222 MHz and UP Sunday

Sunday, August 2, 2020; COVID-19 Virus is once again on an exponential rise, plaguing the nation.  Social distancing is the order of the day.  Still, Herbert AF4JF, Ron KO0Z, Debbie KC9ULA and Harry WA0CNS ventured out this morning to practice some "radio activity" while still maintaing social distancing.

Herbert, Ron and Debbie went to Eagle Roost at Pere Marquette State Park near Grafton, IL EM48rx and Harry went to High Ridge, MO in EM48rl, a distance of almost 35 miles.  Herbert, Ron and Debbie were on the road by 7:00 am and crossed over the Mississippi River into IL via the Grafton Ferry boat.  By 8:40 am we were QRV.  At 9:16 am, Ron made a two-way CW 10 GHz QSO with Harry.  Right after that we made a two-way SSB 10 GHz QSO.  S-9 signals both ways, both times! 

Next on the agenda, Herbert using a BBQ dish antenna and his PLUTO SDR transceiver made could hear Harry's 2.3 GHz SSB signal!  After a little tuning, Harry was able to copy Herbert's 2.3 SSB 10 milliwatt signal with his downconverter and IF rig!  AF4JF then put in a 1-2 watt amp and both stations copied each other's SSB signals with 5 X 7 reports.

AF4JF then made a 1.2 GHz two-way QSO with WA0CNS with 10 milliwatts and a WA5VJB PC log periodic antenna!

By 10:30 am we finished packing up and we were on our way back to St. Charles.  Herbert went back via the ferry boat and Ron and Debbie continued southward on the Great River Road, enjoying the scenic view, towards Alton before taking Hwy 367 back to I 270.

Not a bad way at all to get some exercise, some radio and still social distance during the pandemic. It was great "seeing" (hearing) everyone today!   

                Herbert waiting to board the Grafton Ferry to Illinois and EM48rx

    Crossing the mighty Mississippi to Illinois

                    AF4JF's 1.2 and 2.3 GHz set-up using a PLUTO SDR

     K00Z's 10 GHz dish at Eagle Roost EM48rx pointing south towards WA0CNS near High Ridge, MO EM48rl about 35 miles away.

          AF4JF's PLUTO SDR computer screen.

Herbert summed up today's outing with this email:

Ron and Harry,

Thanks for coming out with me on such short notice! I wasn't sure until Friday evening if I will find the time .. I am glad that I did.

What I wanted to test today was:

- if Harry will copy me and if I copy him on the PCB antenna on 2.3/3.4 GHz .. negative, this didn't work on 2.3GHz so we didn't even try on 3.4GHz

- if Harry will copy me and if I copy him on the BBQ dish antenna without PA .. positive, this worked both ways

- if Harry will copy me using the LUXUL PA/preamp unit ... positive, this worked. RX preamp was fine, but TX needs adjustment of driving power

- if Harry will copy me and if I copy him on lower microwave bands (903/1296MHz) using the PCB antenna ... positive, we made 2-way QSO on 1296. Wow!

These results gave me an idea what I need to put in the box with SDR PLUTO to make it multi-band rover transceiver with as simple band switching as possible. 

73 Herbert

Harry WA0CNS in EM48rl, High Ridge, MO working EM48rl, Pere Marquette State Park, IL 35 miles

      

                                  Darcy is a relaxed microwave companion

                       This chap likes KO0Z or he's an Illini fan, orange and blue colors!

                                      EM48rx hitchhiker

Debbie KC9ULA and Toula along for the ride.

                                     AF4JF's multiband power amp.

CSVHF 2019, Lincoln, NE as Seen by KO0Z

It was great seeing Bob N0IS, Herbert AF4JF, Harry WA0CNS and everyone else who attended this year's CSVHFS conference at Lincoln, NE.  Bob, Harry and Herbert carpooled to Lincoln.  Ron carpooled with Mark WD9HBF rover along with Mark's friend Dave KF8QL from Michigan.

Bob's entourage left around 6:30 am and arrived around 2 pm; whereas, Ron left around 1 pm and arrived around 7:30 pm on Thursday.  The entrance to the Country Suites hotel was graced with a 4 meter dish for EME work later on in the morning.

There were not as many antenna entries this year.  I don't believe any 6 meter antennas were measured.  Herbert had two 3456 MHz patch antennas measured.

The forums were excellent and I made a few new friends.  Herbert, Harry and I started to make plans for the upcoming ARRL 10 GHz and up contest.

The banquet and prize table had a new twist this year.  Steve N2CEI was the MC and he called ticket numbers randomly to enact jeopardy, the wedding game and other TV shows as a means to give away top prizes and to entertain.  It was a great idea, and I found it very funny, but it did run a bit long.  We didn't leave the banquet until 11:30.  I love the idea and I vote the society consider doing it again, but trim it back a bit.    Rod's recounting of looking for Amelia Earhart's plane was very interesting.

I had so much fun, that I'm already marking next year's calendar for CSVHFS in La Crosse, WI in late July.

