Explorer Trip to Taum Sauk Mountain in EM47

Herbert AF4JF, Ron KO0Z and Harry WA0CNS took a trip to the highest mountain in Missouri, Taum Sauk 1772ft (540m) South of Saint Louis. Herbert's dog Darcey came along to make sure everything was done safely. The main idea behind this trip was looking for suitable microwave locations in the EM47 grid. We didn't do this alone, several guys living South of Missouri were waiting for us on other hilltops, ready for QSO on 1296MHz and 10GHz (KV4PC, K4QF, KD4APP, AB4DX, NV4B, W4RXR, KD4GRD, AG4V and WG8S).

Our first stop was the Taum Sauk mountain top (the national park) itself. We have been there before, so this was easy. As expected, found a nice viewing platform open towards Saint Louis and little East of it:

This is approx. azimuth 60 deg.

We should be able to work Zack W9SZ or Gedas W8BYA from this location on 10GHz too, but some propagation enhancement will be needed for that.

Darcey was very patient today

However, we didn't find any location open towards South to try with our friends from the "4" land. Next stop was the MDC fire tower just outside of the national park:

Unfortunately, the upper platform was locked by a solid lock. It was very windy up there, so we gave up the idea of setting up on the stairway and continued to our next destination, the Taum Sauk water power plant. We have seen several pictures of the upper reservoir others published on the Internet just weeks ago, so we didn't expect any problem there. We were wrong ...

Ameren badge is required to get past that gate

The lower reservoir is easily accessible, but the upper one is not. All the street signs that pointed us to the "Ameren Upper Reservoir" got us just to a visitor center. Looks like visitors can register for a guided tour, but not drive anywhere up the hill and play radio ... The guy working at the visitor center suggested a back road across the nearest hill to try - we were still trying to find a spot open towards South and the guys waiting for us. Unfortunately, we didn't find any open spots. Just hills and trees and bushes and more hills and ... you got the idea.

We tried to explore some of the hills around (they were all called "mountain" for some reason), but no luck. Other local guy whom we stopped told us that there are some open spots on their tops, but these are only accessible through hiking trails, not by a car. After another hour of trying and trying, we gave up, called the waiting guys on a phone and decided to find something to eat.

Waiting for lunch at Mexican restaurant in Potosi

Finally something worked! We have found a Mexican restaurant with good food. Ate that and got started on our way back towards Saint Louis. Big surprise just minutes from the restaurant - we found a good open microwave location, still in EM47! There are two nearby parking lots that offer nearly full 360 degrees open view. Attached pictures show the direction towards Southeast:

Direction towards SE

EM47OW, 321m a.s.l.

This location isn't the highest and is little bit closer to Saint Louis, but the distance is still almost 100km. Besides, it is in EM47 which is different grid (St. Louis area is in EM48). We definitely will come back to this location next time and try again.

So, the trip wasn't a total failure after all, despite the fact that we didn't even set up any station today. Herbert's microwave equipment just made a round trip in the back of the car. We returned back home before 5:00pm, about 10 hours after leaving this morning. Big thanks to all the guys waiting for us in the "4" land!

Annual SLAMS / BARS lunch at Chandler Hill

We have held our 4th annual lunch at Chandler Hill today. The Winery was open for business, both indoor and outdoor seating with live music. Several pictures attached. Unfortunately, we still fell the COVID restrictions. Only 4 of us met at the winery today: Ron KO0Z, Debbie KC9ULA, Harry WA0CNS and Herbert AF4JF. Plus my usual companion, K9 microwave enthusiast Darcey. Note that the winery is "dog friendly", dogs are welcome even indoors.

We ate our lunch while discussion the usual things, from weather to Rain Scatter propagation, Herbert's new 76cm dish antenna etc. Nice event that certainly will be repeated next year!

73 Herbert

AF4JF

Darcey waiting for her food

Indoor seating at the winery

Busy outdoor seating at the winery

Outdoor seating has gas heaters installed

Participants enjoying the nice day

The winery entrance

Side view - you can see additional seating on the grass

ARRL September VHF and ARRL 10GHz And Up Part 2 Contests

Harry WA0CNS and Herbert AF4JF participated in the ARRL September VHF Contest as Rovers activating EM48 and EM49 grids. We didn't go far from Saint Louis area, just Winfield and Lakeside 370 Park. We have worked each other on bands between 144 and 5760 MHz plus 122 GHz, but didn't bring out 10 or 24 GHz this time. Several pictures attached:

Herbert AF4JF set up in Lakeside 370 park

Harry WA0CNS setting up across the lake from Herbert

WA0CNS in Winfield EM49pa

Herbert AF4JF working Harry on SDR Pluto

Recording of a QSO on SDR Pluto

There was the second leg of the ARRL 10GHz And Up contest. Herbert AF4JF went to Hannibal, MO while Harry WA0CNS set up at the High Ridge, southwest of St. Louis. Herbert tried to work some stations in the North from Lover's Leap above Hannibal, then turned back and made several stops to work Harry. Looks like there are several good spots near Hannibal to work stations from St. Louis area!

