[NLRS] UPDATED LOCATION INFO FOR: 10 G antenna/ tune up test session July 12th

[Jon Platt]

 I've got the NLRS loaner rig that I have put back together.  Doing an informal side by side with my system the loaner seems to hear just fine, but it does need a more controlled checkout.  I'll be bringing it to the July 12th tune up for receive testing.  
73, JonW0ZQ
    On Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at 11:18:18 AM CDT, WA2VOI, Donn <wa2voi at mninter.net> wrote:   

 Morning, All.

I did "ground truth" this morning for Harvest Park in Maplewood.
The address that pops up from Google Maps is good.  The best access route is from County 
Rd 'C' west of White Bear Ave regardless of where you are coming from.
1) From NLRS Breakfast, (OR I-694)  go south on White Bear to Cty 'C' and turn (right) 
WEST on 'C'.  Go to Hazelwood and turn (left) SOUTH.  In about 1/4 mile (just past the 
"Twin Cities Bible Church" there is a small BROWN sign "Harvest Park --->". At the corner 
of Hazelwood and Brooks Ave turn (right) WEST and go the end of the street and into the 
park.  (Its a one-way loop around the parking lots.)

2) From Hwy 36, exit onto White Bear Ave NORTH BOUND and go to Country Rd 'C'.  Turn 
(left) WEST onto 'C' and proceed to Hazelwood.  Proceed SOUTH on Hazelwood as above.

Harvest Park is widely used and may well be busy on the 12th.  Ball fields.  Ideally, we 
would be able to use an area at the NORTH end of the parking area (large, flat grassy) but 
that's also next to Home plate for one of the fields.

The spot we most likely will end up with is on the SOUTH edge of the parking lot (on the 
outgoing access road).  Its narrow, grassy, and has trees on both sides.  Hopefully it 
will work for 10GHz.  (It wouldn't for VHF !)  Park as close as you can (other side of the 
exit road).

I would like to do Antenna gain measurements for the dishes (max size abt 24" - area too 
small for larger dishes)  Not  pattern measurements, just gain.
Also, would like to do "relative" Minimum Discernable Signal  measurements.  NOT measuring 
absolute sensitivity: results will be meaningful ONLY to other systems being measured. 
(Does mine "hear" better or "worse" than yours ?)

Lastly, I'd like to be able to "tune" feed horns for best match (i.e., return loss).  This 
is a lot, and help will be needed. (Hint, hint)

The weather is an important factor.  Rain makes it a NO-GO.  Same for HIGH WINDS.  Rain 
over night (i.e., wet ground) kills the feed tuning (need 110 AC).

Really high temps are questionable... the North end area has no shade of any kind, so high 
temps and sun are pretty much a killer.  The smaller area is shaded and is more likely to 
be usable in hot sunny weather.  (Of course, snow is a NO-GO!)

Lastly, I'd kind of like to know who's coming and bringing what.  Don't need details, just 
"me, a 19" dish and full system for MDS test" and so on.  Remember, for antenna gain 
testing we need access to the ANTENNA ONLY - i.e., the feed ling to the T/R relay.  For 
MDS, you need your entire system including the i.f. radio and POWER for the system.  BYOB 
(bring your own battery)

Longer  than I than I thought... sorry.

See you at Breakfast and one the test site.

73 Donn
WA2VOI/0



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gary via NLRS" <nlrs at mailman.qth.net>
To: "10GHzContest" <10ghzcontest at www.chris.org>; "NLRS" <nlrs at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2025 3:15 AM
Subject: [NLRS] 10 G antenna/ tune up test session July 12th


> If you are interested or planning to attend the 10 G test session let us
> know.
>
> Date Saturday July 12th, after the monthly NLRS breakfast. 11 AM? start.
>
> Weather permitting, the planned QTH is at Harvest Park 2561 N Barclay
> St, Maplewood, MN 55109
>
> If there isn't enough advanced interest/commitment then it will not take
> place. Donn said he will not haul all of the equipment needed for only
> one or two ops. I know there are a number of you out there who need to
> check you antennas and those whose rigs are performing poorly. This is a
> chance to find the problems before the August 10 Weekend.
>
> If you don't have equipment to test and are just interested in seeing
> what we are doing, please join us.
>
> 73, Gary WBØLJC
>


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