SLAMS ZOOM MEETINGS

 We came, we saw, we chatted.  Doing our best to avoid COVID-19, yet still wishing to get together, thanks to the ingenuity, diligence and efforts of Herbert AF4JF; we have been meeting by ZOOM.  A few days before the ZOOM meeting, Herbert sends out an email to all SLAMS members reminding them of the upcoming meeting.  Last night, December 1 we decided to meet on the first Tuesday of every month by ZOOM for the foreseeable future.

A wide range of topics were discussed including the January VHF contest, PLUTO, 24 GHz, door knob capacitors and even audio frequencies.  Mostly, it was nice to see everyone and to catch up.

Pictured from top left to right:  Herbert AF4JF, Ron KO0Z, Gedas W8BYA, Zack W9SZ, Harry WA0CNS, Bob N0IS, Sam W0PCE and Jim N5MU.  Not pictured is Armand KD0PXF.

ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest - September 2020

 COVID-19, busy work schedules, grandchildren, moving QTH locations all combined took its toll on this year's SLAMS efforts to be radio active for the ARRL 10 GHz and Up contest.  Still, it's hard to keep uW hams away from a contest and Harry WA0CNS, Herbert AF4JF and Ron KO0Z put in a day's worth of activity on Sunday, September 20, 2020.  We weren't trying to break any records.  Instead, we wanted to try 122 GHz and get some activity on the air.  Herbert and Harry tried to work Gedas W8BYA in Indiana, but the path just wasn't there.  KO0Z didn't even try.  His path to Gedas would involve shooting into a thick forest.

Basically, our plan was a modified version of last year's operation.  Ron positioned himself at Eagles Roost at Pere Marquette State Park, EM48rx, near Grafton, IL.  Herbert AF4JF and Harry WA0CNS moved along Interstate 70.  We made 3 attempts and we made 3 QSOs each.  Some on USB and some using CW.  

The weather was nice.  The morning was chilly (47 F), but by 10:30 it was in the mid sixties.  It was a sunny day.  Ron noticed the river water levels were way down from April of this year.  With such nice weather, KO0Z had a fair number of visitors to Eagles Roost, which made shooting a 10 GHz signal to the west problematic.  He packed it in around 1:30 pm after it took about 30 minutes for the crowds to thin out to make a QSO with Herbert and Harry.

The real big story is Harry and Herbert made a 122 GHz QSO!  I will let Herbert tell the story and to supply pictures!  Although, it was a clear, nice, sunny day, the pictures will reveal a haze.  The haze is due to high altitude smoke from all of the forest fires along the west coast.

                                              Grid square EM48rx, Pere Marquette State Park, IL

    Flood conditions on the Illinois River in April 2020.  St. Charles, County is in background.

       A small crowd at Eagles Roost, just where I need to point my dish to the west.

                                  Toula keeping a watchful eye out for visitors to Eagles Roost

                In between 10 GHz QSOs as Harry and Herbert moved along I-70, I had a good book to read.

            More people gathering at Eagles Roost.  Otherwise, the site is great for uW.

                                Note the hazy skies due to forest fire smoke out west.

                      I took the Grafton Ferry boat across the Mississippi River back to St. Charles County.

SLAMS September 2020 Breakfast

 Sunday, September 6th, Mel K0PFX, Harry WA0CNS, Herbert AF4JF, Armand KD0PFX, Ron KO0Z, Debbie KC9ULA convened at Creve Coeur Park at 9:00 am to test out some gear.  Mike N0OBI came by, but somehow we missed each other.  COVID-19 is still among us, so we met outdoors, wore masks and kept socially distant.  Herbert brought along his dog, Darcy and Ron and Debbie brought Toula.  Toula is wearing a "dish" to keep her from licking her stitches.

Mel brought his 10 GHz rig to let everyone hear the repaired WB9PNU beacon located on top of DePaul Hospital in Bridgeton, MO.  The beacon has a very strong signal at the park location.  Mel could point his dish in any direction and the signal was still loud and clear.

Herbert experimented with a patch antenna and a log periodic antenna with his PLUTO SDR transceiver.  Harry WA0CNS brought his 2.3 and 3.4 GHz transverters.  Herbert was testing some antennas and tuning with the PLUTO waterfall.  WA0CNS has a very impressive H frame for his uW yagis.