Last one for 3 cm VUCC

Last Tuesday, Dave KB0PE came over to my St. Peters QTH to take down my skyhooks from EM48 and move them to my Girard, EM59 QTH.  Four hours later we were rolling up hardline and loading up my van and trailer.  On the way back to Girard we stopped off in Edwardsville in the EM58as location and worked Jim, N5MU on 3cm!  We had 579 cw reports and 5x7 SSB contacts!  This grid QSO gave Jim his fifth grid for his VUCC!  Congratulations Jim!  After the QSO, a very tired KO0Z and KB0PE went to great burger joint in nearby Pontoon Beach.  Uncle Linny's makes the largest hamburger I've ever seen.  It is one pound of pure deliciousness! They also make a 3lb burger with a bunch of fries and if you can consume the entire meal in 45 minutes then it is free. 

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.

Main VHF+ Contests in 2013

We have an older posting with more contests on our blog site right here. Some of the links to contest rules weren't updated yet, so today's posting below only shows a few contests today. We will update this list as soon as the information becomes available.

First Saturday  of every month	Microwave Activity Day (MAD) Not a contest but a time to just get on and generate some RF!
January 19-21 2013	2013 ARRL Jan. VHF Sweepstakes link for 2013 has changed, new link here
April -  May  2013	SPRINT VHF+ Contests link for 2013 has changed, new link here
May 4-5  2013	SBMS Contest(San Bernardino Microwave Society) SBMS web site contest rules in the SBMS newsletter here
June 8-10  2013	2013 ARRL Jun. VHF QSO Party link for 2013 has changed, new link here
(to be continued)
August 3-4 2013	2013 ARRL UHF Contest (220MHz and Up) Rules here
August 17-18 2013	2013 ARRL 10GHz+ Contest 1/2 Rules here
September 14-16 2013	2013 ARRL Sept. VHF QSO Party Rules here
September 21-22 2013	2013 ARRL 10GHz+ Contest 2/2 Rules here
Sept - Oct 2013	SPRINT VHF+ Contests Rules here - not updated yet

10 GHz Snowscattter Attempt

Tuesday 27 February 2013:  It's been snowing lightly between Girard, IL (EM59) and the WB9PNU/b in EM48.  I was wondering if I could hear the beacon via snowfall scatter propagation.  Unfortunately, at my QTH in Girard my 10 GHz rig is looking into a tree and some homes.  I varied the dish elevation.  A couple of times I thought I heard the beacon faintly, but I cannot confirm that observation.  It may have been wishful thinking on my part.  I left the rig running for a half hour before listening.  Oh well it was a fun experiment and if I was more motivated to go out into the cold I could have gone to my favorite microwave spot about 8 miles from here, but such was not the case today!
73,
Ron, KO0Z

SLAMS 24 GHz Breakfast, Saturday Feb 23

Jim, N0OBG is holding Harry's (WA0CNS) 24 GHz transverter which he brought to the SLAMS breakfast at Denny's on Dorset Road 23 January.

 Downconverter used to convert 24 GHz to 432 MHz.

 Upconverter used with an LO to produce 24 GHz signal.

 John, WB9PNU is chatting with Harry WA0CNS at the 24 GHz breakfast.

 Mel, K0PFX, Herbert, AF4JF, Jim, N5MU on the left and at the head of the table on the right side is Rich, N0PQU and Bob, N0IS.

One of the LOs used in producing 24 GHz

 Good food, good company and good conversation.

 Harry's WA0CNS is building a 47 GHz transceiver.

 The bottom side of the 47 GHz transceiver.  Pictured below is Herbert, AF4JF, Harry WA0CNS, Mike, N0OBI and Rich, N0PQU.

Hamfests around St. Louis in 2013

We have just had the Winterfest in Collinsville, IL today - 01/26/2013

Here is a list of interesting hamfests and conferences in our area (please let us know about others):

• Winterfest - Collinsville, IL - 01/26/2013
• Egyptian Radio Club Auction - 03/09/2013 at 4:00pm, check in equip. at 2:00pm
• Lewis & Clark Radio Club Hamfets - Godfrey, IL - 04/20/2013
• Egyptianfest - Sunday 06/09/2013
• Augustfest, Macoupin County ARC - Carlinville, IL - 08/03/2013
• St. Charles Hamfest - O'Fallon, MO - 08/11/2013
• Joplin Hamfest - Joplin, MO - 08/23-24/2013
• CSVHFC - Chicago, IL - 08/25-28/2013
• Peoria Hamfest - Peoria, IL - 09/20-22/2013
• Midwest Div Convention - Lebanon, MO - Fri-Sat 11/8-9/2013

We will add some details to these later.

73 Herbert

AF4JF

First Contest in 2013

ARRL January VHF Contest takes place on the third or fourth weekend in January. Begins 1900 UTC Saturday, ends 0359 UTC Monday. It will be held on January 19-21 this year (2013).

Objective as found on ARRL web site:

For amateurs in the US and Canada (and their possessions) to work as many amateur stations in as many different 2 degrees x 1 degree Maidenhead grid squares as possible using authorized frequencies above 50 MHz. Stations outside the US & Canada (and their possessions) may only work stations in the US (and its posessions) and Canada.

Stations in KH0-9, KL7 & KP1-KP5, CY9 and CY0 count as W/VE stations and can be worked by DX stations for contest credit.

More details here.