[MAMS] Sept 2012 Mad

[Lloyd Ellsworth]

Sent out a notice. Here from the Library. Only got one reply before I left. So, figured there would not be much on. So, did not leave early.Was wrong. Soon as I left the drive, was K8TQK. Then WA8RJF. Band was open on 2M. 2M has been open most mornings of late. With Isaac, just like Katrina 7 years ago. Same path OBTW.  North, stopped here, and then turned East. Same propagation conditions. Hurricane as atmospheric mixer. Listened to a whole bunch of activity driving down to EN73ra.  K8MD, WA8RJF, K8GDT, K8JA, WA8VPD, WB8TGY. Some scattered rain to the south. Set up at St Johns. EN73ra pool car parking lot on US127. Exit 96. My usual rover spot for EN73. Southern cental location from the EN73 grid square. Once set up, made several contacts, 903, 1296 and 2304. Tryout of my rebuilt rover set up. Learned several things. Needs a bunch more work. First rule, is to test everything. Everything. If you did not test it, you don't know what it is really
 doing. Well, my 1296 set up, I kluged quickly together at the last minute. Still cannot find my DEMI xvtr unit. Well, one of the untested jumpers, on the rx line proved to be a 15dB attenuator. So, still working on it. Lost seveal contacts. Several heard my one watt on 1296. Then WB8TGY showed up, and we ran some 24 GHz, with his new station. Using my Sackridder Hill set up. Bare 24 GHz DB6NT mmixer. 200 uW. and open waveguide for antenna. Had strong signals at 1.8 KM. Should work well for much longer paths. 
 
Good shakedown for rover, for the Sept VHF contest. Shows the #1 rule applies. Strongly. Test everything. Test it at least once a month. Rover route is to start at the GR swap. Then North along Lake Michigan Saturday. Sunday, head down to GP Hill. Then Home. Not a major effort this year. Very limited fuel budget. Fuel is still $4 a gallon here. 
 
73, Lloyd NE8I/r
EN73 etc