First Snow Scatter Attempt

 

 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.

 

Annual SLAMS/BARS Lunch again

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.

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.

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.

Our entire group at the table, except Darcey ...

Darcey was too short to sit at the table, 
so she enjoyed her lunch under it.

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!

Frenchman's Bluff EM49ma, Cuivre River State Park

 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

                                            Looking southwest 225 degrees                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                              Looking northwest 325 degrees

 

                                                                            

                                                      Convenient parking near the bluff                                       

SLAMS NOVEMBER BREAKFAST 2023

 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!

NOVEMBER MAD

 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.

                      KO0Z's dish EM48kt pointing 278 degrees towards WQ0P EM19wf.

    McDonald's parking lot, Warrenton, MO EM48kt:  Ron's dish, Herbert AF4JF, Harry WA0CNS sitting, Richard KF0JEJ and Aaron AE0LZ.

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!

SPRINT Contests Fall 2023

End of the VHF+ contesting season is crowned by the Fall SPRINT Contests. They took place on following days this year:

• 08/26 ... 50MHz
• 09/18 ... 144MHz
• 09/26 ... 220MHz
• 10/04 ... 432MHz
• 10/07 ... 902MHz And Up

We usually participate, but these contests are short and (with exception of the microwave part) take place in the evening. It is not exactly easy for the roving stations to set up and pack the equipment in the dark, so the number of participants is not too high. This year was no exception. No unusual contacts were made this Fall. Interesting is that we made some of the 220MHz contacts on FM using handheld radios. Following pictures document the setups:

Ron KO0Z operated 50 and 144MHz from home

Herbert AF4JF with his HF (and 50MHz) mobile antenna

Harry WA0CNS with his Rover

Herbert AF4JF with his 144MHz beam

Herbert AF4JF with 220MHz antenna

Herbert AF4JF testing dual loop antenna for 432MHz
(worked very well)

Herbert AF4JF in Microwave Sprint
(902, 1296, 2304MHz and 10GHz)

More SLAMS activities in 2023

Looking at this blog might make you think that the SLAMS group is only about contesting. No no, that would be very far off the truth! We do many other ham-radio related things and there even are contests that we attend but not inform everybody about it by posting it here! For example (limited to a part of this year):

• SLAMS visited meetings of 4 local radio clubs and provided presentations about microwaves
• SLAMS attended the Washington Hamfest (at the time of CQ WW VHF Contest)
• SLAMS attended the 3-day CSVHF Conference in Arkansas
• SLAMS attended the Macoupin Hamfest (at the time of the ARRL UHF Contest)
• SLAMS attended the St. Charles Hamfest
• SLAMS attended several MAD Days (Microwave Activity Days, 1st Saturday of the month)

Several pictures from these activities can be found below. Note that we did not take the pictures for publishing on this blog, so they often do not show much detail:

Radio offered at the Washington Hamfest (07/16)

AF4JF operating in CQWW VHF contest (07/15)

AF4JF parked at the Washington Hamfest (07/16)

Antenna Field for microwave antennas being set up at CSVHFC 2023 in Little Rock 07/28

Rover stations displayed at the CSVHFC 2023

One of the halls at Macoupin Hamfest 08/05

Outdoor setup at Macoupin Hamfest 08/05
(we have operated from that shelter in the ARRL UHF contest after the hamfest)

AF4JF set up i n ARRL UHF Contest day after Macoupin Hamfest (08/06)
(of course, the antennas were raised 6ft up after the picture was taken)

Saint Charles Hamfest (08/13)

ARRL 10GHz And Up Contest in September 2023 as seen by AF4JF - part 2

We have written several postings about this year ARRL 10GHz And Up contests non this blog site. I have published a video recording in my previous posting here (click to open) with a request for you to estimate how big a distance was covered by that nice FM QSO. I have received several email guesses, nobody posted a Comment here on the blog, so I am going to say it here. This video shows a 10GHz Rain Scatter QSO that spanned 299km between Greg WQ0P in EM19wf and Ron KO0Z in EM38pw. Once again:

