[NLRS] KC0IYT-K0AWU JT4G 10GHz QSO

[Bill Davis via NLRS]

  I may have TX issues here on 10GHz. It seemed that I was hearing better than I was being received while working K0KFC, W0ZQ and W0GHZ (all portable) on 10GHz CW today. Gary and I have seen this all winter. All in shack RF samples look normal as well as the DC power reference from the DEM 10GHz 8watt amp at the top of the tower.


  Glen KC0IYT was out and about as was Donn WA2VOI with WSJT gear on 10GHz. Donn and I ran from EN34nl-EN37ed 188miles. Donn decoded my JT4G signals repeatedly with a reported signal strength of -11db most of the time. (Donn was about 5-6db above the noise on CW) WSJT saw Donn here at a -19db with no decode, sorry to report. The 4 tones utilized in the message were "scattered" to the point that each was about 50 to 60Hz wide.


  Glen was "just" detectable on the waterfall in the panadapter peaking to about 5db on CW. He NEVER heard me after several attempts on CW. We was operating from a parking garage east of the Mall of America. EN34ju 159.6 miles He had a tree issue that seemed to be unavoidable with the power cords he had. After repeated attempts and moving about as much as he could, we switched to WSJT JT4G. (AU2014 presentation) Remember, he NEVER heard me on CW. We worked easily with -10 to -11 db signals most of the time BOTH ends. Even though the CW signals were very different in apparent strength (5db above to noise (IYT) to not heard (AWU)) The WSJT JT4G signals were very much the same. 


  This was a VERY successful illustration of "No Q" to "pretty easy Q". The process is NOT speedy and DOES require considerable technological overhead, but is doable. At this point, given the scattering of the signal, I don't have a good idea of the signal strength margin for a QSO


  GREAT WORK Glen. Thanks for the presentation at AU2014 and the WSJT fun today! (and the QSO).  Donn thank you too for our tests .. you were the first to decode my 10GHz JT4G signal and at a greater distance.


  I will post a screen shot on my webpage yet this afternoon and will send a link via this reflector where those that are interested can take a peak. The scattering is VERY much as Gary and I saw on our WSJT 10GHz QSO last fall/winter.

  73  Bill  K0AWU  EN37ed