

>
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
>
>> On Dec 10, 2019, at 7:12 AM, Joseph Street <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> DZOTA so....most of Canada then. This jives perfectly with my desire to go hike where nobody else wants to go. I might just get bitten by this bug along with a few thousand mosquitoes and blackflies. One problem though, I've never owned a cell phone. I need some other way of knowing when I'm in a dead zone. Any suggestions?
>>
>> Joe ve3vxo
>> From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> on behalf of Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]>
>> Sent: December 10, 2019 9:46:09 AM
>> To: Elecraft Reflector
>> Cc: [hidden email]
>> Subject: [Elecraft] DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air
>>
>> Have you seen those cell-phone company maps showing how much of the country they cover? Inevitably, they reveal a patchwork of Dead Zones (DZs): places where coverage is not just bad...it's non-existent.
>>
>> In such inhospitable realms, your choices are smoke signals, sat phone, or ham radio. This smacks of an opportunity. Hence DZOTA.
>>
>> DZOTA places are often DeZerted. In fact, they are often in dezerts, in contrast to many of the conspicuous high places typical of SOTA. This may be a benefit to outdoor radio enthusiasts who, when hiking, prefer level ground or even a gentle downward slope. And in an emergency, those hikers might be the only ones around with comms.
>>
>> Where are the most notorious DZs? I have a few tiny cell network black holes in my urban neighborhood, thanks to AT&T. But the truly inspiring DZs are far from civilization, covering tens or hundreds of square miles. Typically, they're also far from sources of noise.
>>
>> I have no illusions that DZOTA sites will be officially tracked and chased anytime soon. Still, the "NO SIGNAL" icon on my phone now has new meaning. It's a bug you, too, can change to a feature just by keeping a radio in your vehicle at all times.
>>
>> In my case, it's the spare KX2 and AX1 under the driver's seat.
>>
>> 73,
>> Wayne
>> N6KR
>>
>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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Jim Rhodes-3

Re: DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

When I was growing up in Minnesota there was an area of a nearby town that
would blank the signal of whatever radio station you were listening to on
the car radio as you were driving through, AM or FM. Not an industrial area
either. Never did figure that one out. Always meant to go back and see if I
could map it better and maybe find out what was causing it. Would like to
have talked to folks living near there.

On Tue, Dec 10, 2019 at 9:19 AM Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hi Joe,
>
> I'd just google each company's coverage maps.
>
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
>
> > On Dec 10, 2019, at 7:12 AM, Joseph Street <[hidden email]> wrote:
> >
> > DZOTA so....most of Canada then. This jives perfectly with my desire
> to go hike where nobody else wants to go. I might just get bitten by this
> bug along with a few thousand mosquitoes and blackflies. One problem
> though, I've never owned a cell phone. I need some other way of knowing
> when I'm in a dead zone. Any suggestions?
> >
> > Joe ve3vxo
> > From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]>
> on behalf of Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]>
> > Sent: December 10, 2019 9:46:09 AM
> > To: Elecraft Reflector
> > Cc: [hidden email]
> > Subject: [Elecraft] DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air
> >
> > Have you seen those cell-phone company maps showing how much of the
> country they cover? Inevitably, they reveal a patchwork of Dead Zones
> (DZs): places where coverage is not just bad...it's non-existent.
> >
> > In such inhospitable realms, your choices are smoke signals, sat phone,
> or ham radio. This smacks of an opportunity. Hence DZOTA.
> >
> > DZOTA places are often DeZerted. In fact, they are often in dezerts, in
> contrast to many of the conspicuous high places typical of SOTA. This may
> be a benefit to outdoor radio enthusiasts who, when hiking, prefer level
> ground or even a gentle downward slope. And in an emergency, those hikers
> might be the only ones around with comms.
> >
> > Where are the most notorious DZs? I have a few tiny cell network black
> holes in my urban neighborhood, thanks to AT&T. But the truly inspiring DZs
> are far from civilization, covering tens or hundreds of square miles.
> Typically, they're also far from sources of noise.
> >
> > I have no illusions that DZOTA sites will be officially tracked and
> chased anytime soon. Still, the "NO SIGNAL" icon on my phone now has new
> meaning. It's a bug you, too, can change to a feature just by keeping a
> radio in your vehicle at all times.
> >
> > In my case, it's the spare KX2 and AX1 under the driver's seat.
> >
> > 73,
> > Wayne
> > N6KR
> >
> >
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> > Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

k6mkf

Re: DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

Was that town in the Iron Range? And if so, could all the iron ore
deposits play a role?

