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)

More SLAMS activities in 2023

Looking at this blog might make you think that the SLAMS group is only about contesting. No no, that would be very far off the truth! We do many other ham-radio related things and there even are contests that we attend but not inform everybody about it by posting it here! For example (limited to a part of this year):

• SLAMS visited meetings of 4 local radio clubs and provided presentations about microwaves
• SLAMS attended the Washington Hamfest (at the time of CQ WW VHF Contest)
• SLAMS attended the 3-day CSVHF Conference in Arkansas
• SLAMS attended the Macoupin Hamfest (at the time of the ARRL UHF Contest)
• SLAMS attended the St. Charles Hamfest
• SLAMS attended several MAD Days (Microwave Activity Days, 1st Saturday of the month)

Several pictures from these activities can be found below. Note that we did not take the pictures for publishing on this blog, so they often do not show much detail:

Radio offered at the Washington Hamfest (07/16)

AF4JF operating in CQWW VHF contest (07/15)

AF4JF parked at the Washington Hamfest (07/16)

Antenna Field for microwave antennas being set up at CSVHFC 2023 in Little Rock 07/28

Rover stations displayed at the CSVHFC 2023

One of the halls at Macoupin Hamfest 08/05

Outdoor setup at Macoupin Hamfest 08/05
(we have operated from that shelter in the ARRL UHF contest after the hamfest)

AF4JF set up i n ARRL UHF Contest day after Macoupin Hamfest (08/06)
(of course, the antennas were raised 6ft up after the picture was taken)

Saint Charles Hamfest (08/13)

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.

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)

June MAD 2020

Saturday, June 6, 2020, I awoke 20 minutes before my alarm was set to go off.  Our annoying, resourceful cat, Jac spent the night "catting around" and with the sunrise, he was demanding to be let inside.  His pitiful meows fell upon sleeping ears, so he jumped five feet up to the screened, shut, bedroom window and tried scratching his way inside which did awaken me.

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.

MAD Day May 7, 2016

Herbert AF4JF, Harry WA0CNS and Jim N5MU met on the hilltop in EM48rq for Microwave Activity Day today (remember, MAD Days are every first Saturday of the month). The task for today was 24GHz.

We have tried 24GHz from this location several times. Everything looked OK today, Harry and Herbert have copied each other in the parking lot. Harry moved to the valley approx. 3.8 miles away and set up there. Herbert and Jim copied his signal well, but Harry didn't hear us down  there. The station on the hill (on picture) was only about 1 mW of power while Harry's station was close to one watt RF. 

Another interesting problem was the wind. Not only did we have problem hearing anything between the gusts, there also was a mechanical problem. The dish on picture was mounted on long piece of aluminium which was vibrating in the wind, causing the dish to lose aim. Yes, 24GHz beam from a dish of this size is quite narrow and difficult to aim.

The other tripod usually holds 10GHz dish. That band is "trivial" for short distance like this :-)

We didn't even try today.

73 Herbert

AF4JF

MAD Day on July 6, 2013

The SLAMS group participated on Microwave Activity Day (MAD) on Saturday July 6th, 2013. Jim N5MU went to Edwardsville area in EM58 while Mel K0PFX, Armand KD0PXF and Herbert AF4JF met at usual location - the YMCA parking lot in EM48sq. We have set up two stations for 10GHz, one for 1296MHz and one for 432MHz:

There was one thing that made this MAD day unique - Armand KD0PXF has made his very first ham radio contact! Furthermore, he has done so on 10GHz SSB ....

 



Note the bigger dish at the bottom. That's what Armand has used for his first QSO. Following picture shows Armand installing his dish antenna:

Congrats, Armand! You know, you should always start somewhere in the ham radio spectrum and then keep going higher and higher in frequency ... Well, his first QSO was on 10368.1MHz which is the wavelength of approx. 3cm.

