Higher And Higher, past radio waves and visible light

I still remember my first 23cm transverter and my fear from frequencies above 1 GHz. What am I going to do? How am I supposed to measure, even how to tune anything on these high frequencies? It's not that long ago, about 15 years. Of course we managed that frequency. We also managed 10 GHz, later even 24 GHz. I have bought my 47GHz transverter from DB6NT. Now, these wonderful units from VK put us on 122 GHz ...

Harry WA0CNS and Herbert AF4JF made several short QSOs on 122GHz before making our 5.25 km contact on November 7th. See the posting here (click).

We have been playing with optical communications in the early days of the SLAMS group, see pictures here (click). The BARS group was also planning on some optical communications here (click), but we have never made a full bi-directional QSO until today (click here). Harry WA0CNS and Herbert AF4JF used the opportunity and tested their old equipment while waiting for other participants of the team meeting that we started holding in the Creve Coeur Memorial Park again. Witnessed by Ron KO0Z, our first QSO using red light took place. Harry used his station with two Fresnel lenses, TX with red LED diode wavelength 635 nm and RX with photo diode BPW34. Herbert used his old 5 mW red laser module wavelength 650 nm and a solar panel (!!) from old garden light as RX. No additional lenses used on Herbert's side. First QSO was difficult, especially aiming the stations at each other. We clearly have some work to do here, similar to our experience with 122GHz mentioned above. Using rifle scopes on these frequencies is a MUST!

Harry was actually using voice audio on transmit. That was surprisingly clear and easy to understand on Herbert's side. Herbert responded with 30% AM modulated CW (using shunt modulator).

Harry also built an optical beacon with infrared diodes (the little box on a smaller tripod on the right picture above). These diodes have lenses built in and the beam width is about 5 degrees. Built-in processor transmits beacon patterns and some text with Harry's callsign. I will try to record it and post the recording here next time.

So, what is next? Definitely attempt on longer distances on both, 122 GHz and 462 THz. We will keep working on mechanical stability, improving precise aiming and get more ready for next year.

73 Herbert

AF4JF

I-70 10 GHz Odyssey, Round 2 of ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest

Saturday's forecast for the upcoming 2019 ARRL 10 GHz and Up contest didn't look very promising.  Saturday called for a 40 to 50% chance of rain and T storms.  Sunday was more bleak with a 70% chance of storms.  Saturday was looking like the better choice.  Herbert AF4JF, Harry WA0CNS and Ron KO0Z decided on Friday evening, after Herbert's work related flight Boston returned, to see what the morning's actual weather was like and to try and set up by 9:30 am.

Saturday's forecast was looking a bit better.  Ron left his Girard, IL QTH by 7:15 am for the two hour trek across country roads to Pere Marquette State Park EM48rx overlooking Calhoun county, IL; western St. Louis county, MO, all of St. Charles county, MO as well as parts of Lincoln, Warren and Calloway counties in MO!

Ron KO0Z was anxious to activate Eagles Roost scenic overlook at Pere Marquette State Park, EM48rx.  It has an unobstructed 120 degree view that extends from azimuth headings of 145 to 265 degrees from an approximate elevation of 800 feet!  

     Pere Marquette State Park's Eagles Roost scenic overlook offers a 120 degree panorama at an approximate elevation of 800 feet!

      Ron KO0Z QRV on 10 GHz, from Eagles Roost EM48rx looking southeast towards Spot #1

                                  

           

                        Close up view of KO0Z's rig at Eagles Roost EM48rx

                            

Eagles Roost sign was quite the draw for visitors which, at times, delayed KO0Z from making Qs

For round 2 of the contest, KO0Z would be the stationary station at EM48rx and AF4JF and WA0CNS would be the mobile, "shoot and scoot" operators, basically traveling west along Interstate 70.

By 9:30 am, Ron KO0Z was QRV from Eagles Roost.  He could hear the WB9PNU beacon roaring no matter in which direction the dish was pointed.  Telemetry indicated the power output to be 1.2 watts, 12.9 VDC, enclosure temp of 84.3 degrees F and the PA temp of 111.8 degrees F at 10:06 am.

                       The WB9PNU/b roared into EM48rx no matter where the dish was pointed southeast of Eagles Roost, EM48rx!

AF4JF and WA0CNS were QRV at a church, on a hill in western St. Louis county EM48sr, Spot #1 and at 9:48 and 9:50 am both of them were in KO0Z's log with 5x9 SSB reports.  A distance of 17.8 miles (28.6 km).

