Microwave Activity (MAD) Day on November 2, 2024

Once again did the SLAMS guys try to spread some radio-activity in the Saint Louis area. It was a nice, warm day with temperature in upper 60's, blue skies .. perfect for family activities. Which turned out to be a problem, at least in the Pere Marquette park where Herbert, AF4JF went with his furry companion Darcey.

The plan was to try all our microwave bands between Eagles Roost (in the Pere Marquette park) in EM48rx where Herbert AF4JF was going to set up, Ron KO0Z who picked our favorite parking lot at the Community College in Cottleville in EM48qs and Harry WA0CNS who went to his favorite High Ridge, EM48rl. The distance between Herbert and Harry was about 34 miles, distances between Herbert and Ron or Ron and Harry were about half that.

Herbert had to cross the two rivers that separate Saint Charles, MO from Grafton, IL on a ferry. That was not exactly problematic, despite the fact that Herbert's car did not fit on a ferry (too many cars) and had to wait one extra round trip of that floating vehicle. Where are all these cars going?

.... of course, they all went to the Pere Marquette park. The parking at the park visitor center was completely full. So was the usual parking lot at the first viewing point at Eagles Roost where we usually park and operate from. Second parking at the Flagpole was crowded as well, so Herbert went to the next spot that we never used before because it was blocked by heavy foliage with no open view.

Surprise! The park people finally decided that "viewing point" has something to do with "seeing" and cut all the bushes that blocked the view. See following pictures. Even better, nobody from the other visitors expected this, so this parking was EMPTY.

This is South

Darcey supervising station setup

Herbert set up all his bands from 902MHz to 122GHz. Space in the back of the SUV is somewhat limited, so the higher bands (on tripods) were tested first and the lower bands with a logatithmic beam had to wait after the tripods were moved aside.

10GHz station in front

The topic of this MAD day was to test if we can make QSOs betweens us and Harry WA0CNS who was using his home made SDR transceiver PLUTO with Raspberry Pi front end, running only about 250mW. Not too surprising result - yes, QSOs with the PLUTO were made on 902MHz, 1296MHz, 2304MHz and 3400MHz. In addition to that also on 10368MHz using our "big" stations with 3W of power.

We were quite tired when we started the journey back home. All of us made it safely and added another chapter to the book of successful microwave activities in our area.

AF4JF waiting for the ferry to get back to Missouri and home

SPRINT Microwave

The SLAMS group was planning on combining the Microwave SPRINT contest with MAD Day (Microwave Activity Day) and with Pere Marquette park activation (POTA). Our plans have changed last minute and we ended up just testing our microwave equipment after months of winter storage.

Herbert AF4JF set up at the Community College near Cottleville, Missouri. Ron KO0Z on Kisker Road behind the close SSM medical facility and Harry WA0CNS went to his favorite place on High Ridge, MO. Ron worked me (Herbert) from Kisker Road and then moved to my location to work Harry. We used 1296MHz and 10GHz, QSOs were made on both bands. Harry WA0CNS used his multi-band SDR transceiver he built from SDR ADALM PLUTO and Raspberry Pi with a touch screen with about 200mW output power on 23cm. That was enough to work both of us on SSB although we were both running > 10W. Distance between us and Harry was 33 km (21 miles, EM48qs to EM48rl) and there is NO line of sight between these locations but we always make the 10GHz contact anyway.

AF4JF in EM48qs

Elevation profile between EM48qs and EM48rl (right side)

ARRL VHF January 2024 Contest

It's that time of the year again - time to freeze while trying to be radio-active. At least in theory. Practically, some of us decided not to get exposed to the elements and the rest just minimized the exposure. We decided to avoid the predicted cold on Saturday and scheduled a limited activity for Sunday, January 21st. Well, it wasn't much warmer and the stay outdoors on the open spots where we usually go to for VHF+ contacts was far from pleasant.

Herbert AF4JF set up his SUV for the usual roving activity, just limited the number of bands to 3 and only worked on two of them - 144 and 432MHz. Harry WA0CNS set up his minivan in similar fashion and operated on 144MHz. Our new member Tony KB9LLD operated on 144 and 432 using a "drive-on" stand with a pole that carried very nice dual band beam. Ron KO0Z supported us from his home station.