Herbert
AF4JF

QRV from Boothill, EM59ji

The Macoupin County EMA Director, Jim N9LQF told me about a hill he'd driven by that he thought would be great for microwave activity.  So, last Sunday I went along IL Route 16 just outside of Ohlman, IL.  It is about 75 feet or so higher than the surrounding countryside and the only thing on top of the hill is a cemetery. It is clear in all directions! This will be perfect for microwave activities.  It is located in EM59ji which is about 32 miles southeast of my Girad QTH.  I plan to be QRV from that site, weather depending, for the May MAD.

MAD Activity on September 1st and 2nd

We have set up at YMCA in EM48sq at early hour today - my 10GHz station was operational at 5:45am this morning. Reason for this early setup was a "sked" with Garth W0GR on 10GHz. Garth copies the WB9PNU/B beacon signals with significant strength almost every morning, so we wanted to try while remnants of the tropical storm ISAAC were still in the area. EM38 would be new grid for me on 10GHz. 

NOAA satellite picture

Rain Scatter conditions

I was hoping for Rain Scatter, but all the usable storms went North out of Garth's reach. The only one remaining didn't have much reflectivity and was moving North, behind a line of trees from my point of view.

However, we have set up close to Marine Ave. at the YMCA entrance. Jim KK0JIM came to participate. Note the orange flashing light in the middle of the picture at its bottom:

Well, we didn't work Garth, although we have heard his beacon from time to time. Signal was very weak and never lasted long enough to copy even a single character in morse code. Just a few beeps and elevated noise. Not good.

Sudden burst of wind finally turned the antenna over and everything landed on the road. This has never happened before, but I have never set up with that umbrella in windy weather. Anyway, here comes a solution that I will be using from now on:

We gave up Garth at approx. 7:30 and moved to the usual location in the YMCA parking lot to try with Ron KO0Z. Signals were not as strong as usual, but we made it, both CW and SSB between 8:05 and 8:25 this morning. Signals were coming from azimuth 19deg. while direct line between us was 33deg. Signal takeoff angle was approx. 15deg. Signal was showing signs of Rain Scatter distortion. Distance 65 miles.

This was new grid for Ron KO0Z and first QSO on 10GHz ever for Jim KK0JIM who also celebrated his birthday today! Congratulations and thanks for all your help, Jim!

Packed up and returned home after that.

--

Tried one more time on Sunday 09/02 in the morning, right before SLAMS breakfast meeting. Rainy weather, no luck, despite setting up across the road from the YMCA entrance. We have to bribe Mr. Hepburn for better propagation next time ...

Very inconvenient rain ...

Note my car parked across the street 

AND 

the tripod anchored by the heavy battery!

Garth was unable to copy the WB9PNU/B beacon on 10GHz this morning, not even on Spectran. Too much water in the air .. and Garth reported heavy groubd fog in his area. Well, next time ...

NOAA satellite picture from Sunday 09/02

Herbert

AF4JF

MAD Activity on July 7, 2012 on Hot 100F Day

Couple of us have had a "crazy" idea to participate on MAD activity at hottest time of the year. Temperature on the parking lot at YMCA in St. Louis West  County reached 100F around 8:00am today ...

Jim N5MU and Herbert AF4JF met at YMCA in EM48sq to work John WB9PNU from his home in EM48tm, Zack W9SZ on his favorite hilltop in EN50rl and our new member Danny NG9R on a hilltop in EN40na.

No QSO on 10GHz from YMCA today. However, we have tested an "Eggbeater" for 144MHz and 30W PA for 23cm (both AF4JF). Signal strength was good enough for SSB QSOs on 144 and 1296MHz.

Following pictures document view in various directions from the YMCA parking lot:

North (towards NG9R)

North-East (towards W9SZ, KO0Z)

South (towards WB9PNU)

South-West (towards WA0CNS, N0IS)

West (towards AF4JF, N5MU homes)

We have had a good time, although the temperature really was a little bit "too high". Even our radios were not exactly on frequency as usual and the 10GHz beacon was 10kHz higher than normally thanks to temperature in the beacon enclosure exceeding the Xtal cutoff frequency. Let's hope for little nicer weather with some thunderstorms to allow RainScatter QSOs with W9SZ on 10GHz next time!

73 Herbert

AF4JF