"ARRL" UHF Contest 2016

>>> The ARRL August UHF Contest for 2016 has been cancelled, while the ARRL VHF Contest Revitalization Committee considers alternatives. <<<

This text is from an article on the ARRL web site, look here.

However, HAMs will still have a contest. Look here for details.

Aug. 6-7, 2016, 1800z Saturday to 1800z Sunday

     After ARRL announced that it would not sponsor the UHF contest in 2016, a group of radio amateurs from coast to coast came together to make sure that the contest does occur as scheduled on Aug. 6-7, 2016 (1800z Saturday until 1800z Sunday).

 

     The sponsoring group includes the leaders of several large VHF-oriented clubs, two volunteers who write contest results articles for QST, the editor of the "World Above 50 MHz" column in QST, two people with extensive computer log-checking expertise, and others who are concerned about the future of contesting on the amateur bands above 222 MHz.  We believe that continuity is important in amateur radio contests.  We do not want even a one-year hiatus for a contest that has been an annual tradition for almost 40 years.  While we welcome the efforts of ARRL's leaders to develop a new kind of UHF contest that could be held in the spring of 2017, in the meantime we are committed to hosting a first-rate UHF contest in 2016.

73 Herbert
AF4JF

ARRL June VHF Contest

I am getting more and more into contesting.  It's addictive!  VHF contests can be either very exciting or somewhat boring depending on propagation.    The weekend of June 11-12 was a boon for six meters!  I made it a point to work 2 meters, 70 cm and 23 cm, but the main action was on six, which shifted the focus from the higher bands onto six.  I had a lot of fun.  I went to the Egyptian Hamfest and had breakfast at Uncle Lennie's and then onto to Ohlman Cemetery, EM59ji, which as it tuns out, cost me points in the contest.  But I attended knowing that was a possibility.  Seeing everyone at breakfast and learning more about the microwave signal source was well worth it!

When I arrived at EM59ji, it was hot, humid, sticky and very miserable.  Temp was 94 degrees.  I set up my 3 cm rig and tried to copy the WB9PNU beacon but nothing was heard.  It was 1:00 pm and usually that is the case around that time.  I tried working Ron, W9ZIH but we couldn't hear each other.  Zack, W9SZ was QRT.  So I packed up and got home in EM 59ck just before a T-storm moved overhead from out of the northeast to the southwest.  I checked W0SM's rainscatter and I had a path back to the beacon.  I set up my 3 cm rig in the garage, pointed the dish northeast and I was able to copy the WB9PNU beacon via rainscatter!  It didn't last all that long and my 10 MHz oscillator wasn't up to temp so the signal sounds even "wattery" than usual with rainscatter.  I posted the rainscatter video on my facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/ron.ochu

Central States VHFS Conference

Many SLAMS members are also Central States VHF Society members and this organization, besides promoting VHF,  does promote and support microwave development and contesting.   In fact, Bruce, W9FZ is offering a Microwave 101 course at the conference for newbies!   The conference is coming up July 28-31 in Rochester, MN at the Kahler Apache Hotel and waterpark.  A reminder that the deadline for lower rates is just around the corner:  June 27th.  Go to 2016.csvhfs.org for more information.

New Slams Tradition - June Breakfast at Uncle Linny'

We've started a new SLAMS tradition of combining the ARRL June VHF Contest with the Egyptian ARC Hamfest and our monthly breakfast at Uncle Linny's in Pontoon Beach, IL.  I was glad to see everyone.  Summer arrived and it was HOT, HUMID and STICKY.  Around 10:00 am we left the hamfest went to Uncle Linny's and enjoyed a great, reasonably priced breakfast.  Herbert has done some tremendous work on a really inexpensive microwave signal source.  I just ordered mine on Ebay.  See AF4JF's posting on his blog site for more information.

After breakfast we headed our separate ways around 11:15 am.  Debbie and I went to Ohlmann Cemetery in EM49ji.  I arrived around 1:00 pm, set up my 10 GHz rig and listened for the WB9PNU/B.  I didn't hear a peep.  It's been nine months since I last powered up the rig.  I called Zack, but he wasn't out and about for the contest due to car troubles unfortunately.  I called Ron, W9ZIH and we couldn't hear each other.  Drats.  Maybe something wrong at my end.

Debbie and I made it back home in EM59ck and about 20 minutes later a t-storm from out of the northeast heading southwest was upon me.  I powered up my 10 GHz rig, aimed it northeast and lo and behold, I could hear WB9PNU/B about 529 via rainscatter!  My rig still works!

After posting these photos I am returning back to the ARRL VHF contest.  Visiting with everyone cost me a few points and mults, but it was well worth it to see everyone!

Sam, Rich, Jim and Herbert.  Debbie is in the purple, but not shown fully in the picture

                                                         Herbert and Harry

                                The Arduino Shield connected to Arduino which in turn programs a microwave signal source with ADF4351 good for 10 dBm!

MAD Day May 7, 2016

Herbert AF4JF, Harry WA0CNS and Jim N5MU met on the hilltop in EM48rq for Microwave Activity Day today (remember, MAD Days are every first Saturday of the month). The task for today was 24GHz.

We have tried 24GHz from this location several times. Everything looked OK today, Harry and Herbert have copied each other in the parking lot. Harry moved to the valley approx. 3.8 miles away and set up there. Herbert and Jim copied his signal well, but Harry didn't hear us down  there. The station on the hill (on picture) was only about 1 mW of power while Harry's station was close to one watt RF. 

Another interesting problem was the wind. Not only did we have problem hearing anything between the gusts, there also was a mechanical problem. The dish on picture was mounted on long piece of aluminium which was vibrating in the wind, causing the dish to lose aim. Yes, 24GHz beam from a dish of this size is quite narrow and difficult to aim.

The other tripod usually holds 10GHz dish. That band is "trivial" for short distance like this :-)

We didn't even try today.

73 Herbert

AF4JF

MUD 2016

Microwave Update 2016 will take place in St. Louis this year. Click on this link to find more info.

73 Herbert
AF4JF

December 2015 SLAMS Breakfast

Sunday, 6 December, my alarm clock chirping away, urging me to get up and make myself ready for the one-hundred and four mile trek from Girard, IL to Maryland Heights, MO to say, "Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to some of my dearest ham radio friends while at breakfast.  Unfortunately, not all of us were there, and you were missed, but we are all looking forward to more ham radio, microwave adventures with the coming New Year!