W2NJR Friendly Chat Net Meets at Eagle Rock

Participants in the W2NJR 10 AM Friendly Chat Net took the conversation from the airwaves to Eagle Rock Reservation in Essex County on Monday morning, August 24. The informal gathering ran from about 9:30 AM until noon and brought together regular net participants along with net host Bill, K3CBI, for a morning of radio, conversation, and a chance to put some faces to familiar voices.

Conditions at Eagle Rock were excellent for the gathering, with pleasant late-summer weather and good visibility from the elevated location overlooking the surrounding area and New York City skyline.

Radio was naturally a big part of the morning. Bob, N2LMW, engineered an impressive long-haul UHF link between Eagle Rock and Manahawkin, New Jersey, approximately 70 miles away. While the social gathering was underway, Bill, K3CBI, used this link to host the regular W2NJR 10 AM Friendly Chat Net from 10:00 AM until 11:30 AM ET. The 90-minute net sounded good on the air and provided a great practical demonstration of what can be accomplished on UHF from a well-situated location.

Just as important as the radio activity was the opportunity to get together in person. Much of the morning became an enjoyable meet-and-greet in the parking lot, with plenty of conversation and good company. Amateur radio has a way of creating friendships between people who may talk regularly for months or years without actually meeting face-to-face, and gatherings like this provide the opportunity to reconnect with old friends while meeting others previously known only by their call signs and voices.

Great weather, good propagation, and an enthusiastic group made for a very enjoyable morning at Eagle Rock. Thanks to Bill, K3CBI, Bob, N2LMW, and everyone from the W2NJR 10 AM Friendly Chat Net who came out and helped make the gathering a success.