                                          

 Harry WA0CNS and Herbert AF4JF QRV from Spot#1, west St. Louis county EM48sr, a church parking lot.

Spot #2 along I-70 found Herbert and Harry at the Red Lobster in St. Peters, MO EM48rt, 11.5 miles (18.5 km) with 5x9 + SSB signals at 10:32 and 10:35 am.

          Herbert AF4JF, EM438rt, Red Lobster in St. Peters, MO looking towards EM48rx

O'Fallon, MO EM48pt was Stop #3 next stop along the I-70 10 GHz odyssey, a distance of 14.6 miles (23.5 km).  Strong, CW signals were present on both sides of the QSOs.  Herbert and Harry were worked at 11:17 and 11:18 am  KO0Z received a 579 report at EM48rx.  Eagles Roost was proving to be a good operating location.

                          

   

              Harry WA0CNS along with Herbert at Stop#3, O'Fallon, MO EM48pt

                         

                                                   Spot #3 O'Fallon, MO

Ever moving westward, Wentzville EM48nt became Spot #4.  at 12:05 and 12.07 pm, both AF4JF and WA0CNS made a QSO with KO0Z on CW with good reports both ways for a distance of 21.3 miles (34.3 km).  Herbert and Harry took a lunch break and Ron ate a left over hamburger sandwich along with an apple.

                       

              AF4JF and WA0CNS QRV from Spot#4, Wentzville, MO EM48nt

                                       

                           Lunch break for KO0Z...a hamburger sandwich at EM48rx.

By 12:50 and 12:52 pm, AF4JF and WA0CNS were back on the air from Wright City, MO EM48mu, Spot #5 with 599 CW signals to EM48rx!  They were pounding in from a distance of 24.1 miles (38.8 km)!  We also made 5x9 SSB contacts from that location!  

                    

                Harry and Herbert QRV from Wright City, MO EM48mu, Stop #5.

Spot #6 in EM48kt, Warrenton, MO was another good location.  From a distance of 33.5 miles (54 km) both Herbert and Harry were in the log at 1:45 and 1:47 pm with 579 and 599 CW signals.

                                       

              AF4JF and WA0CNS QRV from Warrenton, MO, EM48kt, Stop # 6 along the way.

Continuing west, AF4JF and WA0CNS activated EM48iu in Jonesburg, MO, Spot #7.  A distance of 41.3 miles (66.5 km) with 579 CW signals at 2:24 and 2:26 pm.   

Next location, Stop #8 found Herbert and Harry at EM48gv, at the winery at New Florence, MO!  Those scoundrels!  It's been a running joke between us that we'd end up at winery on our 10 GHz expeditions.  Herbert laughingly assured me that the winery was chosen for its location relative to EM48rx and not for a wine "tete a tete." :-)  Still, a chilled glass of Reisling sounded mighty fine at that moment with the outside temp somewhere in the upper eighties!   The winery was 49.7 miles (80 km) away and Herbert and I were able to work each other via rainscatter with 579 CW signals.  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to hear Harry WA0CNS' signal from that location.  We made the Q with AF4JF at 3:17 pm.

Although we were growing tired and we were nearing the 265 degree limit of my location, there were T storms between us, so the decision was made to press on!   After all, nothing ventured, nothing gained.  What the heck, we were here! 

Spot #9 ended up being a few exits past Mineola Falls dip in I-70 in Calloway county, MO, EM48dv, near Williamsburg for a distance of 63.8, miles (101.5 km).  Rainscatter was the propagation mode and at 4:08 pm I worked AF4JF with 579  CW signals and I worked WA0CNS with 579 rainscatter CW signals at 4:18 pm.  The reason I took a while to work Harry was due to visitors to Eagles Roost.  I didn't want to transmit a 10 GHz signal directly at them as they gathered to read the information sign.

As a matter of fact, a running joke for this odyssey was I could tell when Herbert and Harry were ready to get on the air because that's when groups of visitors would come to the scenic overlook preventing me from transmitting.  It did, however, offer me the opportunity to explain what I was doing and to promote amateur radio.  In fact, I met a very nice young, soldier, Joe, from Ft. Sill who is interested in DFing and he is interested in earning his ham license!  I also met a group of Ferguson, MO who are into DIY.

