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.

Microwave Activity (MAD) Day on November 2, 2024

Once again did the SLAMS guys try to spread some radio-activity in the Saint Louis area. It was a nice, warm day with temperature in upper 60's, blue skies .. perfect for family activities. Which turned out to be a problem, at least in the Pere Marquette park where Herbert, AF4JF went with his furry companion Darcey.

The plan was to try all our microwave bands between Eagles Roost (in the Pere Marquette park) in EM48rx where Herbert AF4JF was going to set up, Ron KO0Z who picked our favorite parking lot at the Community College in Cottleville in EM48qs and Harry WA0CNS who went to his favorite High Ridge, EM48rl. The distance between Herbert and Harry was about 34 miles, distances between Herbert and Ron or Ron and Harry were about half that.

Herbert had to cross the two rivers that separate Saint Charles, MO from Grafton, IL on a ferry. That was not exactly problematic, despite the fact that Herbert's car did not fit on a ferry (too many cars) and had to wait one extra round trip of that floating vehicle. Where are all these cars going?

.... of course, they all went to the Pere Marquette park. The parking at the park visitor center was completely full. So was the usual parking lot at the first viewing point at Eagles Roost where we usually park and operate from. Second parking at the Flagpole was crowded as well, so Herbert went to the next spot that we never used before because it was blocked by heavy foliage with no open view.

Surprise! The park people finally decided that "viewing point" has something to do with "seeing" and cut all the bushes that blocked the view. See following pictures. Even better, nobody from the other visitors expected this, so this parking was EMPTY.

This is South

Darcey supervising station setup

Herbert set up all his bands from 902MHz to 122GHz. Space in the back of the SUV is somewhat limited, so the higher bands (on tripods) were tested first and the lower bands with a logatithmic beam had to wait after the tripods were moved aside.

10GHz station in front

The topic of this MAD day was to test if we can make QSOs betweens us and Harry WA0CNS who was using his home made SDR transceiver PLUTO with Raspberry Pi front end, running only about 250mW. Not too surprising result - yes, QSOs with the PLUTO were made on 902MHz, 1296MHz, 2304MHz and 3400MHz. In addition to that also on 10368MHz using our "big" stations with 3W of power.

We were quite tired when we started the journey back home. All of us made it safely and added another chapter to the book of successful microwave activities in our area.

AF4JF waiting for the ferry to get back to Missouri and home

KO0Z's 2nd 24 GHz QSO between Missouri and Illinois !

 Saturday morning, July 16th, TV weather forecasters promising a hot, humid day.  A high pressure cell is retreating from an advancing northwesterly, cold front.  A good day to attempt my second ever 24 GHz QSO.  A week before, Harry WA0CNS lent me his second 24 GHz rig to experiment with.  I made my first 24 GHz Q with Harry and Herbert AF4JF across Creve Coeur Park (approximately 110 yards).  

TV weather forecasters were right (this time) it was hot, getting hotter and the relative humidity increasing from the low 60s.  Outside temp at 10 am CDT, 15:00 Z was 90 F.  Earlier in the morning Herbert AF4JF took the Golden Eagle Ferry across the mighty Mississippi River to the Calhoun County, IL peninsula to gather some peaches before crossing the Illinois River near Grafton and on to Pere Marquette State Park in EM48rx.  His destination is Eagle Roost, a scenic, 800 foot overlook with a uninterrupted view of the southeast to almost west direction.  It is shaded and relatively cool.  A great spot, and one of our favorite microwave locations.  Ron KO0Z, using Harry's loaner 24 GHz rig set up in (EM48qt) MidRiver's Mall, western parking lot (468 ft) looking 17 degrees and 13.22 miles (21.3 km) towards the distant Illinois river bluffs and AF4JF's location.

Herbert aimed his dish southwest (197 degrees) and transmitted USB.  Ron immediately heard his 3 x 9 signal. Herbert's signal strength was solid, but his transmitted audio was distorted.  AF4JF is using SDR/Pluto.  It sounds like his SSB is a bit over driven, but it is copy able.  Herbert's audio sounded cleaner today as compared to last week's test.  Apparently my audio and signal were fine at Eagle Roost!  Herbert is running 100 milliwatts output and Ron has 25 microwatts and we made the 21 km path today!

