[NLRS] 24 GHZ Rain Scatter QSO

[Mike A. King - KM0T]

Hi all,

Have really enjoyed all the 10 ghz rain scatter email coming thru.  Bill =
has been setting the world on fire up there with Gary and Barry, =
congrats you guys on all your fine QSOS!  Im waiting for my turn by the =
way....:)

Anyway, with all the action around, there was a cell to the SE of me and =
it was in a fairly long path from Norfolk all the way up to Spencer IA.  =
So I called up Gene, N0DQS and asked if he was intrested in giving 24 =
ghz rain scatter a go...he went out to set up and we started about 8:15 =
or so last night.

Nothing was heard for a half an hour, we both took turns and used a cell =
phone to say "Im tired sending, you send now....." (I got to get a =
beacon keyer...)

I checked the radars from DesMoines and Sioux Falls and replotted paths =
for both of us.  It looked now that the cell was almost due SE for me =
and almost due north for Gene.  I told this to Gene over the phone since =
he was out in the boonies, I was on my back pourch pointing 135 degrees, =
through the neigbors houses, trees and other clutter of town.

I had been elevated "one bubble" the whole time and Gene indicated that =
he was going to raise his elevation a bit too.  He said he could see the =
storm and did not need to know he had to point basically north, he could =
see it plain as day even thought it was pitch black out.  I basically =
could see all the lighting too on my path.

We went back and forth a few times and I finally heard Gene, totally AU =
sounding.  I gave him a call to tell him the news and to turn his beacon =
off.  We then worked with 5x5xS signals, no problem on CW.  However an =
intresting note, it did take a a minute.  When I told Gene I was hearing =
him, I said give me another 30 seconds of CW then listen for my return.  =
Well he did not hear me.  He tried again and finally realized I was down =
via Doppler.  1 Khz shift down is where he found me.

We went back and forth a few times on CW, no problem on the copy.  Not =
distorted to badly, almost a fine distortion.  We peaked dished up also =
on both side, elevation and azmuith, there was a definet peak.  The =
elevation peak was important.  On horizon for both of us...no signal.  =
You had to have elevation, period.

The slight beam heading varience while you could still copy signal =
defintly showed doppler on the signal.  Both in elevation and az.

We switched to SSB, reconfimed the doppler both ways...defintly 1 khz.  =
On SSB you could just hear the other station before using the RIT, but =
on CW, you never heard the other station unless you used the RIT, so =
that definlty thru us for a loop for a minute.

Once repeaked, SSB signals were 5x8 scatter, AU sounding, but very good =
quality AU - like 6Meters.  We had a good 20 minute chat back and foth.

We also tryed FM.  I copied Genes FM with good audio and almost full =
quieting.   FM audio from me was not copied at N0DQS - but we thing we =
have a problem with the IF rig in the FM mode there.  He could see the =
carrier on the S meter, but no audio.  Just a rig problem it seems.

 QSB was not evident in any of the modes.  Only started to fade a bit =
towards the end, but we decided to pack it up in lieu of repeaking.

Contacts started at 0246 UTC and we were in contact for the next half =
hour.  So things were stable.  Humidity was 78%, temp 73, sky was clear =
at my place, slight to no breeze.

Distance to EN22GE is 73 miles.  Although the actual scatter path is =
longer.  Our longest contact yet, not a new grid however.  With a little =
experience, could get a bit easier.  It was harder than I thought, you =
either will have to get lucky or really track the cells and point =
accuratly...there was not alot of varience.  How to quantify the =
elevation....thats where you need the luck I think....

Best of all, it was alot of fun!

73

Mike - KM0T en13vc




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