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                                       

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.

ARRL 10GHz And Up Contest in September 2023 as seen by AF4JF - part 1

 I will publish two postings in addition to Ron KO0Z's article here (click).

• This one that shows a video recording without details
• Next one with some video recordings and pictures from my point of view

So here is a video. It records part of a QSO using FM modulation. Listen to it and let us know in comments below this posting what band do you think this was recorded on (that is easy) and, more important, what distance do you think this was held across:

2023 September Leg of the ARRL 10 GHz & Up Contest

What a difference a month can make!  A month ago, in August, we were broiling.  A huge, omega block created a high pressure ridge combined with very high humidity, it made for oppressive heat, but outstanding propagation.  A month later in September, we experienced cool mornings and afternoons in the low eighties.  Nice!

For the second leg of the ARRL 10 GHz and Up contest, SLAMS members decided to head west along I-70 from St. Louis and U.S. 36 from Hannibal.  Harry WA0CNS anchored the east end of I 70 at High Ridge, MO EM48rl. Ron KO0Z and Herbert AF4JF headed west along I-70 starting in St. Peters, EM48qt and EM48qs.  Kevin AD7OI and his wife Tammy KI7GVT handled the U.S. 36 corridor.

While we were planning our strategy, we jokingly called this leg of the contest our Iron Skillet assault.  Herbert AF4JF and truth be told, Ron KO0Z love eating at Iron Skillet.  There is an Iron Skillet located in Kingdom City and one near Odessa.  Lunch and dinner were covered on Ron and Herbert's end.

Both teams began early Saturday morning 16 Sept.  The contest started off poorly for Ron. Only three miles apart, Ron wasn't able to hear each Herbert.  Ron was at MidRivers Mall and Herbert was at the community college park. Ron met up with Herbert at his location.   Ron's receiver was deaf. Perhaps it was the relay, but after loosening and tightening some SMA connectors that appeared to correct the problem. KO0Z worked Harry WA0CNS in EM48rl, a distance of 20 miles/32km.  Earlier, Herbert worked Harry and Gedas W8BYA in EN70jt (321 miles/517km)!

 Next stop was Foristell, MO EM4mt.  Ron and Herbert logged Kevin AD7OI and Tammy KI7GVT near Macon, MO EM39sv (110 miles/177km) on SSB around 9:55 am.

             Herbert AF4JF and Darcy working AD7OI & KI7GVT 110 miles away in EM39sv

                                   Foristell EM48mt proved to be a good location

 

      An hour later and further west along I-70, Ron & Herbert located near New Florence EM48gv.  Google Earth didn't indicate MO DOT was installing roundabouts off the I-70 off ramp.  The north service road was closed going east towards our initial uW site near the Ameren MO solar panel array farm.  Worse yet, one of our favorite wineries was on the same, closed road!  Drats.

However, hams are resourceful and we crossed over to the south service road and found a suitable location almost directly across the solar panel farm at a nursery.  Fortunately for us, the nursery was closed and we set up in their driveway.  Whereupon, we logged Kevin AD7OI and Tammy KI7GVT in EM39sv (87 miles/140km) on SSB around 11:18 am.  We tried to work Wyatt AC0RA in EN32xb (472 miles/760km) away near Cedar Rapids, IA.  We heard him faintly and he us,but not well enough for a two-way QSO.   

                              AF4JF and Darcy set up near New Florence, MO EM48gv

                      Ron KO0Z in EM48gv.  Note the Ameren solar panels along I-70.  We logged Kevin and Tammy in EM39sv 87 miles away on SSB.

 

Now it was time for lunch and that meant traveling 30 miles west to Kingdom City, MO and Iron Skillet.  We were in for a rude awakening.  Herbert enjoys their soup and Ron their salad bar.  The buffet is gone!  What a major disappointment. We blamed Murphy for the early morning difficulty with KO0Z's rig and for the missing buffet.

     

   

 

 Looks can be deceiving.  Although AF4JF is smiling for the camera, he is disappointed the buffet is gone from Iron Skillet.  FYI, so was Ron.  He was so looking forward to the salad bar.

After lunch, Ron and Herbert went to nearby EM38xw.  We've been to this location before.  It is just west of the EM38/EM48 grid border.  Around 2:10 pm we worked AD7OI & KI7GVT now located in EM39ur (56 miles/90km) on SSB.  We also logged Wyatt AC0RA and KC0SKM in Iowa EN32xb (216.5 miles/348km) away on SSB!  Both of us were also able to log Greg WQ0P in Kansas EM19wf (220 miles/354km) on CW via rainscatter!

            KO0Z's rig aimed north towards AD7OI, KI7GVT in EM39ur (east of Macon, MO) and AC0RA, KC0SKM in EN32xb.

