[NLRS] 10 GHz Range?

[James French]

I will say this: preamps help out a lot!!!

I have been using 'loaner' stations the past couple of years
and have used a range of antennas and equipment. Most of my
operations have been from Sterling State Park here on the
Western edge of Lake Erie (EN81hv).

I have worked the same few stations over and over the past
few years. The first time was only with a 6db feedhorn.
Could hear most stations but barely. No preamp.

Then a few months later, that same station we tested a Kent WA5VJB
special with that setup. Substituted one of his vivadli antennas for
the feedhorn and had a suprising improvement in signal but still not
enough to make the contact. But with a DDS dish and the vivaldi, I
could work that station.

This past weekend, I used a totally different 'loaner' station that
had a preamp inline and a DDS dish with feedhorn. That same station
that I have contacted over the past couple of years was coming in a
nice full quieting and roughly a s7 all day long. I have to admit that
conditions were good this weekend also.

One more thing, the other two that I was with were hearing K2YAZ via
rainscatter when I wasn't.

All contacts were done voice over a 116 mile over water path.

list of equipment over the years:
First loaner station:
DB6NT transverter to a MFJ 2m SSB IF radio (which I hate the MFJ
-constant drifting) - 7db Feedhorn

Second loaner station:
Same as first but with the Kent WA5VJB vivaldi antenna

Third loaner station:
Combination of DEMI and Quallcom equipment with a DEMI preamp -
DDS dish with 3db feedhorn

So as you can see, your mileage will vary. But it seems you are
doing better than I have so far.

James W8ISS