Blackburn Park, Pacific, MO EM48pl

 Sunday, April 19, 2026...a beautiful spring day to take a drive to check-out a potential microwave site, relatively close to our STL QTH with a reported good view to the south.  Today Debbie KC9ULA and I KO0Z made the trek to Blackburn Park overlooking the Missouri town of Pacific EM48pl.  The overlook is approximately 600 feet in altitude.  It is a small park with benches and a BBQ grill and view to the east through west.  The Ozark foothills present an obstacle towards the east south east to almost south. From our vantage point we'd be aiming into the hillside about 2 miles or so away.  Perhaps knife edge propagation may work. South to west looks very promising.  Northwest to northeast is wooded and not favorable for uW.

 

                                      Southest view...Ozark foothills may provide knife edge propagation...

                                                          Looking south towards Dallas, TX

                                                                         Looking southeasterly

                                                                         Southeast to south

                                                                          Looking south to southwest

                                                       Southeast to south south east

                                                      Approaching southerly view

                                                                          Southeast to south

                                                      View to the north...not so good for uW.

                                                                                    East

                                                             Town of Pacific, MO

 

                                                                 Picnic benches and BBQ pit

                                                                     East 

                                                    Debbie KC9ULA, Toula looking west

                                                                          Westerly

 

AI Images from Glenco Park, April 2026

 

April 2026 Delayed MAD

 SLAMS activity is still alive and well.  We weren't able to participate on the "official" MAD earlier this month, but we did make it this Sunday, April 12, 2026 at Glencoe Park near Wildwood, MO.  It's a nice park and today was a beautiful spring morning.  Herbert AF4JF, Harry WA0CNS along with Debbie KC9ULA and myself, Ron KO0Z made it to the park by 9:30 am. Our canine companions, Darcy and Toula also joined us for the morning.

 Harry brought along his Q5 Signal synthesizer for 5.7 GHz, so Herbert could test his new transverter connected to his Yaesu 817. 

                                                           Harry's Q5 synthesizer on 5.7 GHZ

 

                                                  Herbert in his rover mobile operating 5.7 GHz

                                                Harry WA0CNS giving us the thumbs up after placing the 5.7 GHz beacon

Looking back towards Herbert's red car rover.

                                                       Ron KO0Z moving the beacon at the park.

                                                     One of the log periodic antennas used by Herbert

                                              Ron KO0Z acting as an antenna tripod for Harry WA0CNS as he uses his PLUTO SDR to make a 5.7 GHz QSO with Herbert AF4JF.

 

After completing our 5.7 GHz experiments, Ron was anxious to test his 3 cm rig to see if his relay and semi-rigid coax were working.  Herbert brought his rig and I'm very happy to report my 3 cm rig is putting out full power!