[NLRS] 10 GHz Friday

[Gary M Danelius]

Donn did a fine job of describing our activities  today.

I was at Birkmose Park in Hudson. Nice locations with
good views of the river. Also I-94. Since I was pointed
down the river valley most of the time and so over the
freeway, I wonder how many radar detectors I was 
setting off. 

My contacts with Donn and Bruce at Cannon Falls and Vasa were
easy. We should be able to extend the paths in those directions.
When Donn was at Red Wing I couldn't find a clear shot. The path
is far enough east that the trees in the park are in the way. Had 
a reasonably clear location, only a few trees about 30 yards away. 
I had to move anywhere from a few feet to many yards each 
time Donn changed locations. Birkmose works well, you just
have to dodge the trees.

I also worked Donn at Idell. Signals were very weak. However, it
will work for a contest Q. Finding Donn was interesting. I was 
pointed in the correct direction when he first came on. I didn't
hear him until I pointed about 20 degrees further south. Donn
then peaked on me. When I repeaked, I found he was mow on the
expected heading and signals we much stronger. We may
have been bouncing off something at first.

I tried to work Lenny while waiting for the others to move. 
We pointed toward the MInneapolis buildings. The path isn't
very good, the west bank is higher and there is another
ridge further west. Lenny and I did hear each other but
signals were very weak, just copyable on SSB. To make 
contact in that direction I think we will have to use CW.
Lenny and I didn't finish a contact because Donn was ready
from Red Wing. 

Like Donn, I had plenty of visitors. A few asked what are you 
listening to.  Another thought I was eavesdropping on the people
further down the park. And of course the usual, "are you getting
any UFO's."  While Donn was in Red Wing I told one visitor that
I was talking to someone in Red Wing. His reply was,"oh, are you
talking to Art?" He wasn't a ham, but did know Art from his CB
days. What a small world.

I didn't have any visits from the police, although they drove
by twice. They only stopped once, to tell a young couple
to get off of the Indian burial mound. Drove by me and never
stopped. A much better day then last January when both
cars stopped to talk or a few weeks ago where four different
police and security vehicles drove by, and two stopped,
when I was at the Ft. Snelling polo grounds.

I have one suggestion for future operations.  I think we rely on the
liaison frequency to heavily. I often find the other stations 
beacon and have to run back to the car to tell them to turn it off.
Then I  let them peak on my beacon. I suggest we use the liaison
frequency to say I'm sending. Then send for a minute or so, then
listen while the other end sends. This should speed up the 
process and cut down on the 2M chatter.

I stopped at Mounds Park on the way home. Yes, the brush has grown
quite a bit in the last year. The operating spot near the Aero beacon
now has a narrow clear area to shot through. You can find
some more easterly views, but the ground isn't very level. I did
look just down the hill from the beacon. We operated from there 
last year with success down the valley. That area is still fine. Plenty
of room for may stations to set up. I don't think we need to be as
pessimistic about Mounds Parks as we may have thought.

Any plans for Saturday? I will listen on 146.46 at about 10 AM.

73, Gary  WB0LJC




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