BARS (Bistate Amateur Radio Society) exists to secure for ourselves the pleasures and benefits associated with persons commonly interested in all aspects of Amateur Radio; especially, with an emphasis on microwave and higher frequencies.
Showing posts with label BARS 2018. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BARS 2018. Show all posts
Saturday, December 22, 2018
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
InSight and MarCOs
Kudos to the scientists and engineers with JPL, NASA and everyone involved with the successful Martian landing of InSight and the MarCOs satellites! I'm especially intrigued with the X band refectantenna array used with MarCOs. It's compact during lift-off, but deploys during spaceflight. It acts as a parabolic antenna. The MarCOs are the first cubesats to leave Earth orbit and they performed as planned relaying InSight's telemetry back to Earth during its descent and landing on the Martian surface.
Saturday, October 20, 2018
On the air from the gob
Herbert AF4JF and Ron KO0Z were still waiting for the sun to rise on Saturday, October 20 at 6:30 am. The wind was brisk and the temps in the 40s. Ron made a quick stop to get some coffee and before long, the chained gate leading to the gob site and wind turbine was unlocked and both of us were setting up beneath the "whoosh, whoosh" blades of the wind turbine. Zack, W9SZ was operational at his hilltop location in EN50rl about 97 miles away.
We weren't successful in hearing each other on 10 GHz, but Herbert and Zack made a great two-way 1.2 GHz QSO this morning. Herbert used a 1.2 GHz yagi and two watts of power.
We started operations at 7:00 am and we were on the road by 8:45. Ron KO0Z needed to travel to Pana for a Boy Scout jamboree at Rhodes France Scout Camp. With about 5 other hams we operated three stations and gave scouts a chance to get on the air. It was great fun!
AF4JF's 1.2 GHz yagi
The dish, on top of the gob EM59ek, is aimed at Zack in EN50rl 97 miles away.
Herbert's new travel companion
We weren't successful in hearing each other on 10 GHz, but Herbert and Zack made a great two-way 1.2 GHz QSO this morning. Herbert used a 1.2 GHz yagi and two watts of power.
We started operations at 7:00 am and we were on the road by 8:45. Ron KO0Z needed to travel to Pana for a Boy Scout jamboree at Rhodes France Scout Camp. With about 5 other hams we operated three stations and gave scouts a chance to get on the air. It was great fun!
AF4JF's 1.2 GHz yagi
The dish, on top of the gob EM59ek, is aimed at Zack in EN50rl 97 miles away.
Herbert's new travel companion
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
MUD in our eyes, 2018 Dayton, OH
"Attending a seminar has numerous benefits, including improving communication skills, gaining expert knowledge, networking with others and renewing motivation and confidence." This quote is taken from a higher education, but it applies quite nicely to MUD 2018 which was held in Fairborn, OH nearby to Dayton. The organizers did an outstanding job putting on this year's MUD.
Our trip to Dayton started off on Thursday, October 11th. Zack W9SZ met me, KO0Z, in Girard and we carpooled to Vandalia where we met Herbert AF4JF. I left my car with my sister-in-law and all three of us carpooled to Fairborn, OH in Herbert's new Chevrolet Traverse. Lunch at Cracker Barrel and soon we were in Dayton/Fairborn.
In addition to Zack, Herbert and Ron, Mel K0PFX and Bob N0IS rounded up the BARS/SLAMS attendees.
There was a lot of excitement at the conference and neat projects were going on. Machining and mill work is vital to uW construction; especially, on the higher frequencies and Rich N0PQU and Mike N0OBI would have walked away with new, exciting ideas of that I am sure. There was some 131 GHz work done at the conference! SDR is becoming an even stronger presence in uW technology.
Perhaps, the next time MUD is "close" to St. Louis, we should consider car pooling our resources. MUD 2019 will be in the Dallas area.
Herbert AF4JF and Zack W9SZ at the MUD Hospitality sweet
Lime SDR transceiver can run up to 4 transverters!