Spot #10, our last location for the day, found AF4JF and WA0CNS in a new grid square just west of Kingdom City, MO.  From EM38xw and with rainscatter, I worked Herbert at 5:35 pm with 559 CW signals for a distance of 80.8 miles (130 km).  Unfortunately, more visitors arrived and we patiently waited for them to leave so I could work Harry WA0CNS.  The raincloud had moved and I wasn't able to hear either Harry or Herbert.  We'd lost rainscatter propagation.  This location is north of my 265 degree boundary, so rainscatter was the only propagation mode available for this location along I-70.

Conclusions:  All in all, this 10 GHz odyssey was a great adventure.  We learned more about 10 GHz propagation.  AF4JF and WA0CNS did a great job of "shooting and scooting."  I met some nice visitors at Eagles Roost, but at times their presence was frustrating because I wouldn't transmit while they were there which necessitated patience on both ends of the QSO and time delays.  On the other hand, it afforded me the opportunity to talk about ham radio.  I came prepared with ample amounts of water to hydrate, I brought lunch and I had fruit to eat throughout the day since Eagles Roost is not close to any food venues.  I brought along a book to read to pass the time in between Qs as Herbert and Harry traveled to the next stop.  From prior trips, I knew there wasn't a water fountain at Eagles Roost.  What I forgot was there also wasn't a outhouse.  Keeping hydrated also meant bladder relief.  The terrain is rugged. So, I would go down the slope, next to the platform, keep and eye out for visitors, and when safe, take care of business.  

  I saw a deer at the park's entrance, and at Eagles Roost, I saw a bald eagle soaring the thermals, a few turkey vultures riding the thermals, a big spider,  butterflies and flies with iridescent blue backs.  I spied  two barges on the Illinois River below me and an approaching thunderstorm at 5:00 pm, threatened my "roost" at Eagles Roost, but it stayed to my west.  The sound of thunder rolling in the park's  hills was impressive.

By 6:00 pm, more than ready to call it a day, I packed up my gear into my red wagon, to assist me, bringing it back down the trail to the parking lot and my vehicle which worked out nicely.  A young lady and her boyfriend had rose petals that they were scattering along Eagles Roost in anticipation of her brother proposing to his fiancée with an expected arrival of 6:15 pm.  By 6:30 pm, I was on the road heading back to Girard.  I stopped off at Jerseyville, IL, at a McDonald's, and two sausage and egg McMuffins, along with a large coffee later, I was back on the road heading home.  A good day spent with nature, friends and ham radio!

     Eagles Roost offers a great view.  The first water body is the Illinois River and just above it is Swan Lake. Beyond that is Calhoun county, IL and the distant ridge is I-70.

                    Wildflowers adorned Eagles Roost.  Swan Lake is off in the distance.

             A good, wooden bench, water and a good book occupied me in between QSOs.

            The bench proved to be quite comfortable.  Cloudy skies kept the sun off me.  Temp was in the mid to upper 80s.

Eagles Roost platform.  My 10 GHz rig is to the left and the sign, which proved to be quite popular with visitors is to the right.  I didn't set up next to the sign, because I didn't want to block access to the sign.  After all, this is a public, state park!  

                 A nearby thunderstorm, threateningly close, fortunately kept my west.

Below:  sRadar Scope screen shots from my camera depicting the various T storms between me and Herbert and Harry.  

   The screenshot above is the T storm that provided rainscatter between EM48gv and EM48rx

  A wider view of the EM48gv T storms.  My location is north of St. Charles and west of Godfrey.

 This screenshot reveals storms that allowed the Q between AF4JF, WA0CNS and KO0Z from EM48dv, Spot #9.  Herbert and Harry were just east of Fulton, MO.

2019 ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest 1 as seen by Herbert, AF4JF

Ron KO0Z posted a nice report about our weekend activities around the ARRL 10GHz And Up contest this year. He mentioned the weather, but didn't post any picture .. so, here is one taken by me (Herbert) from a highway rest area on my way to the gob. This was at 8:15 am, about 30 minutes driving distance from the gob site:

We were actually considering to cancel the outing, for the weather forecast was nowhere close to acceptable. However, the forecast was wrong once again. The skies cleared and we all got the usual sunburn. My dog Darcey discovered that our car provides some shade and cool shelter, especially with several doors kept open:

Unfortunately for us, our microwave stations were built to operate outside of the cars, so we have really spent over 8 hours outdoors on the hill. We didn't even bring a folding chair, not to mention a canopy! We have both had (identical) umbrellas - probably the reason (per Murphy's law) why the rain stopped. Here are our stations, note the distance from our cars:

Ron was our only guy driving between the locations. It took him approximately one hour to pack up, move to the next spot, set up and call us. I am sure it was busy for him, but very lonely for us on the hill. For the future, we need at least one more "rover", preferably driving around in opposite direction. Some additional stations to work in reasonable distance from the gob would be nice too. This will be much easier in VHF+ contests where we can make more microwave contacts on 23cm.

