2nd Weekend ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest 2025

                      September 20& 21, 2025 ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest

 Although, the 10 GHz and Up contest isn't quite over as I compose this blog, the writing muse is here and my 8 month old granddaughter is napping, so, I'm taking advantage of the time. This year SLAMS has had a few setbacks due to some medical issues, time commitments and equipment difficulties. But it's hard to keep a few good hams down for long.

 Herbert AF4JF, Harry WA0CNS and Jim KK0U may want to share their experiences in the contest. As for me, KO0Z, I only participated in the contest on Saturday for about one hour.  My stepson's wife had a medical emergency which required me to put on my "grandpa hat" to watch my granddaughter, but I was able to test out my 10 GHz rig. Previously, before the contest I installed a new dish, feedhorn arm extender and mini hardline to the external relay.

On Saturday, 9-20 I set up at MidRivers Mall west parking lot (EM48qt) to listen for Herbert AF4JF and Harry WA0CNS transmissions from Pere Marquette State Park in IL (EM48rx).  Jim KK0U joined me at MidRivers.

While waiting for Herbert and Harry to set-up, I copied the WB9PNU beacon via rainscatter from DePaul Hospital's roof which is about 12 miles away.  The beacon sounds good. I copied the beacon telemetry at 10:03 CDT:  4 watts out, voltage 12.3 DC, enclosure temp of 98 F and PA temp of 100 F.  Around 11:00 am, we were ready.  I transmitted to Herbert but he couldn't hear me.  Jim was able to hear me, but he was only 10 ft away. Herbert's signal was 599 +.  We were only less than 13 miles apart.  Herbert and Harry were able to copy Jim with strong signals. 

Obviously, I have some work to do.  I suspect my external relay may be the culprit. Drats! At least the receive side of my rig works!  I wish I would have been able to accompany Jim from there.  Our original plan was to travel along I-70 every ten miles or so to work EM48rx.  However, unexpected grandpa duty required me to get back home pronto.  I must admit, having a rig with little output made quitting the contest early easier to swallow. 

Now, I need check out that external relay.  Hopefully, that is my transmit issue. 

                                      AF4JF's rig up and running at EM48rx near Eagle Roost.

 

                                                          Pere Marquette State Park, IL EM48rx

                                              Harry WA0CNS back on the air from EM48rx

Darcy EM48rx "chillin."

 

 

                                     

                                           Jim KK0U joining Ron KO0Z at MidRivers Mall EM48qt
 

                              

                                            WB9PNU/b heard from EM48qt via rainscatter from MidRiverss Mall.

ARRL SEPT VHF QSO CONTEST

                                        ARRL SEPTEMBER VHF QSO CONTEST 

 

                                        Rear mounted yagis for 23 cm, 70 cm, 1.25 m and 2 m.
 

Finally, I decided to stop procrastinating and I took some steps to turn my Silverado into a more serious rover.  I've roved before with Herbert AF4JF and Harry WA0CNS to grid squares EM48 and EM49, but those outings were more portable set-ups.  They involved going to location and setting up, tear down and resetting up at another location. I wanted to get more serious about roving.

  I wanted to minimize set-up time.   I have end mounted yagi antennas which require a mast with a good base.  My past, portable set-ups varied in quality and overall were not that good.  This time I purchased a tripod with a steel mast and bolted it down to a plywood sheet.  I then put a heavy weight on the plywood and the antenna system stood up to highway speeds.

On the other hand, I found out the hard way, my folding bed cover needs to be strapped down.  On Sunday, while traveling up Interstate 55,  heard a "boom" as the wind blew my cover backwards against the antenna mast.  The cover blocked my rear window vision. I've done this before and never had a problem.  Then again, I wasn't traveling over 60 mph.  One lesson learned.

I also need to get an antenna switch and longer coax runs.  I fed my coax through the passenger side of the truck.  For the January contest, I plan to use foam rubber to fill in the air gap between the window and the coax.

This turned out to be a good trial run.  Debbie KC9ULA and I decided to not make this contest a "full-press effort."  On Sunday, we wanted to be back in time to view the KC Chief's vs. Eagles football game.  KC lost BTW...drats....  This decision limited our contest time, but this was a trial run.

The weekend of September 13-14 was hot (at times 100 F on my truck's thermometer).  We were under the influence of an weaker, omega, high pressure system.  Humidity levels were way down and so was propagation.  Many of the ops we worked noticed poor, propagation on 6 and 2 meters.  70 cm had better  conditions it seemed.  

On Saturday, Debbie and I started off at the park near St. Charles Community College, near Cottleville, MO EM48.  We made contacts with Herbert AF4JF, Mel K0PFX and Jeff K9KLD in Maryville, IL EM58.  From there we went to Foley, MO EM49 and worked Herbert, Jeff.  Not a bad start for our first day. Herbert convinced us to try again on Sunday.

 Sunday, September 14

 I'm glad we decided to go.  This was going to be a busy, full day in that we wanted to be back in time for the Chief's.  We were on the road by 9:30 am and we worked Mel, K0PFX, en route to EM 58 from EM 48 (I-270).  Our first stop was at a park in Troy, MO, EM58.  I couldn't hear Herbert AF4JF in EM48 or Warren WD9EXD in EM57, but we did work Jeff K9KLD from the park.  Jeff is only a few miles away.  I don't think we'll use that park again, too many trees and houses nearby.

From there we went to Staunton, Il in EM59.  We parked at a dental office located on a hill.  This turned out to be a very good spot.  I worked Warren WD9EXD, Jeff K9KLD, Tony KG9AP, and Gordan N9HYC. We did some band running.

On our way back home, we stopped again in EM58 at a higher location near SIUE.  I was able to work Herbert, Tony, John KE9CIP and Jeff from that location.

STATS 

Debbie and I activated 4 grids, EM48, EM49, EM58 and EM59.  We drove 300 miles on this weekend triip.  We worked 3 grids EM48, EM58 and EM59.  We made 37 Qs, 55 QSO points, 19 mults for a claimed score of 1,045 points.