SPRINT Contests Fall 2022

The Fall series of SPRINT contests just finished. I was not able to attend the 144MHz segment, but managed to make couple of QSOs in the 222MHz, 432MHz and the Microwave contests. Just like I said - a "couple of" QSOs. Two in the 222MHz contests, two in the 432MHz contests and (wow), three in the Microwave contests. There was literally nobody to work. Certainly nobody local. The VHF+ activity in Saint Louis area is very low, not sure why.

I am attaching several pictures of my rover station.

AF4JF/R in EM49pa - 222MHz

AF4JF/R working N0IS from EM49pa - 222MHz

AF4JF/R from EM38px - 222MHz

AF4JF/R in EM49pa - 432MHz

AF4JF/R working WA0CNS from EM48px - 432MHz

AF4JF/R in EM48qs - 1296MHz, 2304MHz and 10GHz

AF4JF/R and Darcey in EM48qs,
just after working WA0CNS on 10GHz

Looks like a mess, but the rack worked nicely!
AF4JF/R just worked W9SZ/R on 1296MHz

New, promising location in Winghaven EM48os
AF4J/R tried to work N0OY on 1296MHz over 621km
(we both saw each other on the waterfall, but no QSO)

Activity from EM38xw

The EM38xw location is conveniently accessible from the interstate highway I-70, exit 144 (easy to remember). We usually set up on the intersection of a service road that goes parallel with I-70 on its southern side and the gravel country road. There is little to no traffic on either road, but we always make sure there is enough space left for farm vehicles.

We have been there several times in the past, see for example the postings here, here or here.

I went there twice this year so far. My first trip there was on Saturday June 4, 2022 for a MAD Day (Microwave Activity Day). I took 1296MHz and 10GHz with me and tried to work several stations on both bands. It was a hot day without any clouds, no Rain Scatter on 10GHz possible. I have only made 2 QSOs on 23cm - with Zack W9SZ who was 350km away (I used 2W of RF power) and with Pete N0OY who was 498km away (but I needed 40W of power to my 16el. COMET antenna).

AF4JF set up in EM38xw

My second trip to that location took place on Saturday July 2nd, 2022 for another MAD Day. I only took 10GHz with me. It was a rainy day and I was hoping for some Rain Scatter (RS) QSOs on that band. The weather map looked very promising in the morning - I expected the storms to pass just South of my location. Unfortunately, the storm cells decided otherwise and included me in their path.

I have tried to work Greg WQ0P in EM19, but there was too much water in the air between us. We tried several times, but no luck. However, several attempts that we made with Gedas W8BYA finally lead to success. We have made a nice RS QSO on 10GHz across 620km (387miles)!

AF4JF aiming for WQ0P (dish pointing West)

View towards West

Aiming East (South of W8BYA) at a storm cell

Rain Scatter map that day

Zoom in on the pictures from July 2nd, you will see lots of water drops on the equipment. I was hiding under the open back gate of my SUV but the station was exposed to the water, so I have packed everything up after spending 2 hours at that location and went to nearby gas station for hot coffee. My dog refused to leave the car the entire time.

This is one good location for future activities, the SLAMS team will return here in the future.

ARRL VHF Contest - June 2022

Harry WA0CNS and Herbert AF4JF went to Potosi, MO in EM47 and De Soto, MO in EM48 to make some contest QSOs as Rovers on Saturday June 11th. Worked several stations on the usual bands CW/SSB, nothing unusual. The location on one of the highest hills in Missouri is good, definitely worth returning there.

Herbert AF4JF/r getting ready to have fun in EM47ow

Harry WA0CNS/r in EM47ow

Herbert moved to De Soto in EM48rd to make some contacts with Harry later in the afternoon. We have both returned home for the night and went to the Egyptian Hamfest in Granite City, IL on Sunday. Made several more contest QSOs from the Hamfest parking lot in EM48wr. Herbert fried his power inverter (that makes 110V AC from 12V DC, needed to run the 40W PA for 23cm) and finished in the early afternoon, Harry went to Edwardsville in EM58 to activate another grid.

Everything considered, a successful weekend. Little too hot outdoors. We will try to do even better next time.

More activity from EM47

Several HAMs from wide area between Fort Wayne, Chicago, Saint Louis and Huntsville became active during the MAD (Microwave Activity Day) on Saturday March 5. The main idea behind this activity was to make some QSOs on the 3456MHz band before recent FCC changes force us to move down in frequency to 3400MHz. Some of us combined this with activity on 10GHz and even other VHF+ bands. 

The SLAMS group also participated - Harry WA0CNS went to High Ridge EM48rl, Herbert AF4JF went South to EM47ow and Zack W9SZ was in EN50ue. The guys we tried to work were K9PW, K9JK, W8BYA, KV4PC and others. Unfortunately, the weather was warm but very windy. Way too windy. It complicated setting up the antennas big time. My (AF4JF) tripod with 10GHz dish got kicked over by wind gusts twice. I ended up holding it with one hand for 2+ hours. No way to set up my other bands (1296, 2304 and 3456MHz) that we wanted to play with. 

The EM47 location near Potosi, MO is on a hilltop (a windy hilltop), wide open to nearly all directions, with a big parking lot on the top of the hill. I have had to move around that parking lot between attempts on QSOs to get unobstructed view in the desired direction, but generally that location turned out to be very good. Even better, it is about 100km South from St. Louis, which makes it very interesting for QSOs with the guys in the "4" land. 

I have tried 10GHz with several stations mentioned above, but only succeeded with Gedas W8BYA - we managed to make a RS contact over 577km between AF4JF in EM47 and W8BYA in EN70. Funny was that we achieved that through "backscatter" on a rain cell over Cedar Rapids, Iowa! That cell was nowhere close to the direct line between us ... a nice proof that EVERYTHING is possible on the 10GHz band!

Several pictures attached.

See the white rope that keeps the dish from tipping over in the wind?

Aiming North to work W8BYA over RS on 10GHz

Looking South towards the "4" land

Looking North towards Saint Louis / Chicago / Cedar Rapids

Looking Southeast (I had to move a little while trying with KV4PC)