We are group of Ham Radio enthusiasts, interested in microwave radio frequency technologies.
Not much in the way of local microwave activity this winter. Yesterday, January 25 the St. Louis metro area had a rainy day. I decided to drag my 3cm rig next to my back porch doorway to see if I could hear the WB9PNU 3 cm beacon. I am happy to report that it is working nicely!
Screenshot of the rain moving away from the area. When I listened for RS, the rain was filling most of the above screenshot at the time.
It's that time of the year again - time to freeze while trying to be radio-active. At least in theory. Practically, some of us decided not to get exposed to the elements and the rest just minimized the exposure. We decided to avoid the predicted cold on Saturday and scheduled a limited activity for Sunday, January 21st. Well, it wasn't much warmer and the stay outdoors on the open spots where we usually go to for VHF+ contacts was far from pleasant.
Herbert AF4JF set up his SUV for the usual roving activity, just limited the number of bands to 3 and only worked on two of them - 144 and 432MHz. Harry WA0CNS set up his minivan in similar fashion and operated on 144MHz. Our new member Tony KB9LLD operated on 144 and 432 using a "drive-on" stand with a pole that carried very nice dual band beam. Ron KO0Z supported us from his home station.
We probably did not break any records and I am afraid that we won't win this contest either, but the activity was way higher than couple of last years combined. We have even worked some FM stations only using their handhelds! Hope this trend will spread, we need more activity!
Several pictures from today's outing:
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| Herbert AF4JF in EM48qs |
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| Herbert AF4JF in EM49oa |
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| Tony KB9LLD in EM48qs |
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| Tony has a nice "drive-on" stand |
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| Herbert worked Marshall WD9EXD in EM57 (142 miles) on the small 70cm loop |
Wednesday, 27 December 2023, St. Louis saw it's first "significant"
snowfall. Some areas had big flakes, others not so much. The snowfall
didn't accumulate due to ground temperatures well above freezing.
However, it did afford me the opportunity to set my 10 GHz rig up in the
family room, open our French doors to the backyard and to listen for
the WB9PNU/B.
The beacon is about seven miles away to my northeast, but my suburban setting blocks my view. I'm only able to point my rig to the north. I have heard the beacon pointing north with rain scatter with good results. I wanted to see how snow scatter works from the same location.
There wasn't a dense amount of snow falling when I attempted the experiment. I listened around 3:15 pm and I could just make out the beacon. There was QSB and the signal was not strong enough to get a good copy, but I could make it out.
I varied my elevation and azimuth heading a bit with varying results. I do have a limited view, but it fun trying nonetheless. I consider my first experiment with snow scatter a limited success.
Looking out my French doors towards the north in my first attempt to listen for the WB9PNU beacon while it's snowing outside. I could make out the beacon, but it wasn't very strong. There was a lot of QSB. When I took this picture, I had just turned off the rig.
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Another year flew by and our little group met at the Chandler Hill Winery on Saturday November 11, 2023 once again. Meeting for lunch at this nice location (that is also friendly to dogs) has become our tradition. This was our 7th lunch meeting there.
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| Chandler Hill Winery |
Kevin AD7OI with his wife Tammy KI7GVT came from Hannibal to dine with us. Ron KO0Z with his wife Debbie KC9ULA, Mike N0OBI, Harry WA0CNS and Herbert AF4JF with his companion Darcey met to discuss this year's activities and make some plans for the next year. Kevin and Tammy finally moved to their new house and should have more time for our hobbies now. There were many things to discuss.
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| Sitting around the table under a gas heater |
The weather was nice but November is November and Missouri is Missouri, so we selected a table that was neither outdoor nor indoor. There was a big gas heater just next to the table making our stay very convenient.
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| Our entire group at the table, except Darcey ... |
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| Darcey was too short to sit at the table, so she enjoyed her lunch under it. |
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| Mike discussing optical communications with Kevin |
The food was tasty as usual at this location. It is even high enough to make contacts from here, maybe there is some truth on the joke people share about the SLAMS saying that all our rover routes either begin or end at some local winery! We actually have not made any microwave QSOs this time, but Herbert and Harry arrived an hour earlier and calibrated Harry's new SDR transceiver on 3.4GHz band, so that RX and TX frequencies matched each other and the display on the touch screen of the Raspberry Pi that controls Harry's SDR Pluto in so called "Project Langstone". Harry can work on any HAM radio band between 144MHz and 5.7GHz with that.
Hope to meet here again next year!
