Ron KO0Z published extensive details from our journey (see his posting below), so I will limit mine to basic comments and a few pictures.
First of all, I would like to thank Rich N0PQU for his never ending optimism and energy spent on our 2-day activity in the heat of summer.
We have actually started the journey on Friday 8/18 by testing the path between EM48rq (Saint Louis MO, hill above Chesterfield). Herbert AF4JF and Harry WA0CNS worked Bill K0AWU from there. Bill was in EM39ka at that time, distance 146 miles. Signals were weak when we started (6:00pm) but became stronger with time. I have also noticed that the signals were coming from higher elevation later - aiming the dish 5 degrees up made considerable difference. We have probably seen the "vapor ducting" propagation kicking in with the Sun going down.
After working Bill on 10GHz, Herbert and Harry switched to 24GHz and tested Herbert's repaired transverter across the parking lot. Signals were S9 both ways, so we will test real QSO soon.
We were approached by an employee of the medical facility who own the property we were set up on. No problem, the lady just asked what are we doing there in friendly tone.
Herbert AF4JF and Rich N0PQU went to EM58bv (near Edwardsville, IL) for first day of the contest. Nice location, (almost) abandoned parking lot behind a country restaurant. That was our first mistake - we were planning on using that restaurant for restrooms and refreshments. Too bad that they open at 3:30pm. However, we were approached by the property owner who reminded us that we are on her property, but didn't object much and let us stay there.
(picture taken from a gas station across the road)
We have set up Herbert's 10GHz + 24 GHz and Rich's 10GHz stations around 8:30am and started our long waiting.
As Ron described in his posting, we have made several unsuccessful tries before we finally achieved first contact at 10:48am while Ron was in EM59fh and later at 12:03pm from EM59ji. One more contact with Zack W9SZ from EM59ji at 02:36pm was all we were able to do. Only 48 miles QSOs after all day in the heat. We have absorbed lots of UV radiation on that hill and decided to leave at 3:00pm.
We have tried to work numerous stations during the day, but none worked. That location does not seem to be too good.
Trip home was far from uneventful - IDOT decided to close entire I-270 in one direction including all 3 exits between I-55 and the Mississippi river, so we have ended up searching for a way home. Nice to have GPS in a phone, it receives traffic updates!
Herbert AF4JF went alone to EM48rq to work Bill K0AWU from EM39ka in the evening at 7:00pm. Much better timing than the day before, signal was S9 at times! We have made CW and later SSB contact easily.
Herbert AF4JF and Rich N0PQU went to other location west of St. Louis (Callaway exit from I-70 in MO) on Sunday. As usual, we have found HAM-friendly vegetation around the place where we wanted to set up:
(microwaves really do not penetrate this)
We found a nice location couple of miles west of this place. Note that it is just in EM38, thus new grid square! We have set up on an intersection between highway service road and some farmers country road into corn fields:
As you can see on this picture, we were confronted with some rain. Not bad and unfortunately no RS propagation. This is in EM38xw.
This picture shows the direction towards Bill K0AWU. We have both worked him from his EM39ka with strong signals, both CW and SSB. Distance 59 miles.
Finally, we have made severe QSOs with Ron KO0Z and his family - Debbie KC9ULA and Roman KD9COA. They were in EM48aw, about 5 miles away. Very strong signals, easy SSB contacts! Time was 01:50pm and we were done for the day.
The entire group met for lunch at nearby gas station ... no, we didn't drink gas. I have left that to my car and enjoyed the delicious home-made food at the Iron Skillet restaurant.
We will use the experience from this contest in planning for the next one. As Ron mentioned in his posting below, we intend to do some "leap-frogging" from Saint Louis towards a winery in Hermann, MO.
Funny was that we were visited by two Highway Patrol officers ... but they weren't interested in us. A guy on a motor bike stopped at our location for talk and parked his bike on the service road. They just warned him, but remained friendly otherwise.
This contest was followed by solar eclipse on 8/21/2017, full totality captured on following picture at 1:17pm from EM48rq:
73 Herbert
AF4JF
