New Slams Tradition - June Breakfast at Uncle Linny'

We've started a new SLAMS tradition of combining the ARRL June VHF Contest with the Egyptian ARC Hamfest and our monthly breakfast at Uncle Linny's in Pontoon Beach, IL.  I was glad to see everyone.  Summer arrived and it was HOT, HUMID and STICKY.  Around 10:00 am we left the hamfest went to Uncle Linny's and enjoyed a great, reasonably priced breakfast.  Herbert has done some tremendous work on a really inexpensive microwave signal source.  I just ordered mine on Ebay.  See AF4JF's posting on his blog site for more information.

After breakfast we headed our separate ways around 11:15 am.  Debbie and I went to Ohlmann Cemetery in EM49ji.  I arrived around 1:00 pm, set up my 10 GHz rig and listened for the WB9PNU/B.  I didn't hear a peep.  It's been nine months since I last powered up the rig.  I called Zack, but he wasn't out and about for the contest due to car troubles unfortunately.  I called Ron, W9ZIH and we couldn't hear each other.  Drats.  Maybe something wrong at my end.

Debbie and I made it back home in EM59ck and about 20 minutes later a t-storm from out of the northeast heading southwest was upon me.  I powered up my 10 GHz rig, aimed it northeast and lo and behold, I could hear WB9PNU/B about 529 via rainscatter!  My rig still works!

After posting these photos I am returning back to the ARRL VHF contest.  Visiting with everyone cost me a few points and mults, but it was well worth it to see everyone!

Sam, Rich, Jim and Herbert.  Debbie is in the purple, but not shown fully in the picture

                                                         Herbert and Harry

                                The Arduino Shield connected to Arduino which in turn programs a microwave signal source with ADF4351 good for 10 dBm!

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

MUD 2016

Microwave Update 2016 will take place in St. Louis this year. Click on this link to find more info.

73 Herbert
AF4JF

December 2015 SLAMS Breakfast

Sunday, 6 December, my alarm clock chirping away, urging me to get up and make myself ready for the one-hundred and four mile trek from Girard, IL to Maryland Heights, MO to say, "Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to some of my dearest ham radio friends while at breakfast.  Unfortunately, not all of us were there, and you were missed, but we are all looking forward to more ham radio, microwave adventures with the coming New Year!

November Slams Breakfast

I am in total admiration with SLAMS.  It would be hard to find a more caring, dedicated, fun-loving group of hams.  Our organization prides itself on being loosely structured and welcoming of all.  I appreciate that the group makes it a point to have our monthly breakfasts in Illinois a few times a year so the ops out here don't have so far to drive.  Here's a photo of our breakfast held on Sunday, November 1.  We made it in spite of the time change to standard time!

Vistas from Brown County State Park, Indiana, EM69vd

Here are some photos of our trip to Brown County State Park, EM69vd near Nashville, IN.  It is a good microwave site in most directions. The scenery is spectacular.  I bet the fall colors are extraordinary.  These pictures were taken around 1:00 pm CDT on Sunday, September 20, 2015.

                       Here is a me looking southeast towards Dave K4TO in EM77vx

                                   KO0Z and KC9ULA at Brown County State Park southeast vista

                                                    Looking towards the northeast

                                   Southwest is looking into the trees, but not bad west and northwest

                                  Debbie, KC9ULA and Kip at the North Tower.  Looks good towards
                                  the north, but a hefty climb up stone stairs.  We didn't even try the climb with
                                  radio gear.

                              View towards the northeast and Ron, W9ZIH in EN51nv

                                Woot, woot!  I just made a 135 mile Q with Dave K4TO in EM77vx

Brown County State Park EM69vd Microwave Sites

Here is a jpeg map of Brown County State Park near Nashville, Indiana in EM69vd.  KC9ULA and myself, KO0Z) mapped out the vistas which offer a clear view to the horizon.  The vistas are along a paved road on a ridge with typical elevations around 1,050 feet (320 meters).  I've marked the vista openings to the horizon in degrees so as to better plan where an optimum spot for QSO attempt could take place.

73, de Ron, KO0Z