Lover's Leap

Herbert set up in EM49hq

Aiming to work Gary WB0LJC

Aiming to work John K9JK

Herbert at Bowling Green aiming to work WA0CNS (109km)

This is how loud the WB9PNU/B beacon is at Bowling Green, over 80km away

Herbert set up and working Harry from EM49jh

(forgot to bring traffic cones)

Herbert working Harry from EM49md

Everything considered, both contests were fun. Just little too hot. It would be nice to have more stations to share this with.

Louisana, MO EM49lk to Ossian, IN EN70jt 2-way Q

 Saturday, 28 August, 5:45 AM, the temperature is already in the 70s and the heat warning continues.  Undaunted, Herbert AF4JF and Ron KO0Z make the trek up Missouri Route 79 to Louisana, MO to activate EM49lk for Gedas W8BYA in Ossian, IN EN70jt on 10 GHz.  The 321 mile (517km) path would not be an easy tropo path.  We calculated our best chances would be in the morning.  By 7:00 AM, we were QRV overlooking the Mississippi River. 

For about an hour Herbert and Gedas tried to work each other to no avail.  They even tried aircraft scatter.  AF4JF actually heard W8BYA's 10 GHz signal briefly.  But not long enough to make a two-way QSO.  As luck would have it.  Two rain cells popped up west of Chicago and north of Peoria.  They were able to work each other via each rain cell!  

From our location in Louisana there was not a cloud in the sky.  We couldn't even see the storm clouds north of us!  Fortunately, the storms were over 30K in height allowing us to complete the two-way 10 GHz Q.

Congratulations to both Herbert and Gedas.  W8BYA now has grid square EM49 confirmed in his impressively growing list of 10 GHz grid totals!

 

                                                      Darcey is a great uW travel companion!

                                          Herbert AF4JF setting up his 10 GHz rig

                                                        Sun rising over the Mississippi River

                                                           Herbert AF4JF in Louisana, MO             

 

  Not a cloud in the sky, but to the north was a rain cell allowing AF4JF and W8BYA to confirm EM49lk and EN70jt.

                                                  Note the rain storm west of Chicago.  The blue dot is our location in Louisana, MO EM49lk and Gedas W8BYA is near Ft. Wayne, IN. EN70jt. The 10 GHz Q was made using rain scatter with that storm.
 

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 VHF Contest - June 2021

Once again, the sizzling time (referring to the hot outdoor temperatures during this contest) is back! Harry WA0CNS and Herbert AF4JF attended the ARRL VHF Contest as Rovers. First day (Saturday June 12) from Winfield in EM49pa / EM49ob, second day (Sunday June 13) from Cottleville EM48qs.

We met at the Winfield dam a little ahead of time and tried to find new locations in the area. Found two promising places closer to Foley, but both were surrounded by trees which made the higher elevation useless. We have tried a RS contact with W8BYA from EM49ob, but the dish was pointing right next to group of trees. That affects Fresnel zones enough to make the contact impossible. We will keep looking in that area, EM49 is quite rare grid on microwave frequencies.

The contest itself started for us on "wrong foot". We have experienced some technical difficulties that cost us some points from higher bands. Some bands that we tested just a week ago didn't work. Since we got them working the next day, we believe that the problem might have been heat-related. 

Herbert AF4JF at the Winfield Dam

Although in shade, the laptop screen was only readable with difficulty

The 10GHz station uses FT-817, no SDR

We called it a day and decided to continue on Sunday morning. However, when Herbert returned home and noticed the Rainscatter situation, he dressed again and went to the local park in EM48qs to try RS with Gedas again ... and IT WORKED!

RS situation in the afternoon of June 12 when AF4JF and W8BYA made QSO on 10GHz

That was a nice end of the day. However, we met in the same park next to Community College campus where this RS contact was made from in the morning of Sunday June 13 again. Probably thanks to colder temperatures, everything worked.

AF4JF station for 24GHz - still in "test setup" (cable ties etc.)

We were able to make contacts on 10 bands this weekend! We didn't bring our 122GHz simply because there wasn't enough space in our cars.

Several pictures of Harry and his equipment:

WA0CNS Rover (antennas on the roof are remotely controlled from the car)

Harry setting up his 10GHz once again

Harry WA0CNS and his 24GHz

Everything considered, this was a nice contest. We didn't make too many QSOs, but we were active on 10 bands and we survived the heat. Even my dog was quite happy with the results:

Darcey