Natiional Radio Quiet Zone W.Va

[Richard O'Neill]

On 8/13/2013 3:56 PM, Phil wrote:

  please elaborate - in what way different?


Phil,

  Brian and I have visited the NRO facility with a local group from 
AMRAD. It's an interesting place to visit but for a country site differs 
little from a hundred other places in West Virginia. Mountains, cows, 
widely separated tiny towns and endless winding roads with plenty of 
switch backs. A great place to get away from it all or hide in plain 
sight from the authorities.

  The region near NRO differs only in that no transmitters are allowed. 
However, night time does bring in sky wave signals across the broadcast 
frequencies. On my car radio I was able to hear most of the usual stuff 
and a few low power regional stations on AM. FM was pretty quiet, not 
full of stations as it is along the east coast and most everywhere else 
I've traveled.

  The NRO site has overnight accommodations for visitors - plus a 
cafeteria. No fast food places at all. Rooms are equipped with phone, 
cable TV, AC and indoor plumbing. A bit fancy for my preferred camping 
lifestyle but it'll do in a pinch. ;-) The time I was there (August?) 
the night sky was very dark but not particularly steady for telescopic 
viewing. Cool air draining off nearby mountains continuously spills into 
the valley until sunrise. I suspect fog a frequent occurrence in Summer 
with brutal snows in Winter. Weather extremes abound there. All in all 
an interesting place to visit but, aside from an old gas station / 
general store down the road a bit (reminiscent of the movie, 
'Deliverance') and an occasional modest home, very short on anything 
resembling civilization as we know it. Bring a bango and you'd be right 
at home. :-)

Richard