[NLRS] 10GHz Flying Cloud / Sioux Center, IA

[Donn Baker]

Two weeks ago, Bob, W0AUS; Gary, W0GHZ; and I (WA2VOI) were at Birkmose
Park, Hudson, WI (EN34PX) trying to work Mike, KM0T in Sioux Center, IA
(EN13VC).
214 mi (354km) 51/231 deg.  We never made the Q... BUT, Jim, K0KFC at
Flying Cloud airport heard Mike on each sequence except the first.  Flying
Cloud is 181 mi. (291km) 47/227 deg.

Jim and Mike had a sked this morning from Flying Cloud, and I tagged along.
 KM0T went first; nothing heard.  About halfway through his second
sequence, I heard hime 8kHz low, and 3 deg. left of where I had been
aiming.  Both Jim and I peaked on him, and both of us finished Qs by 1225Z.
 Jim and Mike talked via cell phone, and decided to try SSB.  I sent
dit-dah for a minute or so to let Mike peaked his antenna and we both
easily worked Mike again on SSB.  5X3 at our end.

KM0T runs 12w to a 2' dish at ~50'.  K0KFCs running 200mW to an 18" offset
feed at 4', and I run 1w to and 18" dish.

I did notice one (very) interesting thing.  Mike's signal was fading, and I
thought it was propagation.  Jim, however, was having NO fade at all...
SOLID signals.  Conclusion is that I've got a bad receiver.  Don't know
where yet.  I'm hoping its in the i.f. rig, as I know its got a bad RF Gain
pot (a new one's on order).

There was an inversion this morning.  Clear skys overnight, no wind.  Lots
of ground fog over the swamps and the Minnesota River.  Also, there was a
major fire of some kind in the west suburbs... I saw the plume on my way
out to Flying Cloud.  The plume went up a couple of thousand feet and then
flat-topped just like the book says it should!  I have NO idea how
extensive it was, or even if it extended toward the SW.  (Has anybody
looked at the 1200Z soundings from Chanhassen ?)

Jim wants to work the path more times, to see if its "propagqation," or
"just there."  I hope he keeps us informed, as its valuable information.  I
also hope that its "just there !"

Anyway, thanks to Jim and Mike I've gotten my first real DX on 10GHz !  I
appreciate him letting tag along.

73 Donn
WA2VOI/0