The long awaited Lime LMS8001 Companion Board extends coverage to 5 and 10 GHz
Tom, WA1MBA's Quadrupler for 47 GHz
Paul Wade W1GHz is milling out 47 GHz parts at a Maker Faire machine shop
Home brewed 47 GHz horn antenna
Pete, Mel and Herbert at the MUD banquet
Our trip to Dayton started off on Thursday, October 11th. Zack W9SZ met me, KO0Z, in Girard and we carpooled to Vandalia where we met Herbert AF4JF. I left my car with my sister-in-law and all three of us carpooled to Fairborn, OH in Herbert's new Chevrolet Traverse. Lunch at Cracker Barrel and soon we were in Dayton/Fairborn.
In addition to Zack, Herbert and Ron, Mel K0PFX and Bob N0IS rounded up the BARS/SLAMS attendees.
There was a lot of excitement at the conference and neat projects were going on. Machining and mill work is vital to uW construction; especially, on the higher frequencies and Rich N0PQU and Mike N0OBI would have walked away with new, exciting ideas of that I am sure. There was some 131 GHz work done at the conference! SDR is becoming an even stronger presence in uW technology.
Perhaps, the next time MUD is "close" to St. Louis, we should consider car pooling our resources. MUD 2019 will be in the Dallas area.
Herbert AF4JF and Zack W9SZ at the MUD Hospitality sweet
Lime SDR transceiver can run up to 4 transverters!
The long awaited Lime LMS8001 Companion Board extends coverage to 5 and 10 GHz
Tom, WA1MBA's Quadrupler for 47 GHz
Home brewed 47 GHz horn antenna
Pete, Mel and Herbert at the MUD banquet
Monday, October 8, 2018
BARS October 2018 Brunch
Even with the threat of rain, BARS members converged on Ponderosa in Arnold, MO on Saturday, October 6th for our monthly brunch. Discussion centered on the upcoming MUD conference in Dayton, OH, Herbert's return from his business trip in Boston and Harry's WA0CNS SDR HF QRP rig manufactured in China. It has a very clear, colorful display with a built in pan adapter.
Harry, WA0CNS with his SDR HF QRP rig.
A close up view of the SDR HF QRP rig. Note the spectrum display towards the screen bottom.
Seated from left to right: Sam W0PCE, Rich N0PQU, Harry WA0CNS, Herbert AF4JF, Armand KD0PXF and Debbie KC9ULA. Not pictured is Ron KO0Z
Seated from left to right: Sam W0PCE, Rich N0PQU, Harry WA0CNS, Herbert AF4JF, Armand KD0PXF and Debbie KC9ULA. Not pictured is Ron KO0Z
Monday, September 17, 2018
2018 ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest
Part deux of the ARRL's 10 GHz and Up Contest, September 15 and 16, doesn't always offer the best contest conditions. Many of the uW ops up north contest along the Great Lakes, which leaves few of us in the "black hole" a lot of options. This year, Herbert AF4JF and I decided to leapfrog each other, which meant a lot of traveling in a "shoot and scoot" strategy. We made elaborate plans. Debbie KC9ULA and I, KO0Z even scouted out a potential location near Mason City, IL for the contest.
Since Herbert wasn't available until after 3:00 pm on Saturday, we decided that he'd start off in St. Charles County in EM48rt near Red Lobster along I-70. KO0Z went to the Aerie's winery in Grafton up on the bluffs and worked Herbert on cw with 599 signals for a path 20 km at 3:35 pm. We even did SSB. Next, Ron went to the Dow site, EM59ua and Herbert went to the YMCA in EM48sq. We worked each other on cw for path of 40 km at 4:19 pm. Ron packed up and proceeded to Edwardsville, EM58as and worked Herbert at 5:44 pm with 599 cw signals for a 44 km path. Ron drove close to 200 miles round trip.