 We made the 24 GHz QSO around 10:35 am, 15:35 Z and not a minute too soon.  Although Eagle Roost has shade, the parking lot does not. Ron pointed his truck so it would offer a little, precious shade on this hot day.  Remarkably, the Q was made on the first try.  Harry cautioned me that the dish beam width is very narrow and he is so right.  After we made the Q, I experimented and moving the dish. Moving the dish more than a degree made the difference between hearing AF4JF and not hearing him.  

I'd like to thank Harry WA0CNS for lending me his second 24 GHz rig and Herbert AF4JF for making the trek to EM48rx.  I only had to travel less than a mile to get to my uW spot, but Herbert took two ferry boats and crossed the Calhoun county peninsula to reach the park.  Of course there was the added benefit of procuring delicious Illinois peaches and a road trip for his loving canine,companion Darcy.

                               Elevation profile between EM48rx and EM48qt.  The peaks in the middle are the Illinois bluffs just north east of the Mississippi River.

                           The white line is the path between Eagle Roost, IL and MidRiver's Mall, MO.

              Ron KO0Z's truck temporarily offered welcome shade from the 90 F plus temps. The dish is looking 17 degrees towards Eagle Roost 21 km to the northeast.

                               Just to the left on the light pole near Famous Shoes was the 17 degree marker. Eagle Roost and Pere Marquette park are off in them yonder hills.

                       KO0Z's setup and shade on the otherwise, hot, asphalt parking lot at 16:00 Z

                            Harry WA0CNS rig is using a W2PED 24 GHz transverter.

                               Herbert AF4JF forged across the mighty Mississippi via the Golden Eagle Ferry from St. Charles county, MO to Calhoun county, IL and the Calhoun peninsula.  Later, he took the Brussels Ferry across the Illinois River to IL Hwy 100.

                 Herbert AF4JF's Eagle Roost, EM48rx, Illinois 24 GHz location.

                   AF4JF is using SDR as his IF rig for 24 GHz.  He is making a lot of progress working out any bugs.

                                                   Darcy, is always up for microwaving!

                               AF4JF (EM48rx) aiming southwest, 197 degrees towards Ron KO0Z in St. Peters, MO EM48 qt,  13.22 miles (21.3 km) away,.

             NOAA's weather forecast map for Saturday, July 16.  Note the approaching cold front.  Although the map shows rain potential for Missouri, it did not rain on our parade today.  Sunday's forecast calls for much needed rain, so we picked a good day to try out 24 GHz.

ARRL 10GHz And Up - Part 1 as seen by Herbert AF4JF

The SLAMS group has once again attended the "ARRL 10GHz And Up" Contest during the weekend of August 21 and 22. We have split the activities between the two days of the contest - first day was just moving around our area, second started with a 90 miles road trip to Hannibal, MO.

The first day was mostly to test our modified equipment. Harry WA0CNS started at High Ridge EM48rl while Herbert was at Community College EM48qs. Fast QSO over 33km.

AF4JF at Community College aiming South

Ron KO0Z joined Herbert (and brought a breakfast) at the CC park while Harry was driving to our next stop, which was the Lakeside 370 park in EM48rt. Harry and Herbert made a QSO on 10GHz, 24GHz and 122GHz from there.

Lakeside 370 Park

Next stop was the Iffrig Road in EM48qt. Harry and Herbert worked Zack W9SZ from EN50ue over 250km over Rain Scatter from that location. Also tried to work Gedas W8BYA, but no success this time. Sorry, I forgot to take some pictures.

The day was very hot, so we gave up at this time and went home to get ready for "tomorrow".

On Sunday, the day after, we got out of beds quite early and met at the commuter parking lot in St. Peters at 5:00am. The topic of the day was a road trip to Hannibal, MO (yes, that's the Mark Twain town with caves and the Tom/Huckleberry/Becky kids). We have arrived there in the "Lover's Leap Park" at 7:00am, just in time for first QSO with Jon W0ZQ and Gary WB0LJC in EM42bn, about 322km away!

Harry WA0CNS in EM49hq Hannibal MO

Herbert AF4JF set up for 10GHz in EM49hq

View across Mississippi River in Hannibal, MO

Herbert and Harry also made a 122GHz QSO across 5 km from the hill to a parking lot in downtown near the river in EM49hr where Harry set up before we left Hannibal and went to Louisiana, MO.

We arrived in Louisiana in EM49lk just on time to catch Zack W9SZ and John K9JK at Ohlman Cemetery in EM59ji about 152km away. We have made some QSOs and continued our journey by returning to the Community College in EM49qs while Zack and John moved closer to Saint Louis.