                Herbert AF4JF working Kevin, Tammy and Wyatt from Kingdom City EM38xw

             Watching Herbert and Ron play with microwaves is exhausting work for Darcy

                         Notice the darkening skies above Kingdom City, MO EM38xw.

Tired but undaunted, Herbert and Ron's next I-70 stop was a regional airport near Boonville, MO, EM38pw.  Around 3:58 pm we logged Greg WQ0P in EM19wf (185miles/298km) via rainscatter and FM! We tried working Mike KM0T in EM13vb but no propagation paths existed between us at the time.

    Feeling great after working Greg WQ0P in Kansas from the Boonville regional airport EM38pw

Looking in WQ0P's direction from Boonville airport (EM38 pw).  We logged Greg on FM via rainscatter.  Note the gathering storm clouds associated with an advancing cold front.

More tired and still undaunted, AF4JF and KO0Z head off westerly to our next location Nelson, MO, but somehow we missed the turnoff and went a few more miles down I-70 to Marshall Junction.  We ended up near a water tower and the rain was coming down.  Looking at the weather radar we could see a "train" of T-storms along I-70 from Kansas to our location.  When you're in the middle of a T-storm, rain scatter isn't viable.  By this time is was close to 6:00 pm, the storms were not letting up, so we decided to call it a day and to head home.  We ate dinner near Booneville since Iron Skillet did not have its buffet.  All in all it was a very good day!

On Sunday, Herbert and Ron gathered at the MidRivers Mall parking lot in an attempt to put Mike KM0T into the log.  Mike needs EM48 for a new grid but there was no propagation between us.  Only sunshine.  Debbie KC9ULA came along today and we ended up working each other on 10 GHz and 24 GHz before calling it a day.

Here is AF4JF's APRS map of our Saturday "Iron Skillet Assault."

 

 

              We made it two-thirds of the way across the Show-Me-State for this leg of the contest.

Sept ARRL VHF Contest 2023

 Saturday, 9 September 2023.

The 2023 ARRL VHF Contest began at 1:00 pm today.  Harry WA0CNS, Herbert AF4JF and Ron KO0Z met at Winfield Lock and Dam #25 EM49pa to start the contest.  From there we went to a nearby hill in EM49oa to work Marshall WD9EXD in EM57 on 1.2 GHz.  Only Herbert was able to make a two-way contact with him.

                                                   Harry WA0CNS/R at EM49oa

                                    Herbert AF4JF/R on location at EM49oa north of Winfield, MO

                                 Looking southeast from EM49oa.  Not too good for 10 GHz.

                                                     Railroad microwave tower at EM49oa.

From there we went back to Winfield Lock and Dam #25 on the Mississippi River where we worked each other on 144, 222, 432, 1.2 G, and 10 G.  Harry and Herbert completed Qs on other bands such as 2.4, 3.4 etc. By this time it was getting late in the afternoon and we called it a day.

                AF4JF/R and WA0CNS/R at Winfield's Lock and Dam #25 parking lot EM49pa.

         Herbert AF4JF, Darcy, and Harry WA0CNS getting ready for 10 GHz in the contest.

                                              KO0Z'S APRS location for the contest

                                   Harry WA0CNS working the lower uW bands from EM49pa.

                                            The Mississippi River from Lock and Dam #25.

 While Ron KO0Z/R was waiting for AF4JF and WA0CNS to work each other on the other uW bands, he noticed that there was a nearby geocache located at the entrance to the Lock and Dam.  On his way out, he stopped by the site and found the geocache!  Herbert AF4JF had already found it on prior expeditions.

                                       The geocache was easy to find near EM49pa.

             While at EM49pa, Ron KO0Z/R tried to hear the WB9PNU beacon in St. Louis.  No luck.  Herbert AF4JF had tried with no success on prior trips.  However, this time his Icom 705's panadapter saw the beacon's signal.  He peaked up on it, adjusted his elevation and we could hear it.  Ron did the same with his Yaesu FT 817 and could hear the beacon.  Here is a little audio clip of the beacon along with horns from cars in the parking lot.

MAD Sept 2, 2023

 MAD, 2 September 2023

SLAMS members Ron KO0Z and Herbert AF4JF operated Saturday morning.  Herbert went to the Winghaven location to try and work Pete N0OY in Kansas.  No luck with that contact.  Ron went to EM58bv near Hamel, IL to see if he could confirm that grid square for Gedas W8BYA.  Once again, no luck with direct signals.  However, Ron did hear the WB9PNU beacon and he worked Herbert AF4JF who moved his location to St.Charles Community College EM48qs.  They worked each other using CW.

Herbert AF4JF aiming towards Ron from EM48qs

EM57hn Bald Knob, IL

 Here's another view of the Bald Knob Cross of Peace near Alto Pass, IL EM57hn.

