10/04/2003 | W0ZQ The alarm clock went off at 3:00 AM Saturday morning and by 4:00 AM I was north bound on 35W headed to Duluth. My goal was to be to the Thompson Hill rest stop in time to meet up with my fellow Northern Lights Radio Society (NLRS) members to work across Lake Superior on 10 GHz. A second team of NLRS members had left a few days earlier and they were set up to work us from several spots in the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan.

Working on my third cup of coffee, as I neared Duluth, there was Lenny, K0SHF calling me on 2m FM just as planned. A few minutes later, seven NLRS 10 GHz op's watched the sun rise over Duluth from the rest stop. The weather was spectacular.

On schedule, and in preparation to hear those weak weak 10 GHz signals from over 300km away (from the UP side of the lake) , I donned my headphones and started to tune. Almost immediately I heard W9FZ's CW beacon, but it wasn't weak, it was S9 !! After dish peaking on both ends, signals were up to S9 + 10 to 20 dB and easy SSB contacts were exchanged by all members. We were all amazed at the signal strengths. The headphones went back into the box never to be used again.

From that point on the group made many stops on both Saturday and Sunday. Hundreds of 10 GHz contacts were made over Lake Superior at distances from 100 to 330 km. Our group also worked a third group of NLRS op's who were set up in Northern Wisconsin. We even worked KF9US who was kayak mobile in the Apostle Islands and who was using a 17 dB horn. Our 10 GHz equipment was in the 200mW to 2 watt range with 19 to 22" dishes. With the exception of Saturday afternoon when signals dipped down to S5 or so, signal strengths were simply amazing.

Without a doubt this is the most fun that I've had in any contest (HF, VHF) for some time. I encourage all those who are interested in DXing, weak signal work, equipment building, and/or club activities, to explore the world of microwaves .... 10 GHz is a perfect place to start.

CU on 10 GHz.

73, Jon
W0ZQ -- W0ZQ