[NLRS] 10Ghz Tuesday

[Donn Baker]

No one else has written it up, so I guess I will....

Bob, W0AUS, and I went to the hill in Monticello (EN35cg) this morning to
try Barry, VE4MA, in Winnipeg (350 mi) and also try to get our fifth (and
sixth) grids.  We were joined by Lenny, K0SHF, and Gary, WB0LJC.

Ran 5 minute sequences with Barry between 1300 and 1340Z.  Nothing heard
(either way, as it turned out).  Barry's got 50 watts, and an 18" dish
mounted high.  I was running 1w to an 18" dish about 4' off the ground.
We'll have to try again.  Maybe with some good 50,000 ft top thunderstorms
between Fargo and Grand Forks ?

(An e-mail from Barry received later indicated that he'd been seeing TV
from Alexandria, MN.  However, a wind shift and cold front moved through
and killed the tropo conditions.)

About 1350, Gary, W0GHZ, called on the liasion frequency and asked for
10GHz RF from our position.  He was at the EN36 site near Onamia.  15-20
sec later, he called back and asked for a Q.  I worked him in EN36DB at
1351, with the others completing in the next two-three minutes. About 55
mi.  5x5 signals both ways.  We had tried this path two weeks ago with Jon,
K0FQA, and had no luck at all.  Jon and Gary HAD worked the path back in
May, so we knew it was do-able.

Gary tried to work Jon (FQA) from his home QTH (12-15 mi SE of us).  No
luck.  Gary then moved west to EN26xa near Lastrup, MN, about 53 mi.  At
1450, I worked Gary, with Bob, Gary, and Lenny following in the next few
minutes.  GAry's signals were good, strong, but very "fluttery," or
"watery."  

While Gary was moving, we had tried with Jon, and finally made contact with
him.  Once we all got on the same frequency, Jon was an easy Q.  While Jon
worked Gary (in EN26XA), we copied both ends... Gary direct, and Jon as his
signal scattered off of the Church steeple 1/4 to 1/2 mile in front of us.
Interesting!

By the time Jon and Gary were finished, Gary's signals had faded down to
nothing.  By then it was 1530 or so.  Two weeks ago, we hadn't gotten
started until about then or later, so it may be that conditions had closed
down that day before we ever got started.  Oh, well.  We did it today.

Getting another four grids from that location may be tough.  I still have
hopes of working Barry.  The nearest grids (EN23/EN33) are about 90 mi S.
and may have a good "look."  EN15/EN16 is 120 mi. with maybe the best
horizon in that direction.  EN14/EN15 is 140+ mi.  Marginal "look."  188
mi. to EN27/EN37, and really poor locations at that end.  Maybe the "best"
shot is to Rib Mountain in Wausau, WI.  EN55 and 200 mi.  But really good
path all the way. (Rib Mt is 1900', with an observation tower on top.)  We
need to try.  Someday.

You really need to get up on 10GHz!  Its a LOT of fun!!

73 Donn
WA2VOI/0