[MAMS] Sept '11 MAD EN74 report

[Lloyd Ellsworth]

September 3, 2011 Microwave Activity Day report from EN74

Loaded rover up early. Day before. Set it up for operating in the
rain. So I could operate under the cap. Since the forecast was
scattered rain. Got up early. Found it was raining, and thunder and
lightning. Delayed departure, until it looked like the thunder was
over. Don't need to play lightning rod.

First went to Sleeping Bear Dunes, EN64xu the Cannery. Try to work
N8PUM EN66 early and direct. No luck. the 140 mile path on 2M was not
working well either. Setting up and operating in the rain is fun. Not
bad from under the cap. Yes, this time I remembered my Dayton iCom
rain poncho. First use. Thing is. They never fold back up nicely and
compact like they once were. Yes, I had tourists, stop by, get out of
their cars, and ask me what I was doing. In the rain.

Second, went to AJ EN74at. Empire Mi, near Lake Michigan. Set up.
Called CQ, and worked W9ZIH EN51 5x9RS and W9SNR EN62 on rain scatter.
Random. Studied their rain scatter signals for some time. Tried
working any of the other 6 stations on. Called CQ a bunch no luck. I
was heard weakly by some. AJ, just was not working. I should have
driven down to Tustin Knob by Cadillac. EN74gc. Likely would have
worked much better. Tried some 24 GHz rain scatter. no luck. Rained
all morning. Yes, even in the rain. More tourists. Stop, ask
questions, take pictures. One good suggestion, I got, was I should
have used the 17dB horn I have. Illuminate the clouds better. Had it.
Problem was, in the rain, keeping the dry parts, dry. Forgot to bring
a couple dry towels.

N8PUM EN66 managed to work KB8U EN82 and WA8VPD EN82. N8PUM and KB8U
were running 2W, 335 miles, 24 inch satellite dishes, good sigs.
Downstate, there was quite a bit of 10 GHz rain scatter activity. Add
WB8TGY EN72, W9NU EN61, K2YAZ EN74. Heard many reports of contacts.
Many random. Later, Bob K2YAZ Worked N0EDV in EN45 on RS. Several
others.

So this weekend worked out quite well for the group. Lots of activity.
Rain scatter. Many of the group is hoping for more rain scatter for
the 2nd weekend of the cumulative. Like the first cumulative weekend.
Lots of rain scatter. Hey VUAC, how about a 3rd cumulative weekend,
in October as discussed a few years back?

Plans next week, Sept VHF. Are to operate up here. Along Lake
Michigan. Same in 2 weeks with the second weekend of the 10 GHz+
cumulative. Then October 1 MAD. I am thinking of driving down to
Tustin knob, EN74gc and operating from there.

73, Lloyd NE8I/r
EN74 etc