- 73 and good DX de Mike, K6MKF, NCDXC Secretary

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]>
> On Behalf Of Jim Rhodes
> Sent: Tuesday, December 10, 2019 07:47
> To: Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]>
> Cc: Elecraft Reflector <[hidden email]>; [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air
>
> When I was growing up in Minnesota there was an area of a nearby town that
> would blank the signal of whatever radio station you were listening to on

the car
> radio as you were driving through, AM or FM. Not an industrial area
either.
> Never did figure that one out. Always meant to go back and see if I could
map it
> better and maybe find out what was causing it. Would like to have talked
to folks

> living near there.
>
> On Tue, Dec 10, 2019 at 9:19 AM Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> > Hi Joe,
> >
> > I'd just google each company's coverage maps.
> >
> > Wayne
> > N6KR
> >
> >
> > > On Dec 10, 2019, at 7:12 AM, Joseph Street <[hidden email]>

wrote:

> > >
> > > DZOTA so....most of Canada then. This jives perfectly with my
> > > desire
> > to go hike where nobody else wants to go. I might just get bitten by
> > this bug along with a few thousand mosquitoes and blackflies. One
> > problem though, I've never owned a cell phone. I need some other way
> > of knowing when I'm in a dead zone. Any suggestions?
> > >
> > > Joe ve3vxo
> > > From: [hidden email]
> > > <[hidden email]>
> > on behalf of Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]>
> > > Sent: December 10, 2019 9:46:09 AM
> > > To: Elecraft Reflector
> > > Cc: [hidden email]
> > > Subject: [Elecraft] DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air
> > >
> > > Have you seen those cell-phone company maps showing how much of the
> > country they cover? Inevitably, they reveal a patchwork of Dead Zones
> > (DZs): places where coverage is not just bad...it's non-existent.
> > >
> > > In such inhospitable realms, your choices are smoke signals, sat
> > > phone,
> > or ham radio. This smacks of an opportunity. Hence DZOTA.
> > >
> > > DZOTA places are often DeZerted. In fact, they are often in dezerts,
> > > in
> > contrast to many of the conspicuous high places typical of SOTA. This
> > may be a benefit to outdoor radio enthusiasts who, when hiking, prefer
> > level ground or even a gentle downward slope. And in an emergency,
> > those hikers might be the only ones around with comms.
> > >
> > > Where are the most notorious DZs? I have a few tiny cell network
> > > black
> > holes in my urban neighborhood, thanks to AT&T. But the truly
> > inspiring DZs are far from civilization, covering tens or hundreds of

square

> miles.
> > Typically, they're also far from sources of noise.
> > >
> > > I have no illusions that DZOTA sites will be officially tracked and
> > chased anytime soon. Still, the "NO SIGNAL" icon on my phone now has
> > new meaning. It's a bug you, too, can change to a feature just by
> > keeping a radio in your vehicle at all times.
> > >
> > > In my case, it's the spare KX2 and AX1 under the driver's seat.
> > >
> > > 73,
> > > Wayne
> > > N6KR
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ______________________________________________________________
> > > Elecraft mailing list
> > > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> > >
> > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this
> > > email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to
> > > [hidden email]
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > Elecraft mailing list
> > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> > Post: mailto:[hidden email]
> >
> > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email
> > list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to
> > [hidden email]
> >
> ______________________________________________________________
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>
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Bill Frantz

Re: DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

We discovered that Newfoundland and Labrador are dead zones for
our US cell phones, because our US carrier didn't pair with a
Canadian company that covered those areas. They only pair with
Rodgers. In addition, for the trans-Labrador highway, there is
no coverage for anyone.

