Louisana, MO EM49lk to Ossian, IN EN70jt 2-way Q

 Saturday, 28 August, 5:45 AM, the temperature is already in the 70s and the heat warning continues.  Undaunted, Herbert AF4JF and Ron KO0Z make the trek up Missouri Route 79 to Louisana, MO to activate EM49lk for Gedas W8BYA in Ossian, IN EN70jt on 10 GHz.  The 321 mile (517km) path would not be an easy tropo path.  We calculated our best chances would be in the morning.  By 7:00 AM, we were QRV overlooking the Mississippi River. 

For about an hour Herbert and Gedas tried to work each other to no avail.  They even tried aircraft scatter.  AF4JF actually heard W8BYA's 10 GHz signal briefly.  But not long enough to make a two-way QSO.  As luck would have it.  Two rain cells popped up west of Chicago and north of Peoria.  They were able to work each other via each rain cell!  

From our location in Louisana there was not a cloud in the sky.  We couldn't even see the storm clouds north of us!  Fortunately, the storms were over 30K in height allowing us to complete the two-way 10 GHz Q.

Congratulations to both Herbert and Gedas.  W8BYA now has grid square EM49 confirmed in his impressively growing list of 10 GHz grid totals!

 

                                                      Darcey is a great uW travel companion!

                                          Herbert AF4JF setting up his 10 GHz rig

                                                        Sun rising over the Mississippi River

                                                           Herbert AF4JF in Louisana, MO             

 

  Not a cloud in the sky, but to the north was a rain cell allowing AF4JF and W8BYA to confirm EM49lk and EN70jt.

                                                  Note the rain storm west of Chicago.  The blue dot is our location in Louisana, MO EM49lk and Gedas W8BYA is near Ft. Wayne, IN. EN70jt. The 10 GHz Q was made using rain scatter with that storm.