[NLRS] W0ZQ 10gigs NS group - long

[jcplatt1 at mmm.com]

Score:
164 QSOs with 16 unique calls for a preliminary score of 36,682 pts.    We
should make sure we are all using the same distance points.   Mine are
based on BD.

Weekend Overview:
I left the house Saturday morning at 3:45am and watch my car thermometer
bounce between 47 degrees and 33 degrees on the way to Thompson Hill,
Duluth.     It was 38 degrees at the start of activity.    August, yea,
right.     Our plan was to increase QSO rates by operating with two
frequencies split by 2 MHz which, based on a limited test worked well, but
with more rigs present, did not work (see lessons learned below).      We
did find the UP guys on both our predetermined high and low freqs, but
signals were weak making CW a preferred mode, but even with CW it was
difficult.    Weak signals, confusion when the 2 MHz split didnt work (on
our end), and being the first stop and first set-up led to us spending  2
hrs at Thompson Hill.

At our second stop at Kitchi Gammi we were hoping that by moving down low
(Thompson Hill is high) that we may have better propagation .... we have
seen this in the past.   At Kitchi it warmed up to 53 degrees, but signals
were still weak with only a minor improvement.      Because of the
interference that some were having with the 2 MHz split we had abandoned
that plan and were putting all contacts through on the low primary freq.
For reasons that are unclear to me, we started somewhat high .... up around
10368.130, and as a group we did not retune down.   I think one of the
reasons for not retuning was that signals were weak and once we found each
other we didnt want to retune !     Unfortunately this may have made it
more difficult for any of the random groups to find us.

Our next stops were Stony Pt then Flood Bay.    We were able to use SSB for
most contacts but signals were still weak and as a result rates were slow.

It wasn't until around 2:00 PM just north of Split Rock where signals
started to significantly improve where we could all go to SSB with S3 or
better signals.    Despite the improving conditions, we were still slow in
moving.    For Sat., we only made nine stops and we never made it north of
Grand Marais.

At Taconite Harbor (EN47mm) signals were up substantially and  I had a
chance to deploy the 1296 antenna to test that band.   I did listen for the
WFP beacon that NE8I was going to set up.   Nothing was heard.   I did work
W9FZ on the UP (EN47mm <=> EN57vk) with huge signals both ways.    This was
the same time period that 10gig signals were continue to improve and become
pretty strong.    Whatever the propagation enhancement mode is, it is
evident at 1296 as well as 10,368.   EN47mm to EN57vk is 207 km.

By Grand Marais, for reasons that I certainly do not understand, conditions
were pretty darn good, nearly as good as last year (much to our relief).
Most of the op's on the UP were stronger on my S-meter than some of the
guys standing right next to me when we had our dishes aimed out over the
lake.      It sure is a whole lot more fun when signals are strong like
this !!!!!

Sunday morning was warm(er) at 59 degrees, but it was damp and foggy.
Light rain had moved through during the night hours while we slept a bit.
We could see dense dense fog over the lake and we had lighter fog in
patches inland.      After beaconing for a bit, simultaneously I heard two
CW beacons.    One was W9FZ on the UP and I thought that the other may have
been KC0P's also on the NS.    (In an email exchange with VE4MA, it now
appears that the second beacon was them and that they had heard my beacon
and were replying.    Me not thinking, I simply locked onto the UP group
.... so we missed a chance there,  Sorry VE3KRP/VE4MA, my mistake.)

Propagation on Sunday was horrible.   The distance from Grand Portage to
the UP its only a 116 km and signals were very very weak with RS evident.
To make things worse, the UP guys were in a weather hold with heavy rain
and wind.      So we made a couple of Q's and moved south.

The weather was weird on Sunday as it started out cool and very damp, and
at one spot we punched through the weather front into the warm sector as
the temperature went up 12 degrees in about 15 miles (and we saw the Sun
!), only to have the cold front catch up to us by Duluth where it once
again turned cool.    I think propagation was very slowly improving as we
headed south because even though the distances were increasing, signals
were also increasing ever so slightly.    Most signals were at our just
above the noise level with some on occasion rising to S3, all on SSB.

Lessons Learned:
1.    We need to continue to explore how we can get two freq's (say 10368
and 10370) to coexist.   It may be that we have to split into groups who
can co-exist with each other based on that groups testing PRIOR to the
expedition.
2.    When conditions are such that signals are very weak and CW is
required, we need a strategy to keep the QSO rates going.   That may mean
that some stations who are not comfortable with CW may need to defer until
conditions improve, or ??.    (Great incentive to get your code speed up).
3.    Its very difficult to use one freq for multiple Op's between two
known locations (ex: UP <=> NS) and know that there are other groups in
other locations trying to listen and/or break (ex:  Wisc, WFB, WW groups).
If we swing the dishes to the other locations, we slow down even more.
Other stations who have already worked their planned group can swing their
dishes to the random groups to listen for them but they cannot beacon
because they would interfere and they can only listen with someone in their
group isnt sending (thus limiting the effectiveness of trying to find the
third party).
4.   We either need to find a way to work liaison, or have a better plan
with respect to when we look what way at what time.    When we are on the
move and locked up with another group (again, NS <=> UP) randoms are very
very difficult and really should not be expected.    Last year we were
blessed with fantastic conditions and randoms worked because of that, not
because of superior planning.
5.   We should have been closer to 10368.100 throughout the whole contest.
Being high for most of it could have made it more difficult for those other
groups to find us.

Highlights:
1.   Working what is most likely the youngest 10gigs operator in the
contest, KC0QHX !     At 10 yrs of age, she is already a seasoned Op.
2.   Working the "8's".   Thanks to N8KWX, WB8TGY, WA8VPD, and N8PUM for
the contacts !
3.   Watching the wedding at Stony Point on Sunday while working 10 gigs.
Never worked 10gigs with violins before .... I did feel under dressed.
4.   Scratching out all those weak contacts.    The headphones were in
heavy use this time !
5.   Having fun with the stronger signals for the time period from Sat
later afternoon into the evening.    That is what we want !
6.   At Grand Marais watching the spectators look at N0UKs Mini Cooper ....
it deflected lots of questions.
7.   Bringing some new Ops along to the NS for the experience.

Lowlights:
1.   "The Plan" fell apart right from the start due to poor propagation and
lack of full validation.
2.    Again, the propagation.
3.   Not being able to work the Terrance Bay, KF9US, White Fish Point, and
WaWa groups.     We need to think about how we help to assure a better shot
at success.

Propagation:
I have grabbed some weather data for later analysis.   The Hepburn Index
did show some enhancement over the lake on Sat (which we got later in the
day) and a black hole on Sunday (which we got).   I don't think that his
algorithm takes into account any macro modifications due to the lake itself
(I suspect that his propagation algorithm ignores the lake), nor do I
understand what that macro modification would be (if it exists).
Propagation was the worst when we had the heavy fog ..... don't understand
that.    On Sat. afternoon when we did have pretty good conditions on
10gigs, W9FZ and I also worked on 1296 with huge signals, so the
propagation enhancement mode that was evident that day works at 1296 too.

73, Jon
W0ZQ