April 13th Meeting - 24 GHz Outing

Saturday, April 13, bright and early.  Zack W9SZ loaded his Ford in Champaign and headed southwest towards Dennys in Litchfield.  Likewise, Herbert AF4JF loaded up his Traverse and left St. Peters, MO for Litchfield.  Ron KO0Z soon joined them at the Litchfield Dennys for coffee, breakfast and good company at 7:15 am.

Our next stop was Ohlman cemetery, EM59ji to test Herbert's 24 GHz station.  Since crops are not up, almost any direction was a good one to test 24 GHz.  We arrived at the cemetery sometime around 9:30am.  After testing the rigs in the cemetery, Zack drove a mile away and both he and Herbert were able to easily copy each other.

Zack and Herbert then made a 2 mile 24 GHz contact.  Zack moved again for a distance of over 5 miles and both he and Herbert were able to make the two-way CW QSO!  What makes this especially sweet is Herbert AF4JF was running 300 MICROWATTS to a splash feed antenna and his dish!

A good day indeed!

We celebrated by going to the Rosebud Café, just east of Pana on IL Hwy 16 and Hwy 51.  After a good lunch, Zack left for Champaign, Herbert to St. Peters and I to Girard, but not before revisiting Ohlman Cemetery to chat with Zack on 146.52 FM simplex.  At the time he was about 15 miles south of Decatur.  Both of us were using mag mount antennas.  I set up my 10 GHz rig and I was able to copy the WB9PNU/b just above the noise sometime around 3 pm.

KO0Z's 10 GHz rig at Ohlman Cemetery, EM59ji, aimed in the direction of the WB9PNU/b in St. Louis over 78 miles away.  I could hear the beacon above the noise floor.

Zack W9SZ unloading his 24 GHz rig at Ohlman Cemetery to work Herbert AF4JF about 150 feet away to see if both rigs were working.  Zack was testing a different IF rig, a Yaesu FT-817.

                                       W9SZ ready to copy some  24 GHz  signals!

                                                       Ron KO0Z's 10 GHz setup.

             
                           Herbert AF4JF about 150 feet away on the northside of the cemetery, EM59ji

                           
                           Herbert AF4JF's 24 GHz rig aimed north from Ohlman Cemetery EM59ji

                    Herbert's travel companion, Darcey, found a friend, but he wasn't all that animated!

   Zack W9SZ raising dust ahead of me on our way back to Ohlman cemetery. We are heading south.  The cemetery is the hill off to the right of the road.  This picture was taken about a mile or two north of the cemetery.

    Herbert's big grin after working Zack W9SZ, 5 miles away on 24 GHz with 300 microwatts of power at his end.!

   Zack is packing up his rig, 5 miles north of Ohlman cemetery.  This shot is looking south back towards the cemetery which isn't even visible in this picture.

Here is a map with elevation profile of the 5 mile path accomplished today on 24 GHz!  Ohlman Cemetery is located on the right hand side of the elevation display and Zack's spot is on the left.

Herbert AF4JF is sending to Zack and Zack is sending back to Herbert  on 24 GHz CW

        Zack W9SZ is receiving Herbert AF4JF's 24 GHz, 300 microwatt signal over 5 miles away!

BARS September 30, 2017 Lunch

Litchfield, IL, I-55 exit 52, Maverick Steak House and Spirits restaurant, Saturday, September 30, 2017 at 10 am.  Herbert, AF4JF, Zack, W9SZ and Ron, KO0Z met at the restaurant parking lot and moved a quarter-mile north to parking lot overlooking a field and Zack drove northward to a parking lot at the opposite end of the field, approximately 1 km to test out Herbert's 24 GHz transverter with a 432 MHz IF.

Zack and Herbert were able to hear each other quite well!  A successful test for AF4JF!  Ron, KO0Z is still working on his 24 GHz rig.  He needs to get a 12 GHz doubler to proceed further.

It was a beautiful, fall Saturday with temps in the 70s and low humidity.  A good day to microwave.  After the test, we ate a big lunch at Maverick's and made plans for the upcoming microwave sprint/MAD on Saturday October 7th. Both Zack and Ron were able to copy the WB9PNU beacon in Bridgeton, MO with S-1 signals.  Not very strong, but detectable.  We had the I-55 off ramp ridge between us about a half-mile away which could have been blocking signals.

                   Herbert, AF4JF setting up 24 GHz to work Zack, W9SZ across the field

Zack, W9SZ looking south, across the field, towards Herbert, AF4JF

 
                                      Initial contact between AF4JF and W9SZ on 24 GHz

 

 

                                         24 GHz QSO between AF4JF and W9SZ EM59de

                               Zack, W9SZ and Herbert AF4JF chatting in Maverick's parking lot

                                                 AF4JF's 24 GHz dish with splash feed point

                   Herbert, AF4JF setting up while Zack, W9SZ is doing likewise across the field.

                                           Close up of  the 24 GHz splash feed 

                                                      AF4JF's 24 GHz transverter 

                                             Herbert ready to make a 24 QSO test with Zack!
 

               
                                                      Herbert's 1.2 GHz transverter 

                          Zack, W9SZ set up at the north end of field with his 24 GHz rig. 

                    A successful 24 GHz QSO, now time for lunch at Maverick's in Litchfield.