This was not the first video that I have recorded that day (September 16, 2023). I have worked Harry WA0CNS from EM48qs while he was at his usual location in EM48rl. The distance is just 33km, but the signal usually is not strong enough for SSB for there are hills between us. We made it on SSB this time, but the next video recording shows just the lining up phase of the QSO (I did not have enough hands to operate my station and record it):

I have one more recording from that day (September 16, 2023). It demonstrates how strong our 10GHz beacon (WB9PNU/B) located in EM48ss was at my location in EM48qs that morning, about 15km away. We usually do not hear the beacon there at all, for there is a ridge between the locations:

Last recording is from the first leg of the SPRINT Microwave contest on Saturday May 6, 2023 in Hannibal. Location is Lovers Leap in EM49hq, the beacon in EM48ss is 129km away. As you can see on the recording, I am pointing to a tree and our beacon comes through Rain Scatter:

Let me finish this posting with a picture - one that shows how beautiful the place above Hannibal where we usually go in EM49hq really is. This is from August 19, 2023, first leg of the ARRL 10GHz And Up contest:

Lovers Leap, EM49hq

QSO with Gedas W8BYA - A New Grid, #70!

 For the past several months, I've been trying to confirm EM58 for Gedas W8BYA.  We've had several "almosts.' Either I could hear him and he couldn't hear me or vice-versa.  Throughout that time, I've been looking for "good" uW spots to operate.  We found one near Staunton, IL but the vacant restaurant proprietor is a bit touchy about us operating from her vacant parking lot.  Oh well.

I have in-laws living in Vandalia, IL and that city borders EM58 and EM59.  Why not try to work Gedas from there and also visit in-laws?  It's closer to Gedas than from Staunton.

As luck would have it, summer weather patterns are still with us in early fall.  An omega block was setting up over the Midwest.  It wasn't nowhere as intense as the one in September.  In September we had heat indices between 110-115 F with relative humidity approaching the upper 70s and very little wind.  In a word, the weather was oppressive. This go-around it was nice to be outside, but propagation suffers.

Last July, I presented an hypothesis at the CSVHFS conference which theorized there are inland, atmospheric seas that propagate uW signals through ET (evapotranspiration), high pressure systems, high relative humidity levels and little to no wind present.

This Sunday, October 1, we have a weaker omega block, nowhere near the high relative humidity levels, lower ET values and a southeast wind as the high pressure system begins to move eastward.  With temps in the 70s F and RH of 60 degrees there was still some 3 cm present.  I located myself at Vandalia, IL EM58kx municipal airport next to a hangar and eventually worked Gedas W8BYA in EN70jt, 394 km or 245 miles away to my northeast.  QSB was very much present.  Still, we managed a CW QSO at 18:28 Z.  We were on the ragged edge, with RST of419 at best on peaks and 319 on average.

It was interesting to listen/see our signals rise and fade over a 10 to 15 minute time span as we beaconed.  In spite of the QSB, we persevered and we made the two-way for Gedas' 70th confirmed grid square on 10 GHz!

              NWS weather map for Sunday, 1 Oct 2023,  I added the red to indicate the omega block.

                                              Vandalia, IL EM58kx municipal airport.

                               I set-up beside a hangar and made the QSO with Gedas 394 km away!

\

            Here is my signal at Gedas' end.  The squiggle in my trace is the RIT tuning me in.

Later that same afternoon, I went to Altamont, IL EM58pw about 23 miles southeast of Vandalia.  A farmer gave me permission to operate near his bean field.  By the time I was set-up and running there was absolutely no propagation to the northeast.  However, I did faintly hear the WB9PNU beacon to my west about 95 miles (153 km) away.

Better late than ...

 Better late than never, isn't that how the saying goes?  On Sunday, September 3rd, SLAMS members gathered at Dennys in Maryland Hgts for breakfast.  Afterwards, many of us went to upper Creve Coeur park to test out some of our microwave gear ahead of the September leg of the ARRL 10 GHz and Up contest.

                                   Herbert AF4JF chatting with Aaron AE0LZ at Dennys

            From left to right:  Aaron AE0LZ, Mel K0PFX, Sam W0PCE, standing is George  AB0RX.

             Herbert AF4JF, Aaron AE0LZ and Mike N0OBI at upper Creve Coeur Park.