[NLRS] 10gig report

[W0ZQ at aol.com]

We had 12 stations off of downtown Mpls this morning as follows:
 
EN35fe:  K0FQA
EN34fs:  N0KP, K0KFC
EN34is:  W0ZQ, KD0JI, WB0LJC, N0UK
EN35ja:  WA2VOI, W0AUS, W0GHZ
EN34jv:  K0SHF
EN34jt:  KC0IYT
 
After beating back some gremlins, one group then headed out to the Buffalo,  
MN while a second group headed south to the Elko area.   The  purpose was to 
try some ordinary paths and to blow the winter dust off of our  compasses.
 
The north group set up in EN35bd while the southern group found a dirt road  
in EN34in.   This was about a 49.4 mile direct path, or about 82  km.   
Signals were quite weak on this somewhat obstructed path and  only a few contacts 
were made.   
 
>From here the northern group headed to the infamous Dog Lake area while the  
southern group headed a bit more south to a better location suggested by  LJC. 
   The northern group set up in EN24xx and the southern  group in EN34ij 
(India Japan) for a path distance of 54.6 miles, or about 91  km.   Signals here 
were S3 to S9 and SSB QSOs were made between  WA2VOI, W0GHZ, W0AUS, K0FQA in 
the northern group and WB0LJC, W0ZQ, KC0IYT,  N0UK, W0LMS, K0KFC, KD0JI in the 
southern group.   Although the  path was about 5 miles longer, signals were 
quit a bit stronger  perhaps due to our superior location (better horizon). 
 
Following this, the southern group hooked up with W9FZ via cell  phone.  
Bruce was over in EN43tq.   Per his early report, N0UK  and myself made the path 
to Bruce via CW, a distance of about 152.6 miles,  or  254 km.   
 
Last, the northern group moved up over to Silver Lake, EN24vv (victor  
victor).   Signals were down a bit from their previous stop at EN24xx,  but once 
again many SSB QSOs were made.   The distance was 56.7 miles,  or about 95 km.   
 
All in all, a fun day with beautiful weather and light winds.
 
73, Jon
W0ZQ