SPRINT Microwave Contest - May 6, 2023

Harry WA0CNS and Herbert AF4JF went to Hannibal, MO in EM49hq to participate on the SPRINT Microwave contest today. They met with a local HAM and SLAMS member Kevin AD7OI at Lovers Leap on the cliff above the Mississippi river in Hannibal. Weather was not so good at the begin, but turned to be better towards the end of the contest.

View in NW direction
(approximately towards Cedar Rapids)

View to North
(approximately towards Chicago)

View to NE
(approximately towards Fort Wayne, IN)

This location repeatedly proved itself to be good for 10GHz, especially with Rain Scatter or Trop propagation enhancement. Listen to the Saint Louis SLAMS beacon on 10GHz:

WB9PNU/B over Rain Scatter aiming 90 deg. away from the beacon

We have brought 902-1296-2304MHz equipment and especially 10GHz. Some pictures with the 10GHz stations:

Kevin AD7OI
(picture by WA0CNS)

Herbert AF4JF with Darcey
(picture by WA0CNS)

Harry WA0CNS

Weather forced us to hide in our cars for a while today. We like thunderstorms during our outdoor activities, but not necessarily right above us. Following picture shows Herbert's rack with lower band transverters inside the car in the middle of moving the equipment to safety:

Herbert AF4JF packing everything 
to plastic boxes or to the back of his car

Despite the weather challenges, we have had a good time and lots of fun trying to work (and working) all the stations available. We certainly will return to this location in the future!

SPRINT Contests 222 and 432 MHz - Spring 2023

Herbert AF4JF, Harry WA0CNS and Ron KO0Z participated in the CSVHF SPRINT Contests for Spring 2023. There was a posting describing the 144 MHz SPRINT on April 10. The 222 MHz SPRINT took place on April 18 and the 432 MHz on April 26. This posting brings pictures from the 222 and 432 MHz contests.

In general, the lack of VHF+ activity in our area affects these short contests too. Not sure why - the SPRINT contests are well known and submitting the results is easy. We need to keep convincing local hams to use their radios (even FM handhelds) to participate!

Herbert AF4JF/R set up for 222MHz in Winfield, MO EM49pa

Harry WA0CNS on 432MHz at High Ridge, EM48rl

Harry WA0CNS on 432MHz with different antenna, EM48rl

Ron KO0Z/R on 432MHz in Winfield, EM49pa

Herbert AF4JF/R on 432MHz in Winfield, EM49pa

Darcey waiting for Ron KO0Z to arrive at the Winfield location

Herbert tested his new set of rover antennas during this Spring set of SPRINT contests (more to come during the microwave section). Ron switched between his dual-band loops and hand held Yagi for 432MHz today (sorry, no picture taken). Harry changed antennas too and actually worked us with the shorter beam with folded dipole.

We will all participate in the Microwave SPRINT on Saturday May 6th. Looking forward to it!

SPRINT Contest 144MHz - Spring 2023

Herbert AF4JF and Ron KO0Z went to the usual location in Winfield, MO (EM49). Since we both live relatively close in EM48, it was easy for us to activate two grids during the short time this contest gives the participants to do so. AF4JF has started in EM49 while KO0Z started in EM48, so we both worked each other from - to all combinations you can make of the two grids.

The longest QSO (ODX) we made was between AF4JF and Pete K9PW who was in EN52, about 370km away. Note that this was 144MHz.

The SPRINT contest continues with its 222MHz section next week. You can find details here (click).

AF4JF/R at the gas station in Winfield

KO0Z/R arriving at the same gas station

Halloween Hamfest Back On Schedule (no longer Postponed till 2024)

Halloween Hamfest No Longer Postponed

 

ARRL VHF Contest January 2023

Our first VHF contest in 2023, the "January ARRL VHF", just took place today. Weather was nice, almost 50F with plenty of sunshine, so Herbert AF4JF, Harry WA0CNS and Ron KO0Z decided to attend the contest as Rovers while Marshall WD9EXD attended from his contest QTH. We only operated for couple of hours on a few bands, but it was a nice start of the season.

Herbert AF4JF (myself) made 15 QSOs on 144 and 432MHz bands during first 3 hours of the contest and activated 2 grids (EM48 and EM49) as a Rover. Tested new small Yagi antennas (3 el. for 144MHz and 10el. for 432MHz). Much better than the loops I have been using before! I will have them mounted on a rotor installed on the luggage rack of my SUV for the next contest.

Several pictures to illustrate:

AF4JF/R in EM48qs

AF4JF/R (and Darcey "K9DOG") in EM49pa

Winfield Lock and Dam in EM49pa

SLAMS Annual Chadler Hill Winery Meeting

Saturday, November 5, 2022, Herbert AF4JF, Darcy, Harry WA0CNS, Tammy KI7GVT, Kevin AD7OI, Debbie KC9ULA and Ron KO0Z gathered at Chandler Hill Winery near Defiance, MO for our annual get together.  We discussed our calendar of uW events/meetings for 2023's calendar, Kevin's plans to put a 10 GHz beacon near Hannibal and our 122 GHz progress.

Although it was windy, we were able to sit outside on a covered porch with propane heaters and enjoyed good food and great company!  A big shout out to Kevin and Tammy for making the trek from Hannibal to be at our meeting.

Left to right:  Tammy KI7GVT, Kevin AD7OI, Ron KO0Z, Debbie KC9ULA and Harry WA0CNS

Left to right:  Harry WA0CNS, Herbert AF4JF, Tammy KI7GVT and Kevin AD7OI

                                                                       Darcy

SPRINT Contests Fall 2022

The Fall series of SPRINT contests just finished. I was not able to attend the 144MHz segment, but managed to make couple of QSOs in the 222MHz, 432MHz and the Microwave contests. Just like I said - a "couple of" QSOs. Two in the 222MHz contests, two in the 432MHz contests and (wow), three in the Microwave contests. There was literally nobody to work. Certainly nobody local. The VHF+ activity in Saint Louis area is very low, not sure why.

I am attaching several pictures of my rover station.

AF4JF/R in EM49pa - 222MHz

AF4JF/R working N0IS from EM49pa - 222MHz

AF4JF/R from EM38px - 222MHz

AF4JF/R in EM49pa - 432MHz

AF4JF/R working WA0CNS from EM48px - 432MHz

AF4JF/R in EM48qs - 1296MHz, 2304MHz and 10GHz

AF4JF/R and Darcey in EM48qs,
just after working WA0CNS on 10GHz

Looks like a mess, but the rack worked nicely!
AF4JF/R just worked W9SZ/R on 1296MHz

New, promising location in Winghaven EM48os
AF4J/R tried to work N0OY on 1296MHz over 621km
(we both saw each other on the waterfall, but no QSO)