The Plan:

Undaunted by the lack of success in 2004 when Jim, KØKFC and I tried to span Lake Superior on 10GHz, we continued to talk about returning and trying again with better coordination. On this trip we were joined by Greg N9CHA and Greg had a cell phone that allowed coordination with the stations state side when needed. Bud WØLCP did a considerable amount of legwork for the trip and was going to operate from Wawa after observing in 2004. However the day before departure, his XYL had an medical emergency and Bud remained at home. I had 2m SSB again, but with only a looper and the distances involved, it failed to provide any coordination.

This time around we were "joined" in our quest on the MN north shore by Glen KCØIYT. Glen made this effort possible because he was willing to do the traveling and take the time to make a serious effort in spanning the distances involved. He shared our interest in trying to determine if it was possible.

Two things were planned, One ..Jim had previously observed, that as the group of 10Ghz contest operators moved from the Duluth, Minnesota area up the north shore they were not only pointed at the Michigan UP but also within a couple degrees of Wawa Ontario. Would it be possible that some of these stations might be heard and worked across the entire lake as they moved north? We would monitor where possible and see if any signals were observed. Two.. Glen would operate on 10,370.600MHz up 2.5MHz from the rover pack and start on the northern part of the MN north shore (the shorter paths) and move south increasing the distances between attempts.

We expected that it would be easy to work the UP stations at Mt Brockway and the stations on the south shore of Lake Superior west of White Fish Point, MI as we did in 2004.

Coordination:

Jim had hoped to be able to purchase some kind of "pay as you call" cell phone that could be used to coordinate when needed. Glen had laid out a schedule of his locations of operations and we would alternate (transmit / receive) one min sequences based on this schedule. As long as the schedule could be maintained, limited or no coordination would be needed. Upon investigation, a short time cell phone was not going to be affordable. Since Greg was operating with us and his cell phone worked in the Wawa area, we relied upon him for all non-radio communications back to MN and MI

Operation Locations:

Jim contacted Mark VE3MOU again early in the summer, explaining that we hoped to return to Wawa for another attempt. Mark was of great assistance in 2004 and again was our local eyes and ears. Both main sites that we had used before remained much as they were, so location wise, all was good. The motel reservations were made again and we were set for the first 10GHz and above contest weekend.

Contest Operations:

Saturday morning Aug 18th Greg and Jim set up on the beach site and I took the overlook. We felt that it was important to have both sites covered not knowing if any path might favor a operating location close to lake level or not. The overlook was about 150-200ft higher than the beach, but had more terrain issues for the paths farther north on the MN shore, and HIGH terrain at that.

After setting up, I worked the guys off the beach utilizing a rain shower that was passing through as we awaited the first schedule time with Glen. At 10:00am local KCØIYTs first sequence beacon could be heard about 5-1 to 5-2 CW from both the beach and my location. Contacts were made and we where off and running. Glen was at Grand Marais MN grid EN47tr. This is a distance of 256miles or 412km. Excellent start to the day. This was our first ever QSO with the north shore of Minnesota ACROSS Lake Superior.

We consolidated operations to " the beach" mid morning, assuming that the north shore contest group would now be along the beach. I had heard nothing since the QSO with Glen and thought that "low" to "low" locations might be better. The beach would also allow us easier communications than the handhelds while we look for the group working north on the north shore as well as Glens additional locations.

During the afternoon Glen tried from Taconite Harbor but we didn't make contact there.There may have been a better location at Taconite Harbor to use: He went down by the boat launch and there was a near (1/2 mile) horizon obstruction. He said going up to the overflow parking lot he would have had a clearer shot. Glen then tried from an overlook south of Split Rock Lighthouse but it was not a good location. A personal observation here, it may seem "easy" to then move locations when one makes theses observations, but in fact it usually is after you invest the operation time in one site that you discover another. Having not operated the north shore for eight years one can forget the local situation when you work from more than a dozen individual locations.

By mid afternoon, the wind increased rapidly and we had to leave the beach as was the case in 2004.After all of us moved up to the overlook, I was able to hear and �break in� on the Michigan UP after they had moved to Mt Brockway (EN67al). The entire group was worked with most signals being over S9. That path is 150miles or 241km. Stations worked include: KØMHC, KB8U, WBØVHF, KØCQ, WA2VOI, WB8TGY, WA8VPD, W9FZ operating under the club call of WØAUS, KCØP and NØHZO.

