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)

SPRINT Microwave Contest - May 6, 2023

Harry WA0CNS and Herbert AF4JF went to Hannibal, MO in EM49hq to participate on the SPRINT Microwave contest today. They met with a local HAM and SLAMS member Kevin AD7OI at Lovers Leap on the cliff above the Mississippi river in Hannibal. Weather was not so good at the begin, but turned to be better towards the end of the contest.

View in NW direction
(approximately towards Cedar Rapids)

View to North
(approximately towards Chicago)

View to NE
(approximately towards Fort Wayne, IN)

This location repeatedly proved itself to be good for 10GHz, especially with Rain Scatter or Trop propagation enhancement. Listen to the Saint Louis SLAMS beacon on 10GHz:

WB9PNU/B over Rain Scatter aiming 90 deg. away from the beacon

We have brought 902-1296-2304MHz equipment and especially 10GHz. Some pictures with the 10GHz stations:

Kevin AD7OI
(picture by WA0CNS)

Herbert AF4JF with Darcey
(picture by WA0CNS)

Harry WA0CNS

Weather forced us to hide in our cars for a while today. We like thunderstorms during our outdoor activities, but not necessarily right above us. Following picture shows Herbert's rack with lower band transverters inside the car in the middle of moving the equipment to safety:

Herbert AF4JF packing everything 
to plastic boxes or to the back of his car

Despite the weather challenges, we have had a good time and lots of fun trying to work (and working) all the stations available. We certainly will return to this location in the future!

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)