Showing posts with label W0GR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label W0GR. Show all posts

Sunday, May 21, 2023

IN MEMORIAM, GARTH W0GR (sk)

In Memoriam

 While reading the June 2023 issue of QST, on page 103 in the Silent Keys section, I saw long time VHF, UHF, SHF enthusiast Garth Flournoy W0GR listed.  Garth lived in Odessa, MO and he was a very active ham for most of his career. Further research by Herbert AF4JF revealed Garth became a silent key over 2 years ago.  The following is Garth's obit from Ledford Family Funeral Homes's webpage:Garth Ray Flournoy Obituary 2020 - Ledford Family Funeral Homes (ledfordfamilyfh.com)


Garth Ray Flournoy

July 25, 1925 — September 29, 2020

Garth Ray Flournoy, 95, of Odessa, Missouri passed away on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 at Meyer Care Center in Higginsville, MO.

A private family graveside service was held on Thursday, October 1, 2020 at the Odessa Cemetery. Memories of Garth and condolences for his family may be left at www.LedfordFamilyFH.com or on our Facebook Page. Services were entrusted to Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 S. 2nd Street, Odessa, MO, 64076, 816-633-5524.

Garth was born on July 25, 1925 near Odessa, MO to Raymond and Verda Flournoy. After graduating from Odessa High School in 1943 he served in the United States Army during World War II. On September 8, 1957 Garth was united in marriage to Alice Etoile (Eldredge) in Raytown, MO at the Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church. He lived in Independence, MO for 30 years, before returning to the Odessa area in 1988 after retiring from Missouri Public Service Company where he worked as an engineer. His amateur radio call was W0GR. Garth was an experimental builder who designed, built, and operated amateur radio equipment on micro-wavelengths, and high and ultra-high frequencies. Besides the technical challenge, he loved talking to people all over the world for the more than 70 years he was licensed. Garth was a lifetime member of the American Radio League, Quarter Century Wireless Association, Central States VHF Society, and other microwave engineering and discussion groups. His other hobby was his fantastic photography, with which he documented vacation travels as well as his nieces growing up. And he had a distinct and wonderful sense of humor that was appreciated by all who knew him. Garth was a Presbyterian and served on the session and participated in many church activities.

In addition to his beloved wife, Alice “Ally,” Garth is survived by two nieces, Marla Struebin and Ann Rai and their families.
 
From all of your SLAMS friends, rest in peace Garth.  W0GR will be missed.  Thank you for all the wonderful QSOs.
 
73 Garth


Wednesday, September 5, 2012

More DX on 10GHz

Jim N5MU and Herbert AF4JF worked Garth W0GR across 185 miles long path between EM48rq and EM38ax on 10GHz at 12:24 and 12:27 UTC today.

Garth has a 2ft. dish in 1017ft. a.s.l. and 8W into long waveguide, he thinks that only 4W make it to the antenna.

Jim has approx. 2ft. offset dish with DEMI transverter, 2W at the feed:


Herbert has the same 2ft. offset dish with 10mW DEMI transverter and external PA, only approx. 1.4W at the feed:



We have operated from EM48rq, using a parking lot of St. Luke's Rehabilitation Medical Facility just above the "Butterfly House" near Chesterfield. This place is in 700ft. a.s.l. and has nice open view towards West:

I believe that these QSOs were made through "wapor duct" that gets created by evaporation around sunrise. First, we didn't copy Garth until sunrise and second, we were aiming our dishes 5.5 deg. up (I have a digital gauge for that). There were no signals audible when aiming at the horizon, but I have copied Garth S8 after raising the antenna! 


Tropo conditions were promising today, so it might also have been tropospheric propagation:

Garth did NOT copy the WB9PNU/B beacon today.


73 Herbert
AF4JF


Thursday, August 30, 2012

10 GHz Q between EM38ax and EM59cl

Woo-hoo!  When I awoke this morning I noticed that Garth, W0GR had emailed that he was hearing WB9PNU/b over S-9 around 6:00 am.  It was now 7:15 am and when I telephoned Garth he said there was QSB, but he could still hear the beacon.  After seeing Debbie and Roman off to school, I trundled up to my new site in EM59cl and set up.  By 8:15 am I was up and running and I could hear WB9PNU/b only S-0 to S-1.  I wasn't expecting much this morning.  I pointed my dish towards 262 degrees towards Odessa, MO and tuned for Garth.  There he  was roaring in sending Vs!  I quickly gave Garth a call and he listened for me and we made the two-way QSO on 10 GHz!  Woo-hoo!  Tnx Garth for being there.  This is new distance record for me, 226.2 miles and a new grid square for both me and Garth!

I am including some WX related data related to today's QSO that may prove to be useful information.  The remnants of Hurricane Issac are expected in our area in about 24 hours, but perhaps the low associated with it is pumping up gulf moisture ahead of it which may be enhancing propagation.
GOES Satellite Water Vapor image.  Notice the front draped across the norther plains states and the remnants of Hurricane Issac centered over Louisiana.

NWS, STL WX radar

Hepburn page for this morning's QSO. Not spectacular, but the path was made.  It is very helpful when one op has a super station!

Today's WX surface map from NOAA.