Interestingly, if you drive the trans-Labrador highway, you can
borrow a satellite phone for emergency use. It comes programmed
to only call one number, the RCMP. You borrow it up at one end
of the highway and return it at the other. They were out of
phones when we started, but the ICOM 706 and Little Tarheel
antenna in the car gave us access to 80M and up, and a warm
fuzzy feeling.

My KX3 or my wife's KX2 give the same feeling when on foot in
the DZOTAs.

73 Bill AE6JV

On 12/10/19 at 9:46 AM, [hidden email] (Wayne Burdick) wrote:

>Have you seen those cell-phone company maps showing how much of
>the country they cover? Inevitably, they reveal a patchwork of
>Dead Zones (DZs): places where coverage is not just bad...it's non-existent.
>In such inhospitable realms, your choices are smoke signals,
>sat phone, or ham radio. This smacks of an opportunity. Hence DZOTA.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz | I like the farmers' market | Periwinkle
(408)356-8506 | because I can get fruits and | 16345
Englewood Ave
www.pwpconsult.com | vegetables without stickers. | Los Gatos,
CA 95032

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Lyn WØLEN

Re: DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

In reply to this post by k6mkf

Jim -

I too, as a former Minnesota resident (born, raised, first licensed) would
be curious as to what town you're referring to

At one time I had a job that required me to travel to nearly every town and
every school building in the state, so I may just need something to jog my
aging memory.

73
Lyn, WØLEN

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Mike Flowers
Sent: Tuesday, December 10, 2019 9:51 AM
To: 'Elecraft Refl'
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

Was that town in the Iron Range? And if so, could all the iron ore
deposits play a role?

- 73 and good DX de Mike, K6MKF, NCDXC Secretary

wrote:

square

Message
> delivered to [hidden email]

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kd4iz

Re: DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Love this idea Wayne!
Thanks for the [poke]... This "event" fills a fun nee. It is not just for
those "flat landers" who are close enough to get to the large DZs, but also
to those of us living back east who live in those little pockets of
territory that is not served by cell service. 5G??? Who are they trying to
fool? Would be happy with 3G some days.
Jack - KD4IZ

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On
Behalf Of Wayne Burdick
Sent: Tuesday, December 10, 2019 09:46
To: Elecraft Reflector <[hidden email]>
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

Have you seen those cell-phone company maps showing how much of the country
they cover? Inevitably, they reveal a patchwork of Dead Zones (DZs): places
where coverage is not just bad...it's non-existent.

In such inhospitable realms, your choices are smoke signals, sat phone, or
ham radio. This smacks of an opportunity. Hence DZOTA.

DZOTA places are often DeZerted. In fact, they are often in dezerts, in
contrast to many of the conspicuous high places typical of SOTA. This may be
a benefit to outdoor radio enthusiasts who, when hiking, prefer level ground
or even a gentle downward slope. And in an emergency, those hikers might be
the only ones around with comms.

Where are the most notorious DZs? I have a few tiny cell network black holes
in my urban neighborhood, thanks to AT&T. But the truly inspiring DZs are
far from civilization, covering tens or hundreds of square miles. Typically,
they're also far from sources of noise.

I have no illusions that DZOTA sites will be officially tracked and chased
anytime soon. Still, the "NO SIGNAL" icon on my phone now has new meaning.
It's a bug you, too, can change to a feature just by keeping a radio in your
vehicle at all times.

In my case, it's the spare KX2 and AX1 under the driver's seat.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message
delivered to [hidden email]

______________________________________________________________
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Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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k6dgw

Re: DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

In reply to this post by Joseph Street

and most of Nevada too.

