Ole Sol was bright and already the morning air was thick with dew and warm. It promised to be a hot, sticky day. My first uW outing of the year! Zack W9SZ left his Champaign home at 6 am to meet me in Litchfield at 8am. Litchfield is about a ninety minute drive from St. Peters, MO. It took me a little longer to than expected to pack up the truck, get a sufficient quantity of Starbucks coffee, breakfast and get on the road. I met Zack around 8:25 am and we made our way to Pere Marquette State Park near Grafton, IL to operate 2.3, 3.4, 10 and 24 GHz from Eagle Roost EM48rx.
Meanwhile, Harry WA0CNS and Herbert AF4JF wanted to try out a hilltop site at a park near St. Charles Community College in EM48qs. A distance of nearly 16 miles.
By 10:30 am we had arrived at the roost, set up and Zack was putting Harry and Herbert in the log on 2.3 GHz USB. Zack was using a dish with a transverter. Herbert was using the Pluto SDR to generate a signal. Later both Harry and Herbert were able to hear Zack's commanding 3.4 GHz transmissions, but Harry's signal seemed to be on the wrong sideband. It was difficult trying to copy him no matter what sideband we were on. Although we could copy one another, I don't believe a fully, successful 2-way QSO was made. 10 GHz provided great copy on both CW and SSB. No joy, today on 24 GHz. Perhaps it was propagation or equipment issues. The path should work. Perhaps next time we could try the town of Brussels which is about 4 miles away from Eagle Roost and definitely line of sight on 24 GHz.
By noon, we were shutting down and packing up. Both Zack and I had shade, but the temperature was already in the lower 90s. Harry and Herbert were in the direct sun on the hilltop and by this time over baked! Originally our plans included operating, going to Aerie's winery in nearby Grafton and planning our next outing. It was way too hot and humid and the Corona virus is still present, so we decided discretion is the better part of hunger. Instead, we decided to grab drive thru fast food, get out the heat and get home into the air-conditioning.
We met several of our goals. First, we participated in Microwave Activity Day while limiting our public exposure. We tested Eagle Roost on other microwave bands. Zack has another uW site to operate from. Herbert was able to test his PLUTO SDR radio and we made successful two-way uW QSOs! Not bad for our first outing of the season!
On the way back home, I stopped off for a Starbucks venti, pike and programmed my DMR Zumspot frequency. After programming a new frequency into it to operate with my DMR HT, on the way back to St. Charles, from my mobile, I had a pleasant QSO with Mr. Kim in South Korea and with Steve in the UK! It was Sunday morning for Mr. Kim and almost midnight for Steve in the UK!
All in all, a great way to spend a hot, humid, Saturday with friends and ham radio.
Herbert AF4JF set up on top of the hill near SCCC EM 48qs
Harry WA0CNS uW mobile across from AF4JF near SCCC
Pointing towards Pere Marquette State Park in IL, 16 miles away
Zack W9SZ setting up at Eagle Roost, Pere Marquette State Park EM48rx
EM48rx pointing towards SCCC EM48qs, sixteen miles away
Zack getting his 10 GHz station QRV
Ron's 10 GHz setup from EM48rx
Starbuck's in Edwardsville rounded off the day's activities.
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