We have tested our stations and identified what might make our stay on the hill more convenient (hope someone finds out how to get rid of the sweet bees, they were very annoying even for Darcey). I have had a big cooler full with beverages, but didn't get ice in the morning because the weather made any ideas about hot temperatures look foolish. Won't make that mistake again!

Everything considered, we have had a great time. The plan is to return to the gob for ARRL VHF contest on September 14-15!

73 Herbert

AF4JF

2019 ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest - Round 1, August 17

Saturday, August 17, 2019 didn't look too promising for a microwave dxpedition.  Early in the morning, Harry WA0CNS, Herbert AF4JF and Ron KO0Z awoke to thunderclaps and pouring rain.  NWS radar indicated precipitation all the way from St. Louis and well past Springfield, IL.  Later, Zack W9SZ would become enveloped in rain, which forced him away from his preferred uW location on top of the EN50rl hill top.  On the bright side, NWS radar indicated the rain was moving out towards the east (Zack's direction) and the NWS forecast for the  remainder of the day would be overcast.  Consequently, Ron didn't bring his sun awning with him for Herbert and Harry.   Well, the day was partly cloudy and Herbert and Harry have sun burnt faces to attest to the "overcast" skies.

Note AF4JF and WA0CNS, at the gob base, with sunburnt faces after spending the day on top of the EM59ek45 gob knob hill.  Darcey, AF4JF's travel companion enjoyed herself.

Despite the rain, Herbert correctly surmised, "We have all day!"   Herbert and Harry drove 96 miles in the rain from St. Louis and Ron met them there around 9 am.  Ron only had 8 miles to travel to meet them. So, after the threat of lightning strikes abated, we ascended the gob and set up for the contest.  A big shout-out of thanks to RECC for allowing us to repeatedly use their gob site with the wind turbine.  Thank you!  The gob site has a commanding view in all directions and it's perfect for uW activity.

Entrance to Gob Knob EM59ek

   Note the wind turbine at the top of the gob site.

 Herbert AF4JF and Harry WA0CNS setting up on top of the gob.

 

                    Harry WA0CNS has a compass rose which aids him in azimuth location.

                                                 Herbert AF4JF is ready for the event.

                       Darcey, AF4JF's companion, is very interested with Harry WA0CNS


This year, our plan of attack was to use the gob as a focal point and then operate "shoot and scoot" style from various points (pins) 10 miles apart within 20 and40 mile diameter rings from the gob.  Ron KO0Z was the shoot and scoot leg of the operation while Herbert AF4JF and Harry WA0CNS remained on the gob top.  

The yellow ring indicates the 20 mile diameter and the red ring 40 mile diameter.  The yellow pins are potential "shoot and scoot" locations.

Each of the yellow pins are potential operating sites.  Unfortunately, Google Maps doesn't indicated if soybeans or corn are planted.  Corn is a uW absorber and the op needs to be above the corn.  On the other hand, soybeans are not as tall and pose no absorption issues.  However, tree rows (windbreaks) as close as 1/2 mile away can block uW signals.  So, Ron needed to scout around the pin to avoid corn and windbreaks back towards the gob.

At 10:37 am, Ron made contact with Harry on both cw and phone from a soybean field near the WSMI FM tower site near honey bend.  Herbert also made a two-way with KO0Z  EM59ef (Pin 1)

The WSMI FM tower is visible in this soybean field 11 miles from the gob location.  Nice, strong 10 GHz signals reported both ways.  Heading to gob 356 degrees. 10:37 am.

KO0Z's next "scoot & shoot" site (Pin 2) was near Mt. Olive about 21 miles away from the gob.  In searching for a suitable location, Ron backed up into a ditch and got stuck.  Fortunately, a farm was nearby and thanks to a kind farmer, his John Deere tractor and $20.00,  Ron was back on the road, with no apparent vehicle damage, and QRV.  He found a site about a mile away from the ditch and made cw QSO's with Herbert and Harry with good signal reports from EM59dc.

                                      Fortunately the farmer was home and aided KO0Z out of the ditch after misjudging the grassy shoulder and backing up into it.

