[MAMS] MAD weekend, July 2nd

Wed Jun 29 18:28:13 EDT 2011

Zack,

My experience, going from one band up to the next. Has been great over
the years. 1971, 1296 about a watt. APX6. Wow, really great results.
24 GHz, became a major difference. Much more of a challenge. 47 GHz
being about the same. Here in the Midwest, On 24 GHz it seems like
everything is fighting you. Everything has more losses. Getting good
power, well, more difficult, more expensive. Finding parts that work.
WR42, scarce, and expensive. The whole secret seems to be power. As
W9ZIH says, "power at the microwaves, is not a luxury. It is a
necessity." Plus, as I will add, test everything. Amazing what decides
to not work. Best not to assume it is working. Far as propagation, and
tricks. Well, still learning. What I have observed, 10-20 mile paths,
are fairly easy, quick. 50 miles with say, 100mW or so, foot or two
dish, reasonable pre amp, are routine. Two, one watt 24 GHz stations.
2 ft dishes, routinely going to make the 60 to 70 mile path across
Lake Michigan, with good signals. Across the Lake and inland, another
story. Maybe. Over water is pretty darn good. Water, humidity, can be
routine problems. However, Rain and snow scatter work. In general, 24
GHz seems more a noon, Afternoon band, than a morning sunrise or night
band. Unlike the lower bands. 24 GHz, appears the path has to dry out
a bit first. At times, many of us have found that signals on 24 GHz
were better than on 10 GHz, or lower. If you did not or don't try it,
or just assume, you don't know. Comparison, 10 GHz I would consider
100mW 18-24 inch dish, to be good for, oh, 100 miles. 10 GHz is pretty
forgiving about paths. Plus, you really want to be on at sunrise for
best results. Lots more things are more easily done on 10 GHz than 24
GHz. Vegetation is a serious concern at 24 GHz. 47 GHz also. Not
forgiving. Dish aim can be a concern, but normally, has not proven to
be a bother for me. Oh, those dish network satellite dishes. They work
just fine on 24 GHz. Just avoid the ones that came down rough. Too
many, were used as a "Frisbee" when taken down. Wind up getting bent
out of shape.

Another reminder comment. Path conditions change. Try to make a
contact on a path that should work. Is not. Results in a given 15
minute run, might be poor to non existent. Try, and try again. Things
change. Half hour, hour later, you might find the band open. No
problem. Unless you are close, the 30 second 24 GHz contact, is
unlikely. Expect to take some time. What Don WW8M and I used to do.
The routine, was first, get within range, and make a contact. Prove
things are working, first. Then, stretch that string between dishes.
It is kind of rough, trying to make a 50 mile plus contact, and later
find the real problem. Something in the radio decided not to work.
Microwave Activity Day, in part, exists, to try and keep using
equipment. Find problems before the contest. Make activity. Learn how
paths work.

July MAD, if there is anyone in range from EN74at, I can be on.
Otherwise, will save the fuel for the next adventure. Zack, front Ball
Joints. Yep, looks like Rover here has some similar issues. So long
trips are off for a while. Need to save up some repair funds.

As gets said. If it was easy, everyone would have already done it. Me,
I am still learning.

73, Lloyd NE8I/r
EN74 etc

On Tue, Jun 28, 2011 at 6:02 PM, Zack Widup <w9sz.zack at gmail.com> wrote:
> Yes, I'll take all bands from 902 through 10368. I don't know if it's worth
> taking 24 GHz because I'm not likely to work someone if they're not pinning
> the s-meter on 10 GHz. I guess you never know but Lloyd NE8I told me 24 is
> usually a lot more difficult to make longer distance QSO's on than 10 GHz.
>
> Lloyd, maybe you can talk about 24 GHz propagation and distances a bit?
>
> The hill I decided to go to this Saturday is in EN50xf/EN60af. This hill is
> about 300 ft lower than the one in EN50rl but is much closer to my home.
> It's still way above average terrain. The peak is actually to the west of
> the road in EN50xf and is in a field with no road over it. In EN60af I have
> a path to the east, southeast, south and southwest. I don't have a path to
> the north or west. From EN50xf I have a path to the north, east, and I think
> a little to the south. I definitely don't have a path to the west. I forget
> if I can see in the St. Louis direction from there or not. I might be able
> to jockey around to do so from another road in that grid.
>
> I could also possibly go to another hill in EM59wx. It's not too far away
> from the other one. It has a good shot to the St. Louis area.
>
> I'm really curious if I can work Jim W9SNR from EN50xf.
>
> 73, Zack W9SZ
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 27, 2011 at 3:23 PM, Dave Calvert <kb0pe at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> Sounds good to me Zack,
>> I am new on 902 and would like to work you in these two grids!  Would
>> you like to try other bands as well besides 902?  Would you like to try
>> just 902 & 24 Gig's?  Any other interest?
>>
>> Dave
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> From: Zack Widup <w9sz.zack at gmail.com>
>> To: Mid-America Microwave Society <mams at mailman.qth.net>
>> Sent: Mon, June 27, 2011 3:07:18 PM
>> Subject: Re: [MAMS] MAD weekend, July 2nd
>>
>> I wold really like to. Earlier I was thinking of driving to Chicago to try
>> to work Jim W9SNR with my new 24 GHz transverter on Saturday.
>>
>> But I have some front-end work on my car to do. The ball joints and tie
>> rods
>> were/are shot. I replaced the ball joints on Saturday and the front end is
>> more evidently out of alignment now. The tires are also in pretty bad
>> shape.
>> I have to replace the tie rods before I can even consider having it
>> aligned.
>> Replacing the tie rods is probably going to be a 6 to 8 hour job. I'm not
>> likely to have it done by Saturday afternoon.
>>
>> I may consider driving to somewhere closer to operate on Saturday. Maybe
>> EN60af, which should have a clear shot to St. Louis, and EN50xf a couple
>> hundred feet away, which has a clear shot to Chicago. I'd feel comfortable
>> driving to this location.
>>
>> 73, Zack W9SZ
>>
>> _____________________________________________________________
>> On Mon, Jun 27, 2011 at 2:14 PM, Dave Calvert <kb0pe at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hello to the group,
>> I know it's the July 4th weekend coming up but does anyone want to
>> entertain a MAD this July 2nd?  I have done some improvements to
>> my 902/3 transverter if anyone is interested in trying...  Mad in just
>> 6 more days....
>>
>> I have been wanting to put a spreadsheet together that shows by
>> Callsign, name, grid location, phone # and the bands that each of
>> us is active on from 902+.  I would like to also have the power output
>> and the type of antenna/Dish used would be good information as
>> well.
>>
>> 73, Dave - KB0PE/ EM48ts
>> Phone # (314) 258-0223
>>
>>
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