Aug 19-20 - 2023 ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest - The Heat is On!

 "Zero-dark-thirty."  Isn't that the expression commonly uttered by microwavers on contest mornings?  When my alarm set for 4 am rang, I muttered the same expression.  I am not an early morning person.  On the other hand, my friend Herbert AF4JF and Harry WA0CNS are.  Harry wouldn't be joining us this go around which was too bad.  I agreed to meet Herbert at our local QT for a breakfast sandwich, a bearclaw and coffee at 5:00 am.  Not only was it zero-dark-thirty, it was already hot and humid, the temperature was 80 F with humidity in the high seventies and the sun wasn't even up in the eastern horizon.

The Minnesota ops W0ZQ, WB0LJC, N0UK and K0HHC were going to Iowa to work Kevin AD7OI, his wife Tammy KI7GVT and Herbert AF4JF and me KO0Z.  This necessitated that we get up early to make the 90 mile trek from St. Peters, MO EM48qs to Hannibal's "Lovers Leap" EM49hq.  We arrived shortly before 8:00 am local time.  Kevin had already worked the Minnesota in Iowa ops.  They were working other stations which gave us time to set-up. While waiting, my first 3 cm contact was with John K9JK in EN61av 233 miles, 375km away near Chicago using CW at 8:16 am!  This Q beat my all-time best personal 3 cm contact of 226 miles.  Not a bad way to start off the contest!

                 KO0Z's rig at Lovers Leap, EM49hq along with AF4JF, KD7OI and KI7GVT

         Ron KO0Z's rig looking across the Mississippi River towards Illinois from EM49hq

After working John, I tried working Ron W9ZIH in EN51nv with no luck for both of us.  Jon W0ZQ, Gary WB0LJC and Chris N0UK gave me a call using SSB from EN32fg.  Although I could hear them, it wasn't great copy, so we switched to CW with good signals all around!  I now had a 211 mile, 339 km Q in my log book!  

Next in my log was Zack W9SZ in EN50rl, 158 miles, 251 km in Illinois using CW around 11:09 am!  

By this time, W0ZQ, WB0LJC, N0UK made their way to EN32ek, 223 miles, 359 km away.  I successfully worked all three of them using CW around 11:39 am!

Kevin AD70I and Tammy KI7GVT with their 3 cm, 60 watt "flame thrower" made it easy for distant stations to optimize their beam headings towards us.

But what about Herbert AF4JF?

                                                  Herbert AF4JF setting-up in EM49 hq

Herbert was hearing everything AD7OI and KO0Z were hearing but nobody was coming back to his transmissions.  What was going on here?  Evidently, Murphy hitched a ride with us.  Who invited Murphy to join our 3 cm DXpedition? 

Undaunted, Herbert broke out his DMM and discovered his relay was welded shut. Between all of us, we had everything needed to repair his rig, except for the relay.  Drat, darn the luck.

Ron felt empathy for his friend, but not enough to keep him from putting John K9JK, now in EM51xr in the log book at 12:13 pm.  Another 223 mile, 359km Q in the log!  Zack W9SZ was en route to meet up with John and to work us.  Kevin and Tammy had a family event to go to, so Herbert and I sought out some shade while waiting for Zack to arrive.  When you're baking in the sun and drinking large amounts of water to keep hydrated with no nearby restrooms, waiting for someone to arrive can seem like an eternity. Zack did make it and I tried to work him, but the successful path between John and I wasn't up so we didn't make the Q with Zack.  To add insult to injury, my battery booster sounded indicating my old, marine battery voltage was low. This didn't come as a complete surprise.  On a prior trip, some battery acid had leaked out of a seal. Definitely time to call it a day, but not before making a slight detour to Hannibal's Auto Zone for a new, deep-cycle marine battery for tomorrow's leg of the contest.

While on the way home, Herbert received a phone call from Mike KM0T.  He heard we were out and about and he needed EM49!  We don't know EM49 all that well, but Herbert knew of a site near Bowling Green, MO.  When we arrived, it wasn't suitable to work Mike in a northwesterly direction.  I suggested to Herbert to continue on home to repair his relay and I'd look for a possible, alternative site.  70 minutes later I found a cemetery on the outskirts of Curryville EM49hi with a clear view towards Mike in EN13vb, 359 miles, 578 km away.  It's a long shot, but what the heck.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

                                             Entrance to Curryville, MO cemetery EM49hi

I found a suitable spot next to a few tomb stones, set up my rig and hooked up the power.  Nothing, nada, zip happened.  Evidently Murphy hitched a ride with me.  I broke out my DMM and found a broken connection in my power cable connector.  I cut off the connector and reattached it to my rig and it came to life.  Success!  Now will we hear each other?

