Saint Louis Area Microwave Society

Files and Pictures from the SLAMS Web Site

2012-02-17T18:57:00.000-08:00

All files and pictures from the SLAMS web site were copied to our storage space at Yahoo Groups. This was necessary, because Microsoft announced discontinuing the web hosting service. We apologize for the inconvenience.

-Herbert, AF4JF

SLAMS Web Site

2012-02-05T17:47:00.000-08:00

Discussion during our breakfast meeting at DENNYs today didn't show any pressing need for a SLAMS web site. The email reflector is much more needed for our members. Luckily, it is being hosted by Yahoo and will not be affected by the anticipated Microsoft change of service.

So, after consulting with John WB9PNU, I am making following decisions:

1) The current SLAMS web site will stay operational through April 30, 2012

(that's when Microsoft announced to discontinue their OLSB service)

http://slams.web.officelive.com/default.aspx

2) We will STOP adding any new information to the web site above.

3) We will move content of the current SLAMS web site to this BLOG site

and/or to our Yahoo Group file space until end of March, 2012.

4) Effective immediate, we will ONLY update our BLOG.

I have changed the blog password to the same we (administrators) used on the web site.

-Herbert, AF4JF

Bad News

2012-02-04T10:15:00.000-08:00

Microsoft as the Web Hosting Provider for the SLAMS web site

http://slams.web.officelive.com/default.aspx

decided to discontinue their services. Therefore, that web site has to be moved. Please watch this blog for future information.

The SLAMS group apologizes for the inconvenience.

SLAMS Breakfast Meetings in 2012

2012-01-07T16:10:00.000-08:00

SLAMS will be meeting at DENNY's on Dorsett Rd., just off I-270, again.
Next breakfast meeting will take place there on Sunday 01/08/2012 at 8:00am.

!! We have moved our meeting start time to 8:00am (used to be 8:30) !!

ARRL Microwave Contest 2011 1/2

2011-08-21T13:21:00.000-07:00

Pictures from ARRL Microwave Contest 2011 Part 1 were published on the SLAMS web site.
Part 2 of this contest takes place on September 17-18, details here.

73 Herbert
AF4JF

ARRL Microwave Contest 2011 1/2

2011-08-14T13:38:00.001-07:00

Next big contest is 2011 ARRL 10GHz+ Contest (1/2) .

This is a long contest, third full weekend of August. Begins 6:00 am local on Saturday, ends 12:00 Midnight local on Sunday (August 20-21, 2011). Operations may take place for 24 hours total.

All authorized microwave bands from 10 GHz up through Light.

SLAMS will meet at local DENNY's restaurant on Dorsett Rd. (just off I-270) on Saturday at 6:00 am for quick breakfast and continue to EM48sq (big parking lot at YMCA on McKelvey Rd.). Some of us will stay there, some will move around the area later during the day.

73 Herbert
AF4JF

Microwave SPRINT Contest

2011-05-07T11:44:00.000-07:00

Another microwave SPRINT contest took place on May 7, 2011. John WB9PNU went to EM49ua (AT&T Tower) with Jim N5MU who provided his 10GHz setup. Herbert AF4JF tried to contact them from near his home location in EM48qr. Unfortunately, Mr. Hepburn didn't sleep well tonight and his charts for our area were black. Signal propagation followed the charts this time, so the signals were below the threshold, although visible on a waterfall. Therefore, John and Jim moved around the hilltop and Herbert went to EM48sq (YMCA). Contacts were made on 10GHz CW (579) and 144MHz SSB (59).

Zack W9SZ went far northeast, over 250 miles away, so we didn't even try with poor propagation today.

73 Herbert
AF4JF

SBMS Contest

2011-04-24T18:59:00.000-07:00

The SLAMS Group is going to participate on the SBMS contest (2GHz and Up) the weekend of April30-May1, see here:

http://slams.web.officelive.com/Documents/2011%20SBMS%202G+%20rules.pdf

We will have a breakfast at "Denny's" on Dorsett before we drive out to have fun on Saturday, April 30 at 7:30am. Note that this will be just a quick meal for planning purposes before we get to our cars and drive to some hilltop locations. Everybody is welcome, you don't have to bring your own transverter or even be a member of our group to share the fun!

Also note that SPRINT contests continue this week with the 432MHz section. The 432 MHz Sprint will be from 7 PM until 11 PM local time on Wednesday, April 28, 2010. Look here for details:

http://slams.web.officelive.com/contesting.aspx

73 Herbert
AF4JF

Beacon Antenna

2011-04-17T10:19:00.000-07:00

The SLAMS group is working towards new 1296MHz beacon. Following link points to set of pictures describing our new omnidirectional antenna.

73 Herbert
AF4JF

SLAMS Meeting

2011-04-10T10:24:00.000-07:00

SLAMS meeting on 03/20/11 was attended by 6:

We have discussed VHF+ contesting with Kevin W9GKA, especially the "distance scoring" and corresponding contesting strategy. There will be more info about our contesting plans as soon as they become more actual. Note that everybody is welcome to participate on our microwave or contesting activities, even if you don't have your own setup.

---

Next full SLAMS meeting will be on Sunday, May 8. Again, we will meet at "Panera Bread" in Westport at 8:30am.

However, we are going to participate on the SBMS contest (2GHz and Up) the weekend of April30-May1, see here.

We will have a breakfast at "Denny's" on Dorsett before we drive out to have fun on Saturday, April 30 at 7:30am. I will send a reminder to everybody. Note that this will be just a quick meal for planning purposes before we get to our cars and drive to some hilltop locations.

Note that SPRINT contests start just tomorrow evening with the 144MHz section. Look here for details:

That's it for now. Thanks for coming today. Have a wonderful Sunday and see you next time!

73 Herbert
AF4JF

Next SLAMS Meeting

2011-04-01T14:55:00.001-07:00

Next SLAMS meeting will take place on Sunday 04/10 at 08:30 am

AT NEW LOCATION == Panera Bread on Westport Plaza

We will discuss our plans for the upcoming contesting season; SPRINT contests start right next Monday.

SLAMS meetings are open to non-members and everybody is welcome to attend.

73 Herbert
AF4JF

EME History

2011-03-27T16:06:00.000-07:00

I have stumbled over nice articles about history of EME:

-Herbert, AF4JF

Trial Post!

2011-03-26T17:53:00.000-07:00

Think I made it Herb ! Not going to fight the snow to get to the shack tonight. One eve. I heard you and Ron, John on two meters. Is this a regular thing ? if so when?.........73s Harry

Contest Activities

2011-03-26T15:20:00.000-07:00

The 2011 contest season is almost here. We have set of SPRINT contests coming soon:

144 Spirnts - Monday, April 11, 7 - 11 PM local

222 Sprints - Tuesday, April 19, 7 - 11 PM

432 Sprints - Wednesday, April 27, 7 - 11 PM

Microwave Sprints - Saturday, May 7, 6 AM - 1 PM local (~900 MHz and Up)

50 MHz Sprint - 2300Z, Sat, May 14 to 0300Z, May 15

(note that the time of this 6m contest is in UTC)

Rules here

-Herbert, AF4JF

First Post

2011-03-26T14:33:00.000-07:00

This Blog is intended for members of the Saint Louis Area Microwave Society - SLAMS and their hobby, radio communication on microwave frequencies.
-Herbert, AF4JF