KO0Z's 2nd 24 GHz QSO between Missouri and Illinois !

 Saturday morning, July 16th, TV weather forecasters promising a hot, humid day.  A high pressure cell is retreating from an advancing northwesterly, cold front.  A good day to attempt my second ever 24 GHz QSO.  A week before, Harry WA0CNS lent me his second 24 GHz rig to experiment with.  I made my first 24 GHz Q with Harry and Herbert AF4JF across Creve Coeur Park (approximately 110 yards).  

TV weather forecasters were right (this time) it was hot, getting hotter and the relative humidity increasing from the low 60s.  Outside temp at 10 am CDT, 15:00 Z was 90 F.  Earlier in the morning Herbert AF4JF took the Golden Eagle Ferry across the mighty Mississippi River to the Calhoun County, IL peninsula to gather some peaches before crossing the Illinois River near Grafton and on to Pere Marquette State Park in EM48rx.  His destination is Eagle Roost, a scenic, 800 foot overlook with a uninterrupted view of the southeast to almost west direction.  It is shaded and relatively cool.  A great spot, and one of our favorite microwave locations.  Ron KO0Z, using Harry's loaner 24 GHz rig set up in (EM48qt) MidRiver's Mall, western parking lot (468 ft) looking 17 degrees and 13.22 miles (21.3 km) towards the distant Illinois river bluffs and AF4JF's location.

Herbert aimed his dish southwest (197 degrees) and transmitted USB.  Ron immediately heard his 3 x 9 signal. Herbert's signal strength was solid, but his transmitted audio was distorted.  AF4JF is using SDR/Pluto.  It sounds like his SSB is a bit over driven, but it is copy able.  Herbert's audio sounded cleaner today as compared to last week's test.  Apparently my audio and signal were fine at Eagle Roost!  Herbert is running 100 milliwatts output and Ron has 25 microwatts and we made the 21 km path today!

 We made the 24 GHz QSO around 10:35 am, 15:35 Z and not a minute too soon.  Although Eagle Roost has shade, the parking lot does not. Ron pointed his truck so it would offer a little, precious shade on this hot day.  Remarkably, the Q was made on the first try.  Harry cautioned me that the dish beam width is very narrow and he is so right.  After we made the Q, I experimented and moving the dish. Moving the dish more than a degree made the difference between hearing AF4JF and not hearing him.  

I'd like to thank Harry WA0CNS for lending me his second 24 GHz rig and Herbert AF4JF for making the trek to EM48rx.  I only had to travel less than a mile to get to my uW spot, but Herbert took two ferry boats and crossed the Calhoun county peninsula to reach the park.  Of course there was the added benefit of procuring delicious Illinois peaches and a road trip for his loving canine,companion Darcy.

                               Elevation profile between EM48rx and EM48qt.  The peaks in the middle are the Illinois bluffs just north east of the Mississippi River.

                           The white line is the path between Eagle Roost, IL and MidRiver's Mall, MO.

              Ron KO0Z's truck temporarily offered welcome shade from the 90 F plus temps. The dish is looking 17 degrees towards Eagle Roost 21 km to the northeast.

                               Just to the left on the light pole near Famous Shoes was the 17 degree marker. Eagle Roost and Pere Marquette park are off in them yonder hills.

                       KO0Z's setup and shade on the otherwise, hot, asphalt parking lot at 16:00 Z

                            Harry WA0CNS rig is using a W2PED 24 GHz transverter.

                               Herbert AF4JF forged across the mighty Mississippi via the Golden Eagle Ferry from St. Charles county, MO to Calhoun county, IL and the Calhoun peninsula.  Later, he took the Brussels Ferry across the Illinois River to IL Hwy 100.

                 Herbert AF4JF's Eagle Roost, EM48rx, Illinois 24 GHz location.

                   AF4JF is using SDR as his IF rig for 24 GHz.  He is making a lot of progress working out any bugs.

                                                   Darcy, is always up for microwaving!

                               AF4JF (EM48rx) aiming southwest, 197 degrees towards Ron KO0Z in St. Peters, MO EM48 qt,  13.22 miles (21.3 km) away,.

             NOAA's weather forecast map for Saturday, July 16.  Note the approaching cold front.  Although the map shows rain potential for Missouri, it did not rain on our parade today.  Sunday's forecast calls for much needed rain, so we picked a good day to try out 24 GHz.