WB9PNU Beacon EM 48ss

                                     WB9PNU/b

Kevin AD7OI sent me this video of this morning's reception of the SLAMS WB9PNU beacon located on top of DePaul Hospital in Bridgeton, MO, EM48ss. Kevin has a dish on top of his 75 foot tower located just south of  Hannibal, MO EM49hp.  Kevin notes that his direct path to the beacon is obstructed by a hill in Louisiana, MO.  Despite the obstruction, he regularly receives the beacon. A 78 mile path (125km).

 

ARRL 10GHz And Up Contest in September 2023 as seen by AF4JF - part 2

We have written several postings about this year ARRL 10GHz And Up contests non this blog site. I have published a video recording in my previous posting here (click to open) with a request for you to estimate how big a distance was covered by that nice FM QSO. I have received several email guesses, nobody posted a Comment here on the blog, so I am going to say it here. This video shows a 10GHz Rain Scatter QSO that spanned 299km between Greg WQ0P in EM19wf and Ron KO0Z in EM38pw. Once again:

This was not the first video that I have recorded that day (September 16, 2023). I have worked Harry WA0CNS from EM48qs while he was at his usual location in EM48rl. The distance is just 33km, but the signal usually is not strong enough for SSB for there are hills between us. We made it on SSB this time, but the next video recording shows just the lining up phase of the QSO (I did not have enough hands to operate my station and record it):

I have one more recording from that day (September 16, 2023). It demonstrates how strong our 10GHz beacon (WB9PNU/B) located in EM48ss was at my location in EM48qs that morning, about 15km away. We usually do not hear the beacon there at all, for there is a ridge between the locations:

Last recording is from the first leg of the SPRINT Microwave contest on Saturday May 6, 2023 in Hannibal. Location is Lovers Leap in EM49hq, the beacon in EM48ss is 129km away. As you can see on the recording, I am pointing to a tree and our beacon comes through Rain Scatter:

Let me finish this posting with a picture - one that shows how beautiful the place above Hannibal where we usually go in EM49hq really is. This is from August 19, 2023, first leg of the ARRL 10GHz And Up contest:

Lovers Leap, EM49hq

WB9PNU/b and Rainscatter

 I'm glad the WB9PNU/b is back up and running on 10.368.900.  Today, Tuesday, Septermber 8 around 2 pm, I noticed there were thunderstorms north of my St. Peters, MO EM48qs QTH.  This afforded me the perfect opportunity to take a break from remote learning with my grandkids and to see if I could hear the beacon via rainscatter.  I was able to copy it rather well.  Although the beacon is only 10 miles away (16.7 km) from my QTH, I don't have a line of sight path.

73 de Ron KO0Z

WB9PNU Beacon Back on the air

 After several months of being off the air, the WB9PNU 10 GHz beacon is once again up and operating from DePaul Hospital in Bridgeton, MO EM48ss thanks to the hard work and dedication of Mel K0PFX and John WB9PNU.  The beacon was thoroughly checked out by Mel and the slot antenna mount was replaced with a stronger mount and the assembly put into a water proof container. 

The beacon operates at 10.368.900 with an AFSK CW telemetry.  The telemetry data is no longer accurate because of control voltage issues.  That will be a future project to re-calibrate the telemetry.

MUD 2016

MUD 2016 is now history.  October 13-16 saw the gathering of some of the finest minds in Amateur Radio microwave operation gathered together at the Earth City Holiday Inn.  We had ops from England and from Australia share their experiences. 

MUD 2016 provided an antenna testing range and a room for preamp measurements.  I had two preamps measured  (432 and 1.2) by Dick, WA2AAU and he gave me an  excellent tutorial using HP test gear.  Thank you Dick!

Everyone involved with MUD did an excellent job and we received many compliments.  In addition to providing some writing consultation, my photos were selected for the cover of the MUD 2016 Proceedings! 

Al Ward, W5LUA made a number of 10 GHz EME contacts with Europe.

The banquet was excellent and the attendance prizes were very nice.  I know we had some difficulty procuring prizes, but it all worked out.