After the ditch mishap, KO0Z made a two-way cw QSO with AF4JF and WA0CNS from Em59dc, another soybean field.  Note the trees, KO0Z believes the height advantage of the gob allowed him to make the QSO.  21 mile Q, beam heading to gob 10.2 degrees. 11:48 am.


Scoot & shoot (Pin 3) was between Irving and Witt, IL on IL 16.  KO0Z found another soybean field with a good view towards the gob. Good signals, both ways on cw with Harry and Herbert from EM59hf.  This contact was 17 miles distant.

                 Pin 3, EM59hf looking northwest towards the gob, 17 miles away.  Man, those are tall beans!  1:03 pm. Heading 317 degrees.

After working Herbert and Harry from Pin 3, pressing on IL 16 towards Witt, Ron encountered a McDonnell Douglas F4 Phantom fighter jet parked in a field!

You don't see that everyday next to an agricultural field.  A genuine McDonnell Douglas F4 Phantom fighter jet!  This is located just east of Witt, IL on IL 16.


Getting past the F4 unscathed,  Ron continued on to Pin 4, Ohlman cemetery EM59ji where he made two-way Qs with Harry and Herbert at 1:46 pm.  Excellent signal reports both ways, 20.5 miles away.

Pin 4, Ohlman Cemetery (EM59ji) looking 284 degrees towards the gob, 20.5 miles away.  1:46 pm.

 Roving counterclockwise, KO0Z proceeded to Pin 5, just north of Taylorsville, IL.  Last December an EF3 tornado struck the town.  Some damage is still visible, but the town's done a remarkable amount of cleanup and rebuilding!  Again, two-way cw Qs were made with Harry and Herbert, now southwest of my location in EM59io.  It's now 2:55 pm.

 Pin 5 (Taylorville) looking towards gob, 21 miles away, heading of 238 degrees)  Q made at 2:55pm with Herbert and Harry.  EM59io.

EM59io set-up with my rovermobile and 10 GHz rig.  Gotta love soybean fields for uW propagation.

The day is pressing on, I am getting tired shooting and scooting, Harry and Herbert have been slow baking in the sun.  Fortunately, the temps were in the mid eighties, but the humidity was high.  We decided to skip Pin 6 (New City) and for us to press on to Pins 7 and 8.  By 3:40 pm I was at the Auburn site, but it was surrounded by corn, so I found another soybean field between Lowder and Thayer, IL which fit the bill.  By 4:10 pm I was set up and we made another Q at 4:17 with the gob with good signal reports on cw.

                            Corn stalks make great microwave absorbers at ground level.

 Finally, a suitable uW soybean field between Lowder and Thayer (Pin 7).  Qs made at 4:17 pm with good signals on cw.  We didn't bother with phone this time.  I'm looking southeast (123 degrees, approximately 13 -10 miles away) towards the gob.  EM59cn.

            I am parked near a mailbox on a one lane gravel road at EM59cn near Thayer.

                           Sweat bees were abundant everywhere on this uW dxpedition!



Okay, it's almost 4:40 pm and time for one more Q at Pin 8, just north of Carlinville and the dxpedition circle will be complete. Drats! On the way to Pin 8, KO0Z is stopped to wait for a passing coal train to get across IL Hwy 4.  8 minutes later, the crossing gates raise and traffic is moving.   KO0Z made the trek to Em59bh, 13 miles away from the gob.  Qs were made in cw and phone from this location at 5:10 pm.

                   A passing coal train blocks traffic along IL Hwy 4 for about 8 minutes.

Pin 8, Carlinville, EM59bh looking northeast 60 degrees toward the gob site 13 miles away.  Great signals both ways.

                                                     Another view of PIn 8 near Carlinville.

After Pin 8, it was now time to call it a day.  KO0Z rejoined AF4JF and WA0CNS at the gob site, where we fist pumped each other on a job well done.  We had some setbacks.  Herbert had a stuck relay killing his receive, but he performed a technician's tap and restored it by hitting it on the ground; thereby, freeing up the stuck relay.  Harry's radio ended up  quitting after 7 hours in the sun.  Ron has an intermittent PTT connection that needs tending.

The day was a great success, in spite of some technical difficulties.  We know the strategy works, but it will be helpful for the guys on the gob to have two teams out in the field.  One working clockwise and the other counterclockwise.

I'll let Herbert AF4JF and Harry WA0CNS share their narratives next!


( Click  here for Herbert's report )