[NLRS] 24 GHZ Rain Scatter QSO

Tue, 26 Aug 2003 13:02:30 -0500

Hi Mike,

Congratulations on  the 24 GHz rain scatter.   I have heard that it is
possible but have not read much about it.
>From the little experience I have had with 23 GHz, POINTING, seems to be
very important.

Good show for you and Gene.

73 Bob W�AUS

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On
Behalf Of Mike A. King - KM0T
Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2003 9:08 AM
To: NLRS
Subject: [NLRS] 24 GHZ Rain Scatter QSO

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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