10/22/2002 | WA6NIA What an introduction to microwave contesting! This was my first
10 GHz and up contest and I spent both weekends on 10 GHz NB and
managed to make several QSOs on 24 GHz SSB as well. What a thrill!
My first two contacts on 10 GHz were at a distance of 761 km!
The greatest moment came on the first Sunday when I completed two
exchanges with the same two stations, this time at 959 km!

I was a member of a rover team, traveling up and down the California
coast between Long Beach and the Santa Barbara area. And Mr. Murphy
was definitely along for the ride. In spite of having ample quantities
of batteries to operate the radios, at the second stop, my truck
battery decided it had had enough. A simple jump from one of our
other batteries got us back on the road, and $100 and some 3 hours
time got us on safely back out with a brand new battery. Murphy
was kind the rest of the first weekend.

Things were not much different on the second weekend. Murphy was
bound and determined to make me pay. Between weekends I had built
a new reference oscillator for my 10 GHz radio. It worked just fine
in the lab and during initial testing. However, once out with the
group, I found the shortcomings of my new design ... too much leakage.
My radio was suddenly swamped with birdies from every other nearby
rig.

The next two hours were spent back in the lab, which was fortunately
nearby, going back to the old oscillator. It, of course, had the
instabilities that drove me to build a new one in the first place.
Oh, well. But, leaving it powered all the time mitigated the problem.

Many thanks to the microwavers in San Diego, and the 50 MHz and Up
folks in Northern California. Thanks especially to my compadres in
the San Bernadino Microwave Society. You all helped to make this
a most memorable two weekends! I can't wait 'til next year!

73 de dennis (wa6nia@arrl.net) -- WA6NIA