Sunday was to be the big travel day. But the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray came into play. KO0Z's daughter-in-law's mother passed away and the visitation was scheduled for Sunday from 11 to 2. Ron wanted to contest but he also wanted to be there, but that meant cutting the contest day short. It's about a 90 minute drive from Girard, IL to St. Peters, MO. Ron would have to leave for St. Peters no later than 11:30 am to be in St. Peters by 2 pm with some time to spare. Originally, Herbert and Ron planned to end up at Zack, W9SZ's EN50rl hilltop location, but that will have to wait for another day. Instead, Ron and Herbert decided to start their contest Sunday off by meeting for breakfast at the Litchfield, IL Denny's at 5:30 am! Ron actually made it!
A hearty breakfast and many cups of coffee later, Ron and Herbert were tooling down IL Route 16 by 6:30 am to Ohlman cemetery, EM59ji. We were set up on the hill by 7:10 am. We were unable to hear the St. Louis beacon, 125 km, 78 miles away, and we didn't have any luck hearing Ron W9ZIH's powerhouse signal from Malta, IL EN51nv, 176 miles (283 km) away. Not to be skunked, KO0Z drove 5 km away and worked AF4JF.
Our next stop was the one we were most looking forward to visiting. Ron secured permission to go on top of the gob nob from the old Crown 1 mine just east of the Farmersville and I-55 exit (exit 72) near Farmersville, IL, EM59ek. Jim N9LQF had the key to open the gate and we drove to the top of the gob just below Ameren UE's huge wind turbine. The view is awesome! It is high and clear of any obstructions. There was no detectable interference to our 10 GHz rigs.
We tried to work Ron W9ZIH and we could hear his signal, but it wasn't much above the noise and there was QSB a distance of 174 miles (280 km). He was unable to hear us. We were unable to hear the WB9PNU beacon from that location, 64 miles (102 km) to the southwest.
Saturday afternoon AF4JF set up in EM48 rt ready to work KO0Z in EM48sx
Herbert looking towards EM48sx (Grafton, IL) from EM48 rt (St. Peters, MO)
AF4JF setup at the YMCA EM48sq (Bridgeton, MO ready to work KO0Z in EM49ua (Dow, IL)
Herbert's EM48sq location
AF4JF's dish at Ohlman cemetery, EM58ji aiming towards KO0Z 5 km away in EM59jj
AF4JF setup in Ohlman cemetery EM58ji
KO0Z's view across the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers from EM48sx
KO0Z aiming from EM48sx (Grafton, IL) to St. Peters in EM48rt
EM48sx above Grafton, IL on the bluffs
Dow, IL EM49ua
Ron KO0Z's view from Edwardsville, IL EM58sa west to EM48sq
Herbert AF4JF getting ready at EM59ek on top of the gob.
View from EM59ek
Looking north from the gob at EM59ek.
AF4JF loves this uW site on the EM59ek gob.
KO0Z's view, 2 km westward towards the EM59ek wind turbine
Unfortunately, KO0Z needed to call it quits for the day. Ron, Debbie KC9ULA and Roman KD9COA needed to leave in time for the visitation. A big shout out to Herbert for his understanding and to Jim N9LQF for securing permission and the key to the gob site!
Since Herbert wasn't available until after 3:00 pm on Saturday, we decided that he'd start off in St. Charles County in EM48rt near Red Lobster along I-70. KO0Z went to the Aerie's winery in Grafton up on the bluffs and worked Herbert on cw with 599 signals for a path 20 km at 3:35 pm. We even did SSB. Next, Ron went to the Dow site, EM59ua and Herbert went to the YMCA in EM48sq. We worked each other on cw for path of 40 km at 4:19 pm. Ron packed up and proceeded to Edwardsville, EM58as and worked Herbert at 5:44 pm with 599 cw signals for a 44 km path. Ron drove close to 200 miles round trip.