We probably did not break any records and I am afraid that we won't win this contest either, but the activity was way higher than couple of last years combined. We have even worked some FM stations only using their handhelds! Hope this trend will spread, we need more activity!

Several pictures from today's outing:

Herbert AF4JF in EM48qs

Herbert AF4JF in EM49oa

Tony KB9LLD in EM48qs

Tony has a nice "drive-on" stand

Herbert worked Marshall WD9EXD in EM57
(142 miles) on the small 70cm loop

ARRL 10GHz And Up Contest in September 2023 as seen by AF4JF - part 2

We have written several postings about this year ARRL 10GHz And Up contests non this blog site. I have published a video recording in my previous posting here (click to open) with a request for you to estimate how big a distance was covered by that nice FM QSO. I have received several email guesses, nobody posted a Comment here on the blog, so I am going to say it here. This video shows a 10GHz Rain Scatter QSO that spanned 299km between Greg WQ0P in EM19wf and Ron KO0Z in EM38pw. Once again:

This was not the first video that I have recorded that day (September 16, 2023). I have worked Harry WA0CNS from EM48qs while he was at his usual location in EM48rl. The distance is just 33km, but the signal usually is not strong enough for SSB for there are hills between us. We made it on SSB this time, but the next video recording shows just the lining up phase of the QSO (I did not have enough hands to operate my station and record it):

I have one more recording from that day (September 16, 2023). It demonstrates how strong our 10GHz beacon (WB9PNU/B) located in EM48ss was at my location in EM48qs that morning, about 15km away. We usually do not hear the beacon there at all, for there is a ridge between the locations:

Last recording is from the first leg of the SPRINT Microwave contest on Saturday May 6, 2023 in Hannibal. Location is Lovers Leap in EM49hq, the beacon in EM48ss is 129km away. As you can see on the recording, I am pointing to a tree and our beacon comes through Rain Scatter:

Let me finish this posting with a picture - one that shows how beautiful the place above Hannibal where we usually go in EM49hq really is. This is from August 19, 2023, first leg of the ARRL 10GHz And Up contest:

Lovers Leap, EM49hq

MAD Sept 2, 2023

 MAD, 2 September 2023

SLAMS members Ron KO0Z and Herbert AF4JF operated Saturday morning.  Herbert went to the Winghaven location to try and work Pete N0OY in Kansas.  No luck with that contact.  Ron went to EM58bv near Hamel, IL to see if he could confirm that grid square for Gedas W8BYA.  Once again, no luck with direct signals.  However, Ron did hear the WB9PNU beacon and he worked Herbert AF4JF who moved his location to St.Charles Community College EM48qs.  They worked each other using CW.

Herbert AF4JF aiming towards Ron from EM48qs

ARRL VHF Contest June 2023

One year had passed, and the SLAMS team was once again gearing up for another ARRL VHF Contest. The calendar read "June 2023" and the thermometer soared past 90F ....

But no, we can't start the story like this, even though it is true. In reality, the preparations began months in advance, and we even conducted a testing event just one week before the VHF contest. Harry WA0NCS built a new station based on the famous SDR Pluto. The design is called "Project Langstone" and Harry used a Raspberry Pi instead of a laptop with Windows to control the unit. Herbert AF4JF got a new set of transverters from a Bulgarian company SG Labs with decent PA units for 902, 1296 and 2304 MHz. Herbert and Harry tested these new units on Saturday, June 3. AF4JF went to Cottleville Community College in EM48qs while Harry was at High Ridge in EM48rl. The distance between these was about 20 miles.

AF4JF with tested antennas for 902, 1296 and 2304 MHz

AF4JF station on a test rack in the back of his car
(looked even worse in real contest one week later 
with more bands added)

Details of AF4JF antennas .. the dish is actually fed
by wideband LPR feed covering 2-11GHz

Everything worked fine, so we made big plans and went to our contest locations. Harry WA0CNS to his usual High Ridge while Herbert AF4JF and Ron KO0Z went to Foley in EM49oa on Saturday June 10 for the first day of the contest.

