[NLRS] 10 GHz Report

[W0ZQ@aol.com]

Both Dave, N0KP and I were successful in working Mike, KM0T, from the 
Lonsdale location on 10 GHz this late morning right around 11:35 am or so.    Using 
BD, the distance from EN34hl to EN13vc is 170.5 miles (274.5 km).   I noticed 
some multi-tones on Mikes signal ... perhaps from multipath ?

We had worked Mike from this location last summer and signals were only 
somewhat weaker this time around  .... local weather conditions were 43 degrees, 
about 75% RH with a south wind that I guess was around 10 to 15 mph and pretty 
steady .... you could see a fair amount of haze in the air.   Mike runs around 
6 to 8 watts, Dave had his new 2 watt DEMI unit and I was using my 1 watt 
DB6NT system.  

I am inexperienced in using my DB6NT system in the cold, so I was prepared 
for more tuning & drift.   I was surprised to find Mike pretty much where I 
always find him and drift was only slight more obvious than it is in the summer 
time but definitely manageable via changing VFO tuning (ie; no RIT).   I think 
that as long as its not numbing cold that stability & drift isn't an 
insurmountable problem.

We then coordinated with Gene, N0DQS, who was out in the mud in EN04qa, South 
Dakota.    Using BD, the distance from EN34hl to EN04qa is 262.4 miles (422.3 
km) so we were somewhat doubtful about making the contact.   Gene found a dry 
spot and called us on my cell phone around 1900 and started his CW beacon up. 
  Much to our delight, both Dave and I found him within a few seconds, peaked 
our dishes, then sent some CW his way so that he could peak on us.   Gene did 
not hear my CW at first so Dave went with his higher power and made a two way 
on CW .... I then tail ended Dave and we had two good 10 GHz contacts !   
Signals were what I call "good cw" signals which means just above the noise floor 
but pleasantly readable.   We noticed slow QSB, measured over tens of seconds 
or a minute, that took signals up and down .... on the QSB peaks signals were 
"good cw" copy.   Gene is running some more power, I think 4 watts or so, 
which helps.   

All in all a very good start to the 2004 10 GHz season.   Wahoo .... one 170 
mile QSO and one 262 mile contact.   Thanks Gene for going out ... hope the 
mud wasn't too bad.   Thanks for the coordination help Mike.

73, Jon
W0ZQ


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