[NLRS] Are we hooked on "CRACK"?

[Bill Davis Jr]

  I hope I have not offended anyone with the title, I do not make light of a serious drug problem that exists in today's world. For this, I define CRACK to be "Crazy Radio & Atmospheric Conditions & Kinks".

  The intent here is to pose some questions to mostly the 10Ghz group I expect. While working Jim KB0CIM in his yard with the 10Ghz portable the last few days, we have been able to play with an unusual obscured path. Elementary Algebra tells us that  15deg elevation at 55ft even in my location does not put me into the tree leaves. It is indeed scattering from something in the atmosphere that we are using. The observation made was with no elevation I am looking straight into the trees and then the hill just NW of me about a 1/4 mile away. I see Jim's signal maybe 5db at best. As I raise elevation, it seems that there is a distinct point at which the signal jumps to close to 20db. I suspect that is when I clear the tree tops in the yard. After that the signal seems fairly consistent to the limit of my elevation. The 15deg elevation we last used seemed to be a sweet spot, but its advantage is basically one that is measured with the Softrock signal amplitude display, more that heard. This 9mile path has only been used 3 times so far and more observations will be made. Jim has a nice launch across his yard, but is into the trees at perhaps an 1/8 mile or so. The atmospheric conditions that do scattering is to moisture and airborne particulates, I assume. Our original feeling was that there would be NO WAY to work direct and we were searching for reflections that might be used. No mutual reflections were found that would support a QSO at this signal level.

  The QSO to EN26 is the same path but now close to 30miles in length. It was much weaker, but was a 5-1 CW signal. Again it seemed to be best with about 15deg elevation. I had thought perhaps a lower angle would have been optimum.  

  My 10Ghz QSO with Jon W0ZQ/R in EN25 was another I did not expect to be possible, since that path too is quite challenged with terrain and trees. In that case nothing was heard of Jon's signal until 6deg of elevation. At that point a very weak usable signal was observed. 

  I need to go back and re-read the article that the W7's published on 10Ghz scattering in the Pacific NW.  We are NOT using  "leaf scatter", but is scatter of some kind. I have visited very briefly with Jon ZQ about these paths, and I am interested in other similar observations or any additional insite.

  I'm hooked on "Crazy Radio & Atmospheric Conditions & Kinks". Thank You Jim and Jon for the chance to make these observations and the QSO's!

73 Bill K0AWU