WA0CNS setting up his station. Note the 50MHz loop.
This is High Ridge EM48rl

Ron KO0Z working on his 1296MHz setup

Herbert AF4JF operated his rover station 
(50-144-222-432-902-1296-2304-3400-5760 and 10368MHz,
dish antennas still in the car)

We have made several QSOs with Harry and some other stations from EM49oa. This is the location of a railroad communications tower on a hilltop, but most of it was covered by foliage. We returned home in the late afternoon, with a plan to continue tomorrow from the "Egyptian Hamfest" that took place in Granite City in EM48wr.

Unfortunately the weather changes. We went from tropical Saturday to cold and wet Sunday. This hamfest typically includes a flea market running in the parking lot, but the weather stopped any attempts at that.

Egyptian Hamfest rainout

After the hamfest, we all headed to our usual lunch spot - Uncle Linny's restaurant in Pontoon Beach. They serve fantastic burgers in sizes of 1lb, 2lbs or 3.75lbs. 

1 lb burger at Uncle Linny's

From here, Ron KO0Z went back to EM48 while Herbert and Harry took a little detour to EM58as (Edwardsville). We did not take any pictures there, just made several QSOs with each other and couple of stations that we found on the bands. Harry remained there to work more stations on 50MHz while Herbert returned to his favorite Community College park in EM48qs to work Ron KO0Z on 10GHz.

AF4JF in EM48qs

Ron set up in nearby grid EM48qr and received a surprise visit by W0MFQ and KB9LLD who live in the area. That was the end of a nice, long event where we activated 5 locations in 3 big grids, got a sunburn and free shower, ate huge burger and had a lot of fun with ham radio.

SPRINT 50MHz Contest 2023

Once again, last time this Spring, did we set up outdoors for a short SPRINT Contest organized by the CSVHFS society (click here for details). The 50MHz contest took place last Saturday evening. From the SLAMS group in Saint Louis, Herbert AF4JF/R operated as a Rover from Winfield EM49pa, Foley EM49oa and Cottleville EM48qs. Harry WA0CNS went to High Ridge EM48rl and Ron KO0Z operated from his home in EM48qs. Several other Saint Louis stations were on the band - KC0PP, KB9LLD, N0MII and others. Unfortunately, there was no propagation enhancement, the "magic band" once again behaved like VHF band and we made local QSOs only. Plenty of fun with that!

AF4JF/R in EM48qs at the Cottleville
Community College

Detail of AF4JF/R mobile antenna
(Tarheel 40-6m on magnetic mount)

Harry WA0CNS with one of his 50MHz loops

Second loop WA0CNS tested

M2 loop for 50MHz used by KO0Z on his house

Huge barge at the Winfield Dam and Lock in EM49pa
as seen by Herbert AF4JF/R on Mississippi River
just before the contest

Everything considered, this was a nice day. Let's hope for more participants in the contest next time!

ARRL UHF Distance Scoring Contest

Some members of the SLAMS group participated on the ARRL UHF Distance Scoring Contest on 6th and 7th of August, 2022, mostly to test our equipment before the upcoming ARRL 10GHz And Up contests.

Saturday the 6th was a very hot day, temperatures in 3 digits. We decided to start a little later in order to survive and even be able to get out the next day. We decided to operate from Saint Louis area (EM48) on Saturday, but go closer to the Kansas border (EM38) on Sunday.

I started at the Community College in Cottleville on Saturday. There is a nice county park in EM48qs (same grid as my house). I have set up at 4:00pm to try with Pete K9PW on 432MHz and 10GHz. However .. I forgot my antenna cable for 432MHz. Pete was located in EN51xr about 395km away. Although the location has a clear shot in the direction of 33deg. and I have worked stations from that area before, we did not make it on 10GHz.

My next try was with Harry WA0CNS who set up at High Ridge in EM48rl. We were able to make SSB QSOs on 10GHz and 23cm (the second one with just 2W of power on my side although I have had my 40W set up). Distance 33km.

AF4JF pointing towards WA0CNS from EM48qs

The day was crowned by a nice RS QSO with Gedas W8BYA on 10GHz. He was in EN70jt as usual and the distance was 515km. Ron KO0Z arrived at the park and we made plans for the next day.