Harry WA0CNS in EM49lk

Herbert's dog Darcey in EM49lk

We have returned to EM49qs from there. Zack went to Dow, EM49ua and John to Gillespie EM58ax to make another QSO with us. John joined Zack in EM49ua again to make another QSO with us. These were 62 and 40km.

Both teams were quite tired after all this, but we have decided on one more move - John and Zack went to Eagles Roost in Pere Marquette State Park, EM48rx. They both made a final QSO with Herbert over the path of 24km and we have called a day. The Saint Louis team was home in several minutes, but John and Zack spent most of the evening driving back home. Thanks guys for coming here and playing with us!

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.

222 MHz and UP 2020 Weekend

Sunday, August 2, 2020; COVID-19 Virus is once again on an exponential rise, plaguing the nation.  Social distancing is the order of the day.  Still, Herbert AF4JF, Ron KO0Z, Debbie KC9ULA and Harry WA0CNS ventured out this morning to practice some "radio activity" while still maintaing social distancing.

Herbert, Ron and Debbie went to Eagle Roost at Pere Marquette State Park near Grafton, IL EM48rx and Harry went to High Ridge, MO in EM48rl, a distance of almost 35 miles.  Herbert, Ron and Debbie were on the road by 7:00 am and crossed over the Mississippi River into IL via the Grafton Ferry boat.  By 8:40 am we were QRV.  At 9:16 am, Ron made a two-way CW 10 GHz QSO with Harry.  Right after that we made a two-way SSB 10 GHz QSO.  S-9 signals both ways, both times! 

Next on the agenda, Herbert using a BBQ dish antenna and his PLUTO SDR transceiver made could hear Harry's 2.3 GHz SSB signal!  After a little tuning, Harry was able to copy Herbert's 2.3 SSB 10 milliwatt signal with his downconverter and IF rig!  AF4JF then put in a 1-2 watt amp and both stations copied each other's SSB signals with 5 X 7 reports.

AF4JF then made a 1.2 GHz two-way QSO with WA0CNS with 10 milliwatts and a WA5VJB PC log periodic antenna!

By 10:30 am we finished packing up and we were on our way back to St. Charles.  Herbert went back via the ferry boat and Ron and Debbie continued southward on the Great River Road, enjoying the scenic view, towards Alton before taking Hwy 367 back to I 270.

Not a bad way at all to get some exercise, some radio and still social distance during the pandemic. It was great "seeing" (hearing) everyone today!                  

           

Herbert AF4JF making a 2.3 and 1.2 GHz Q with Harry WA0CNS 35 miles away.

    The white box near the tripod is Herbert's 1 to 2 watt multiband amplifier.

          Ron KO0Z's 10 GHz dish aimed south towards High Ridge and Harry WA0CNS 35 miles away.

                              Darcy is used to microwaving with Herbert!

               Herbert AF4JF tuning in Harry WA0CNS with his PLUTO SDR

                     

                             Herbert's PLUTO SDR

          Debbie KC9ULA and Toula waiting patiently.

             Herbert's 2.3 and 1.2 GHz set-up.  Ron's 10 GHz rig is pointed towards EM48rl.

                    Crossing the Mississippi River with a toe boat and barge in the channel.

                          Ferry boat landing in Missouri.

                                           Herbert waiting to board the Grafton Ferry

Harry WA0CNS in EM48rl, High Ridge, MO.  We made 10, 2.3 and 1.2 GHz two-way Qs, 35 miles!

                                                   EM48rl hitch hiker

                    This chap is attracted to KO0Z or he's an Illini fan, orange and blue colors!

Herbert summed up today's outing with this email:

Ron and Harry,

Thanks for coming out with me on such short notice! I wasn't sure until Friday evening if I will find the time .. I am glad that I did.

What I wanted to test today was:

- if Harry will copy me and if I copy him on the PCB antenna on 2.3/3.4 GHz .. negative, this didn't work on 2.3GHz so we didn't even try on 3.4GHz

- if Harry will copy me and if I copy him on the BBQ dish antenna without PA .. positive, this worked both ways

- if Harry will copy me using the LUXUL PA/preamp unit ... positive, this worked. RX preamp was fine, but TX needs adjustment of driving power

- if Harry will copy me and if I copy him on lower microwave bands (903/1296MHz) using the PCB antenna ... positive, we made 2-way QSO on 1296. Wow!

These results gave me an idea what I need to put in the box with SDR PLUTO to make it multi-band rover transceiver with as simple band switching as possible. 

73 Herbert