Sunday was to be the big travel day. But the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray came into play. KO0Z's daughter-in-law's mother passed away and the visitation was scheduled for Sunday from 11 to 2. Ron wanted to contest but he also wanted to be there, but that meant cutting the contest day short. It's about a 90 minute drive from Girard, IL to St. Peters, MO. Ron would have to leave for St. Peters no later than 11:30 am to be in St. Peters by 2 pm with some time to spare. Originally, Herbert and Ron planned to end up at Zack, W9SZ's EN50rl hilltop location, but that will have to wait for another day. Instead, Ron and Herbert decided to start their contest Sunday off by meeting for breakfast at the Litchfield, IL Denny's at 5:30 am! Ron actually made it!
A hearty breakfast and many cups of coffee later, Ron and Herbert were tooling down IL Route 16 by 6:30 am to Ohlman cemetery, EM59ji. We were set up on the hill by 7:10 am. We were unable to hear the St. Louis beacon, 125 km, 78 miles away, and we didn't have any luck hearing Ron W9ZIH's powerhouse signal from Malta, IL EN51nv, 176 miles (283 km) away. Not to be skunked, KO0Z drove 5 km away and worked AF4JF.
Our next stop was the one we were most looking forward to visiting. Ron secured permission to go on top of the gob nob from the old Crown 1 mine just east of the Farmersville and I-55 exit (exit 72) near Farmersville, IL, EM59ek. Jim N9LQF had the key to open the gate and we drove to the top of the gob just below Ameren UE's huge wind turbine. The view is awesome! It is high and clear of any obstructions. There was no detectable interference to our 10 GHz rigs.
We tried to work Ron W9ZIH and we could hear his signal, but it wasn't much above the noise and there was QSB a distance of 174 miles (280 km). He was unable to hear us. We were unable to hear the WB9PNU beacon from that location, 64 miles (102 km) to the southwest.
Saturday afternoon AF4JF set up in EM48 rt ready to work KO0Z in EM48sx
Herbert looking towards EM48sx (Grafton, IL) from EM48 rt (St. Peters, MO)
AF4JF setup at the YMCA EM48sq (Bridgeton, MO ready to work KO0Z in EM49ua (Dow, IL)
Herbert's EM48sq location
AF4JF's dish at Ohlman cemetery, EM58ji aiming towards KO0Z 5 km away in EM59jj
AF4JF setup in Ohlman cemetery EM58ji
KO0Z aiming from EM48sx (Grafton, IL) to St. Peters in EM48rt
EM48sx above Grafton, IL on the bluffs
Dow, IL EM49ua
Ron KO0Z's view from Edwardsville, IL EM58sa west to EM48sq
The wind turbine at EM59ek just east of Farmersville, IL
Herbert AF4JF getting ready at EM59ek on top of the gob.
View from EM59ek
Looking north from the gob at EM59ek.
AF4JF loves this uW site on the EM59ek gob.
KO0Z's view, 2 km westward towards the EM59ek wind turbine
Entrance to the EM59ek gob site near Farmersville, IL
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
Potential uW Site in EN50ce
Debbie KC9ULA and myself KO0Z checked out a potential uW site in Mason County, IL in EN50ce on Tuesday, September 11 in advance of the upcoming 10 GHz and Up contest. The site is in a high location in Mason county, IL. There are some trees to the north that could offer blockage to in WI. It may be possible to work Ron WZIH about 127 miles away. Zack in EN50rl looks good at 69 miles away. St. Louis is approximately 110 miles away to the southwest. Here are some photos of the site.
Looking west towards the tower site EN50ce along county road 850 N.
I believe there is a packet node on this tower.
EN50ce: Looking north.
EN50ce: Looking northeast-east.
EN50ce: Looking southeast with Debbie KC9ULA.
EN50ce looking southwest towards St. Louis
EN50ce radio shed.
EN50ce is between Springfield and Peoria Illinois
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)