Today, Cuivere River State Park was open to the public. Last weekend, managed deer hunting closed the park to the public. Debbie KC9ULA and myself KO0Z made it to Frenchman's Bluff to take azimuth readings. At an approximate altitude over 700 feet, this promises to be a good uW site.
Google Earth view from Frenchman's Bluff. Red lines 225 to 325 degrees
Frenchman's Bluff looking west near Troy, MO
Over the weekend we gained an hour. We went from CDT to CST. The time change didn't seem to adversely affect anyone. Even Ron KO0Z made it on time to Denny's on Dorset for our monthly breakfast. In fact he was early!
Pictured from L to R: Debbie KC9ULA, Armand KD0PXF, Mel K0PFX, Sam W0PCE, Mike N0OBI, Herbert AF4JF and Harry WA0CNS. Not pictured is the photographer Ron KO0Z.
The technical discussion centered around SLAMS current DIY project. Infrared receivers/transmitters. Dr. Sam Green W0PCE has extensive experience working with optics. He brought two IR receivers. One he built a couple of decades ago and the current board SLAMS is experimenting with now.
SLAMS current IR receiver board built by Sam
Dr. Sam's photo diode on his older, prototype IR receiver
The flip side containing the IR electronics of Sam's IR receiver
After breakfast, Herbert and Harry went to upper Creve Coeur Park to test Herbert's Bulgarian 3.4 GHz transverter.from SG Lab. It puts out 3 watts and it is reasonable priced. Harry used his Pluto SDR.
AF4JF's SG Lab 3.4 GHz transverter, 432 IF.
Herbert's 1.2 GHz amp
Harry WA0CNS listening for AF4JF's 3.4 GHz signal at Creve Coeur Park
AF4JF's 3.4 GHz signal on the panadapter screen
After succesful testing on 3.4 GHz side by side, Herbert AF4JF continued the SLAMS microwave tradition of testing of increasing the distance. Looking straight ahead, between two trees, AF4JF's Chevy Traverse can be seen on the other side of the park. Approximately 125 yards away. Another successful, Sunday, SLAMS test!
Saturday 4 November 2023, Microwave Activity Day (MAD). The weather was conducive to outdoor activities. Temperatures in the mid sixties, mostly cloudy skies and dry conditions. Not bad for a microwave outing. Especially a few days earlier, morning temps were below freezing. Over the past few months, SLAMS members have presented at three different clubs promoting our activity. Today, we had two hams accompany us, Richard KF0JEJ and Aaron AE0LZ.
Our plan for the day was to activate Frenchman's Bluff EM49ma at the western edge of Cuivre River State Park near Troy, MO. Notice the word, "was." When we arrived at the park, it was closed for deer hunting. Drats, darn the luck. We had hoped our visitors using a "loaner rig" courtesy of John WB9PNU with the guidance of Herbert AF4JF and Harry WA0CNS would have been able to work four grids from that location: EM49, EM48, EM38 and EM39. Hawk Point, 9 miles to the southwest would be in EM48. Kingdom City is
near EM38 and approximately 15 miles north is EM39. This promises to be
a great microwave location. We also wanted to work Greg,
WQ0P in EM19, about 300 miles west in Kansas, but we knew conditions
wouldn't be optimum. Once established and QRV at EM49ma, plans were for Ron KO0Z to head west and to activate the various grids.
VIEW FROM FRENCHMAN'S BLUFF EM49MA
Not to be totally thwarted by the hunting, we regrouped and went to Hawk Point. A good view back to Frenchman's Bluff but not too good in Greg's direction. We headed south to Warrenton, MO and we found a McDonald's parking lot, EM48kt to be suitable for shooting west to EM19wf.
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KO0Z's dish EM48kt pointing 278 degrees towards WQ0P EM19wf.
Herbert was first to solidly hear Greg's signals on CW. AF4JF's IC 705 panadapter is a very big help. AF4JF didn't work Greg. Turns out a PTT connector wasn't fully pushed in. Ron was able to hear WQOP's signal around 11:10 am. Greg was able to see his signal's waterfall, but not good enough for a two-way copy.
After fixing his PTT problem, Herbert AF4JF went digital with Q65 and he was able to decode Greg, but Greg wasn't able to make a successful two-way with Herbert. Not bad for no propagation and a 300 mile path. Progress!
Herbert AF4JF's screen capture of his Q65 attempt with Greg WQ0P in EM19wf from EM48kt.
Later, Herbert attempted a 1.2 GHz Q with Greg with no success.
All in all, not a bad day. We didn't anticipate an entire state park being shut down, but we made the most of it. As the adage goes, "The best laid plans of mice and men oft go astray." Next time for Frenchman's Bluff!