Mike KM0T sent dashes.  I was aimed in his direction, but I didn't hear him.

                               My dish pointed towards Mike KM0T in EN13vb, 359 miles away.

  I panned my dish and as I panned more to the southwest I began to hear Mike's dashes!  It wasn't until I was pointing at my angled pickup truck that I heard his CW signal a full 599!  Realizing the angle of incidence equals the angle of reflection, I aimed at the incidence angle with nothing heard.  My pickup was acting as a reflector.  The signals were so strong that we worked each other on SSB with 5 by 9 signals!  Go figure!

                                     Ron KO0Z's pickup acting as a reflector from EM49hi!

I had just made a new 3cm personal DX record with Mike!  The sun was low in the western horizon, it was still hot and very humid.  TV meteorologists said the outside temperature felt like 110 F.  I know they were right.  I packed up my gear, welcomed the air-conditioning in my pickup and headed home to EM48qs.  Mike needed that grid and I decided since I was on a roll. So far, I've been incredibly lucky so why not try to put Mike in the log once again, but not before filling up with gas for tomorrow's trek to EM57hn.

I pulled into MidRiver's Mall parking lot, set-up the gear and proceeded to listen for Mike's transmissions but about 5 minutes into the session, my new battery died.  No telling how long my new battery had been sitting on Auto Zone's shelf.  We didn't make the Q.  To be honest, I wasn't too disappointed.  I desperately wanted to get out of the heat, get into my air-conditioned QTH, charge up the new battery, take a shower and get some much needed rest.  I was spent!

                                                                   Sunday 20 August 2023

Today, my wife Debbie KC9ULA, along with our Aussie, Toula, joined me as we met Herbert AF4JF at St. Louis Bread Co for coffee and breakfast at 8:00 am.  Soon we were on our way towards Bald Knob Cross of Peace near Alto Pass, IL, three hours away in EM57hn.

                                        Bald Knob Cross of Peace, near Alto Pass, IL EM57hn

Three hours later, we arrived.  We had been talking about activating this spot for months, but now we were motivated.  Both Mike KM0T and Gedas W8BYA needed this grid and we wanted to work Ben K4QF in EM75ae near Huntsville, AL.  

Weather forecasters said today would been even hotter than Saturday.  We can attest they were spot on with their forecast.  Still, the lure and excitement of a new grid location gave us hope and energy to once again brave the elements.  We set up near the summit.  The management is very nice and they welcome ham radio operators! 

            Herbert AF4JF setting up his now operational 3 cm rig at Bald Knob, IL EM57hn

     Ron KO0Z working Gedas W8BYA in EN70jt from EM57hn.  A distance of 317 miles, 510km

Soon we were on the air.  Our first contact was with Mike KM0T in EN13vb, 523 miles, 842 km away using CW at 11:57 am (16:57Z)!!! A new personal record.  Herbert AF4JF made the Q as well.  Afterwards we gave each other high-fives!  Next we both put Gedas W9BYA in EN70jt near Ft. Wayne, IN 317 miles away in our log books using CW around 12:35pm. 

Herbert and I confirmed a new grid on 3 cm for both Mike and Gedas. That's a great feeling!

What wasn't such a great feeling was the sun's unrelenting heat combined with high humidity.    We still wanted to work Ben K4QF.  I spotted a shaded pavilion about two hundred yards away with slightly lower elevation but a good view towards Alabama.  Herbert and I decided the tradeoff between elevation and shade was worth it.

Can you tell it's oppressively hot?  Setting up in the shade at Bald Knob.

 

                                    Debbie KC9ULA cheering us on with our endeavors

Believe it or not, the shade was cooler!  The tradeoff paid off.  AF4JF contacted Ben K4QF in EM75ae on CW around 2:10 pm.  Another 251 mile, 404 km Q!  Meanwhile, I was affected by heat exhaustion and I cross polarized my power leads.  My rig was dead in the water.  Water sourced from our sweat, I might add...  Murphy again visited, but Herbert to the rescue.  He had another battery booster and and my rig came to life.  I was able to work Ben and put him in the log!  This is a promising site!  Too bad our compatriot, Harry WA0CNS wasn't able to join us this time.

We felt very accomplished and relieved we had sweated our way through this contest. We still had a three-hour trip back home, but at least it will be in air-conditioning!

                                                                Big Red Blob

                 The VHF Propagation website indicated troposcatter as a big red blob.

 

 Hepburn's propagation website: Tropospheric Ducting Forecast for VHF & UHF Radio & TV (dxinfocentre.com) showing propagation during the contest.

All in all, this was an exhausting, exhilarating contest!  Both of us achieved new 3 cm distance records and gave our friends some new grids! We found a good uW location in EM57!