73,
Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

On 12/10/2019 7:12 AM, Joseph Street wrote:

> DZOTA so....most of Canada then. This jives perfectly with my desire to go hike where nobody else wants to go. I might just get bitten by this bug along with a few thousand mosquitoes and blackflies. One problem though, I've never owned a cell phone. I need some other way of knowing when I'm in a dead zone. Any suggestions?
>
>
> Joe ve3vxo
>
> ________________________________
> From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> on behalf of Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]>
> Sent: December 10, 2019 9:46:09 AM
> To: Elecraft Reflector
> Cc: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air
>
> Have you seen those cell-phone company maps showing how much of the country they cover? Inevitably, they reveal a patchwork of Dead Zones (DZs): places where coverage is not just bad...it's non-existent.
>
> In such inhospitable realms, your choices are smoke signals, sat phone, or ham radio. This smacks of an opportunity. Hence DZOTA.
>
> DZOTA places are often DeZerted. In fact, they are often in dezerts, in contrast to many of the conspicuous high places typical of SOTA. This may be a benefit to outdoor radio enthusiasts who, when hiking, prefer level ground or even a gentle downward slope. And in an emergency, those hikers might be the only ones around with comms.
>
> Where are the most notorious DZs? I have a few tiny cell network black holes in my urban neighborhood, thanks to AT&T. But the truly inspiring DZs are far from civilization, covering tens or hundreds of square miles. Typically, they're also far from sources of noise.
>
> I have no illusions that DZOTA sites will be officially tracked and chased anytime soon. Still, the "NO SIGNAL" icon on my phone now has new meaning. It's a bug you, too, can change to a feature just by keeping a radio in your vehicle at all times.
>
> In my case, it's the spare KX2 and AX1 under the driver's seat.
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>

k6dgw

Re: DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

In reply to this post by Jim Rhodes-3

It's caused by the excess of fruitcake in MN. All the fruitcake
[chemical symbol Fc] in the universe was created at the Big Bang, along
with a lot of hydrogen [H] and some Helium [He]. It is governed by the
well-known Conservation of Fruitcake law ... you cannot destroy it,
however you can give it away. It and aluminum foil [Rw] have a mutual
affinity for each other. For reasons still unknown, it tends to
accumulate in the upper midwest. Fruitcake absorbs electromagnetic
radiation very well and is probably the cause of your dead zone.

73,
Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

On 12/10/2019 7:47 AM, Jim Rhodes wrote:
> When I was growing up in Minnesota there was an area of a nearby town that
> would blank the signal of whatever radio station you were listening to on
> the car radio as you were driving through, AM or FM. Not an industrial area
> either. Never did figure that one out. Always meant to go back and see if I
> could map it better and maybe find out what was causing it. Would like to
> have talked to folks living near there.
>
>

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jeff stai-2

Re: DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

In reply to this post by k6dgw

And most of the SIERRA Nevada too! 73 jeff wk6i

On Tue, Dec 10, 2019 at 3:18 PM Fred Jensen <[hidden email]> wrote:

> and most of Nevada too.
>
> 73,
> Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
> Sparks NV DM09dn
> Washoe County
>
> On 12/10/2019 7:12 AM, Joseph Street wrote:
> > DZOTA so....most of Canada then. This jives perfectly with my desire
> to go hike where nobody else wants to go. I might just get bitten by this
> bug along with a few thousand mosquitoes and blackflies. One problem
> though, I've never owned a cell phone. I need some other way of knowing
> when I'm in a dead zone. Any suggestions?
> >
> >
> > Joe ve3vxo
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]>
> on behalf of Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]>
> > Sent: December 10, 2019 9:46:09 AM
> > To: Elecraft Reflector
> > Cc: [hidden email]
> > Subject: [Elecraft] DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air
> >
> > Have you seen those cell-phone company maps showing how much of the
> country they cover? Inevitably, they reveal a patchwork of Dead Zones
> (DZs): places where coverage is not just bad...it's non-existent.
> >
> > In such inhospitable realms, your choices are smoke signals, sat phone,
> or ham radio. This smacks of an opportunity. Hence DZOTA.
> >
> > DZOTA places are often DeZerted. In fact, they are often in dezerts, in
> contrast to many of the conspicuous high places typical of SOTA. This may
> be a benefit to outdoor radio enthusiasts who, when hiking, prefer level
> ground or even a gentle downward slope. And in an emergency, those hikers
> might be the only ones around with comms.
> >
> > Where are the most notorious DZs? I have a few tiny cell network black
> holes in my urban neighborhood, thanks to AT&T. But the truly inspiring DZs
> are far from civilization, covering tens or hundreds of square miles.
> Typically, they're also far from sources of noise.
> >
> > I have no illusions that DZOTA sites will be officially tracked and
> chased anytime soon. Still, the "NO SIGNAL" icon on my phone now has new
> meaning. It's a bug you, too, can change to a feature just by keeping a
> radio in your vehicle at all times.
> >
> > In my case, it's the spare KX2 and AX1 under the driver's seat.
> >
> > 73,
> > Wayne
> > N6KR
> >
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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>

