24GHz activity in St. Louis EM48

The SLAMS group usually meets at Denny's for breakfast, then goes to the Creve Coeur park in Saint Louis for technical activities. One such activity took place on Sunday 7/10 and the main topic for the outdoor activity was 24GHz.

Harry WA0NCS, Herbert AF4JF, Ron KO0Z and Armand KD0PXF met in the park to test Harry's second 24GHz station (low power transverter of the W2PED concept) and Herbert's idea of using SDR Pluto as the IF radio for his 24GHz. Following pictures document the setups:

Harry WA0CNS setting up the small station
(this was later operated by Ron KO0Z)

Harry WA0CNS with his regular 24GHz station

The AF4JF station for 24GHz
(the SDR IF plus laptop are located inside the car)

We were able to make 3-way contacts across the park easily. Herbert was dealing with a power issue on his 110V power inverter (voltage dropping, will use bigger inverter next time). Nice outdoor activity, getting ready for the contests!

Further Experimentation

 Further Experimentation

Sunday, November 15, a blustery, albeit sunny day with temperature in the upper 40s around 9 am, found Harry WA0CNS, Herbert AF4JF and Ron KO0Z at Creve Coeur Memorial Park.  Harry and Herbert experimented with light communication. Harry was using red LED 635 nm in his station and Herbert was using 650 nm laser. That's a frequency around 462 THz! Harry also built an infrared beacon. Although the distance was only approximately 60 feet, both Harry and Herbert made successful 2-way QSOs using light.  Receiver sensitivity as checked and the experiment indicated that precise aiming of antennas is a necessity.  In early December, Harry and Herbert are going to further their 122 GHz distance record.

                             Harry WA0CNS receiving Herbert's AF4JF light signal.

                                      Herbert AF4JF transmitting to Harry WA0CNS

                                             Harry, Darcy and Herbert conferencing

                       Herbert AF4JF receiving Harry's WA0CNS signal at Creve Coeur Memorial Park

SLAMS September 2020 Breakfast

 Sunday, September 6th, Mel K0PFX, Harry WA0CNS, Herbert AF4JF, Armand KD0PFX, Ron KO0Z, Debbie KC9ULA convened at Creve Coeur Park at 9:00 am to test out some gear.  Mike N0OBI came by, but somehow we missed each other.  COVID-19 is still among us, so we met outdoors, wore masks and kept socially distant.  Herbert brought along his dog, Darcy and Ron and Debbie brought Toula.  Toula is wearing a "dish" to keep her from licking her stitches.

Mel brought his 10 GHz rig to let everyone hear the repaired WB9PNU beacon located on top of DePaul Hospital in Bridgeton, MO.  The beacon has a very strong signal at the park location.  Mel could point his dish in any direction and the signal was still loud and clear.

Herbert experimented with a patch antenna and a log periodic antenna with his PLUTO SDR transceiver.  Harry WA0CNS brought his 2.3 and 3.4 GHz transverters.  Herbert was testing some antennas and tuning with the PLUTO waterfall.  WA0CNS has a very impressive H frame for his uW yagis.