My Sunday started a little inconveniently - by getting out of bed at 4:00am. I wanted to drive to EM38xw and be there when the sun comes out to utilize the morning tropo propagation. We (me and my dog Darcey) arrived right on time and started setting up at 6:30am.

Darcey making sure that I set up everything correctly

We got on 10GHz first and tried with Pete N0OY before the scheduled 7:00am .. but it didn't work. No tropo enhancement between us. We tried several times, then took a break to set up the other bands. And started noticing problems.

Brand new LMR400, factory made but not working

My 23cm did neither receive nor transmit. I spent some time troubleshooting to find out why no receive - the new cable that I replaced since yesterday not working. That was an easy fix (replaced it), but my PA was not transmitting. It was working fine just the day before .. I discovered a blown electrolytic capacitor when I checked it later at home. I have that PA for more than 10 years and I got it as old, used equipment, so that capacitor had full right to fail. It would just be nicer it if would do so at some other time, not in the contest far away from home ... long story short, I was only running 2W on 23cm.

Trying with N0OY from EM38xw

I didn't work Pete N0OY that day. No signal on 10GHz, not even on 432MHz. I have copied his 80W on 1296MHz but he didn't hear my 2W across 498km ...

I have worked Greg WQ0P on 23cm from there. He was able to copy my 2W on 1296MHz across the distance of 354km. Same with Harry WA0CNS who tried to find a location in his area to work me. He finally found a spot in EM48pq and worked me on 1296MHz across 119km. Not bad.

Ron KO0Z arrived with his 24GHz station and we tried to make a QSO on that band. I am running 100mW on 24GHz band, but Ron's station is in the range of microwatts. We have finally made a contact across 1.1km, but it wasn't easy. I will leave the details to Ron.

Working KO0Z on 24GHz using SDR Pluto and a laptop as my IF 

Everything considered, it was a successful contest, even with just 6 QSOs made during its 24 hour span. After packing everything, we went to explore the area and found an acceptable location for RS in the new grid EM39xx. We will test that next time.

2021 August ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest

 Saturday, 21 August.  Hot, humid, hot and humid.  Nonetheless and somewhat daunted, Herbert AF4JF, Harry WA0CNS and Ron KO0Z participated in the ARRL 2021 10 GHz and up contest.  Ron went along for morale.  His DEMI transverter is QRT from his last rain scatter excursion.  He met up with Herbert at EM48qt (St. Charles County Community College) park to work Harry near High Ridge, MO.  AF4JF has the details in his account on this blog site.  Around noon, we decided to call it a day and get ready for our big outing to Louisiana, MO EM49lk on Sunday.

Sunday, 22 August turned out to be a cooler and less humid day.  Harry, Herbert and Ron met at the local QT (EM48qt, tee-hee) to make the trek up Hwy 61 to Hannibal.  Along the way, some wayward deer almost became hood ornaments on Herbert's Chevy Traverse.  Fortunately, no mishaps to report.  We were set up and QRV at Lover's Leap, just south of Hannibal, EM49hq.  Herbert worked W0ZQ and WB0LJC in EN42bm.  Herbert and Harry made a 5 km 2 way QSO on 122 GHz but 24 GHz eluded them. 

From Hannibal, our next stop also overlooking the Mississippi River was Louisiana, MO EM49lk.  We worked Zack  W9SZ and John K9JK in EM59ji from there on 10 GHz.  From there Zack and John went to Dow, IL EM49ua.  Herbert, Harry and Ron went back to St. Charles Community College EM48qt to finish out the day by working Zack and John in Dow before they moved to Eagle Roost at Pere Marquette State Park, EM48rx.

It was a fun, long day.

                                           Harry WA0CNS setting up at 370 Park EM48rt

                                           Herbert setting up at 370 Park EM48rt

                                        Harry taking a break on the levy in EM48qt

                                                  EM48qs looking northeast

                  Herbert AF4JF and Harry WA0CNS QRV from Lover's Leap near Hannibal, EM49hq

                                               Hannibal, MO Lover's Leap EM49hq

                                       WA0CNS setting up 10, 24 and 122 GHz, 5km north of Lover's Leap.