--
Jeff Stai ~ WK6I ~ [hidden email]
RTTY op at W7RN
Twisted Oak Winery ~ http://www.twistedoak.com/
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Don Wilhelm

Re: DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

In reply to this post by k6dgw

I have a Dead Zone inside my house.
I live in a stucco clad house with the stucco laid on wire mesh - it is
an effective Faraday shield. We do not have good cell phone reception
inside the house - that is why I do not have a smartphone, just a simple
flip phone to use when away from home. I do get 2 to 3 bars if I
venture outside, but No Service to maybe 1 bar when inside.

So my question is -- Do I qualify for NZOTA when using my KX2 indoors at
home with my outside antennas, or do I have to use an indoor antenna as
well?

73,
Don W3FPR

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weaverwf@usermail.com

Re: DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

Don,

A lot of the smartphones offer wifi calling. You just have to be in range of your router :-).

73,

Bill WE5P

>
> On Dec 10, 2019 at 18:34, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>
> I have a Dead Zone inside my house. I live in a stucco clad house with the stucco laid on wire mesh - it is an effective Faraday shield. We do not have good cell phone reception inside the house - that is why I do not have a smartphone, just a simple flip phone to use when away from home. I do get 2 to 3 bars if I venture outside, but No Service to maybe 1 bar when inside. So my question is -- Do I qualify for NZOTA when using my KX2 indoors at home with my outside antennas, or do I have to use an indoor antenna as well? 73, Don W3FPR ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[hidden email] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email]
>

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Jim Brown-10

Re: DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm

On 12/10/2019 3:34 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
> I have a Dead Zone inside my house.
> I live in a stucco clad house with the stucco laid on wire mesh - it is
> an effective Faraday shield. We do not have good cell phone reception
> inside the house

Thanks to the "tin-hat brigade, we have an even worse situation here in
the Santa Cruz Mountains -- no cell coverage at all. For years, this
kept me from a smart phone, but I now know this was a very bad decision.
Many reasons why, but mainly that they work for internet access on WiFi,
they function as a pretty nice "ad hoc" camera, while on the road (and
waiting in a doctor's office) I have access to news outlets of my choice
via my cell data plan or the office's guest WiFi.

We buy our cell service from Page Plus Cellular, a third party company
reselling Verizon service at monthly Pay As You Go rates for the amount
of data that we need. For us, 2GB/month is more than we're likely to
need except when traveling, at a cost of about $30/phone/month. Accounts
are flexible, so it's no big thing to buy more data in months we might
be traveling. The Motorola phones we bought about three years ago cost
us about $350 each.

73, Jim K9YC
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Stephen Shearer

Re: DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

Don't forget the east coast "National Radio Quiet Zone (NRQZ)"... I
have a star party (https://www.ahsp.org/, on my list of things to do)
and I checked on the use of HF radio in the zone. Unless I was looking
at the wrong place, you can use radio in the zone unless you are at the
telescopes or UHF/microwave. I only found a reference to a "permit" for
fixed ham station like repeaters. Can you say East Coast Dead Zone...
is there going to be a DZSOTA ??

