09/27/2008 | K6GKJ Hello Everyone!!!

I am Tammy, K6GKJ this was my very first time working 10ghz. I used the rig built by Ron, N6GKJ my other half. We took a drive down I-5 to a Vista look out. We arrived there about 10:30 or so and it only took me about 10 minutes to setup the station.

Our station consists of a 30" prime focus dish with a "shepards crook" feed that Norm, N6JV built. That whole thing is hooked up to an 8x8x4 inch box that has the converted mw radio, power supply, DEMI preamp and t/r switching. I want to thank Goran AD6IW, he built us an awsome 106.5 Mhz source to lock the Macom brick to!!!

It seemed that within just a few minutes of warm up time, we could easliy hear the beacon on Mt Vaca once I finally figured out how to aim the dish. Things are starting to get good. Ron was on 440 setting up the shot with Norm, N6JV and at 1100 I worked Norm, N6JV 131.35km!!! I was surpised at how much more work it takes on 10 Ghz than when I ran in the June VHF contest. I also worked W6SR at 148km, K6GZA at a whopping 198km. I could hear K6GZA with no problems at all he was an easy 5 and 9 copy.

After being there for a couple of hours, the hunger bell struck and I was treated to a nice lunch at Anderson's Soup!!!

We headed back north and when we got past Westly the exit, we stopped at a rest stop to setup and work N6JV and W6SR. I tried to get a signal to W6IZU but I could just not hear him.

All in all I had a lot of fun. I am looking forward to working AD6IW on rain scatter on 10 Ghz this winter. I am even going to raid N6GKJ's parts stash and make my own 10 ghz radio. I have been involved in 3 other contests, two of which I was licensed to operate and one I just help set up. This was a very different contest for me and I cant wait until next year!!! -- K6GKJ