73, steve WB3LGC

On 12/10/19 7:19 PM, Jim Brown wrote:

> On 12/10/2019 3:34 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
>> I have a Dead Zone inside my house.
>> I live in a stucco clad house with the stucco laid on wire mesh - it
>> is an effective Faraday shield. We do not have good cell phone
>> reception inside the house
>
> Thanks to the "tin-hat brigade, we have an even worse situation here
> in the Santa Cruz Mountains -- no cell coverage at all. For years,
> this kept me from a smart phone, but I now know this was a very bad
> decision. Many reasons why, but mainly that they work for internet
> access on WiFi, they function as a pretty nice "ad hoc" camera, while
> on the road (and waiting in a doctor's office) I have access to news
> outlets of my choice via my cell data plan or the office's guest WiFi.
>
> We buy our cell service from Page Plus Cellular, a third party company
> reselling Verizon service at monthly Pay As You Go rates for the
> amount of data that we need. For us, 2GB/month is more than we're
> likely to need except when traveling, at a cost of about
> $30/phone/month. Accounts are flexible, so it's no big thing to buy
> more data in months we might be traveling. The Motorola phones we
> bought about three years ago cost us about $350 each.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

David Gilbert

Re: DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10

I built our house with ICFs (insulated concrete forms) and put rebar in
every cell (12 inch on center), and every stick of rebar in the walls
ties to the rebar in the footings. Together with the stucco mesh, I
live in a really good Faraday shielded enclosure and had crappy cell
phone coverage until I set my Moto G6 Play ($200 a couple of years ago)
smartphone to WiFi priority. It works fine inside the house now, and
T-Mobile has an unlimited usage (including unlimited data) $50 per month
plan for seniors.

73,
Dave AB7E

On 12/10/2019 5:19 PM, Jim Brown wrote:

ktalbott

Re: DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

In reply to this post by k6dgw

House is 4 feet underground, reinforced concrete, passive solar, South side
glass. TG for cellular over WIFI! All other RF via coax only.

Ken ke4rg

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Edward R Cole

Re: DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Of course Alaska doesn't count as most companies don't consider
Alaska as part of the USA (eg free shipping except AK/HI).

Back in 2012, I worked for Wallmart and we had many angry cell phone
customers who bought phones in the lower-48 and were assured they
worked in AK. They were given Verizon (which had just started
service in Anchorage & no where else in AK). They have expanded
service, now. But do not expect cell service off the road system (75% of AK).

On our trips driving out the Alaska Hwy thru Canada we had no service
anywhere in the Yukon or northern parts of BC or AB. Only got
service when we were within 200-miles of the US border (using Rogers
cell service that apparently partnered with AT&T).

Fortunately we had our KX3 + KXPA100 in the mobile (no worries), plus
in the Yukon there is linked repeaters on 146.52 covering most of the hwy.

73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
Dubus-NA Business mail:
[hidden email]

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Edward R Cole

Re: DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air

In reply to this post by k6dgw

Actually fruit cake makes a great dummy load ... eat it and you turn
into a dummy!

-----------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 10 Dec 2019 15:26:34 -0800
From: Fred Jensen <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] DZOTA: Dead Zones On The Air
Message-ID: <[hidden email]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

It's caused by the excess of fruitcake in MN. All the fruitcake
[chemical symbol Fc] in the universe was created at the Big Bang, along
with a lot of hydrogen [H] and some Helium [He].? It is governed by the
well-known Conservation of Fruitcake law ... you cannot destroy it,
however you can give it away.? It and aluminum foil [Rw] have a mutual
affinity for each other.? For reasons still unknown, it tends to
accumulate in the upper midwest.? Fruitcake absorbs electromagnetic
radiation very well and is probably the cause of your dead zone.

73,
Fred ["Skip"] K6DGW
Sparks NV DM09dn
Washoe County

73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
Dubus-NA Business mail:
[hidden email]

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