We were unable to obtain any information on conditions or progress of the north shore contest group as they worked their way north. Later we found out that they had been �washed out� by rain late afternoon. We had checked from time to time 10,368.100 +/- hoping to hear them working the UP, but never heard anything. This is logical given the signal levels being observed with Glen as he worked south. The rover pack was running SSB with loud signals between them and the UP. The quick QSOs, unknown times of operation at each location and non-weak signal mode resulted in nothing being heard.

About 30min after working the guys at Mt Brockway, we coordinated with Glen KCØIYT who was now at the Silver Bay, MN marina looking our way and ready to beacon. He was going to have to head north soon since he had a long drive for his overnight near the Canadian border. He first worked Jim and then got rained out and he then setup again. Very shortly after he started beaconing, I spotted him 5-2-9 CW and a quick QSO was made. SUCCESS! This was what we had wished for, a path exceeding 300miles, 304miles to be exact or 489km! Signals even had a bit of margin at our end. Very COOL! Next Jim was successful but Greg and Glen were unable to complete. While attempting to spot Jim's freq, it is feared that Greg may have spotted an image instead and Greg could not locate Glens signal.

Sunday:

We setup as we did Saturday, Jim and Greg on the beach and I was on the overlook. I was set up first and starting listening for Glen now located near Grand Portage, MN. Even though this is the shortest path to be attempted, it has serious terrain issues on both ends out 35 miles are so. Each end has off shore a high landmass either island or peninsula. Looking at the Google Earth profile of the path was very discouraging.

I hadn�t bothered to even look, the other guys had! Regardless 7am local on the hour I hear a beacon. Heading is indeed over not one but two land masses at my end (at the overlook). I beacon and sign with my call. The next sequence I hear QRZ and WØZQ�s call a few times. I was being heard, just not well enough yet. After a couple more sequences Jon dug out my call and we worked. Then the guys on the beach worked Jon as well, but they only had one landmass in the path at our end. Glen was having equipment issues and I was unsuccessful working him from Grand Portage. If I understand correctly he was using one portable system for receive and the other for transmit, "netting" frequency each transmission. Shortly there after I hear NØUK calling, Chris had a nice signal that improved as he worked the three of us. We had done the seemingly impossible, we had worked the EN66nw-EN57dw 225mile, 362km path, obstructions or not! Even better was the fact that there was no coordination at all, just the odd/even sked starting on the hour. We expected Glen but no one else.

Summary:

We know now that indeed it is possible to work across Lake Superior East-West without "special" conditions. During this contest, while at Grand Marais MN (EN47tr) WØZQ and NØUK also worked Dave NØKP (EN34ir) from a ski hill south of Minneapolis. That path is 410km with 257km of it over land. Dave was running a 1 meter offset dish and 8watt PA, signals were very weak. DSP, CW filter and headphones were required, not a casual QSO.That is a real accomplishment and is the longest path worked involving that much land "in these parts". Our QSOs were all over water.

Our equipment at the Wawa end worked well with no failures. I learned from the last trip that I have to scan with the UP/DOWN buttons instead of the indent tuning control on my FT290RII. From reports around the lake, lots of equipment issues. I run a DEMI transverter, surplus Qualcom amp at 800mw and a 18" offset dish. Jim KØKFC was running a DEMI transverter at 2+watts and a 30"offset dish. Jim's system included a A32 board and a Wenzel reference, so we had a much better idea of our monitoring frequencies.The system Greq N9CHA was using, he built up around a 18" offset dish that he modified the feed for and a DB6NT transverter at about 300mw. The power was low and he didn't have time to investigate why before the trip.

Pat my XYL traveled with me and we drove just under 1400miles. The trip over was via Thunderbay Ontario where we had dinner with Barry VE4MA, Eddie VE3KRP as well as Jim and Greg. Eddie showed us around his station, the highlight being his 1296 EME gear. Barry and Eddie operated during the contest from Marathon Ontario about 90miles by air from our Wawa location. It is all high land between us and we have yet to figure out a workable path. We have tried various "bounce shots" to no avail. They were palgued by equipment issues, especially their 24GHz gear. Barry did work WA2VOI in the UP on 24GHz a 178km path. Eddie had 24GHz success working WA2VOI and one of the 8's on the UP. Congrats guys. Our route home took us around the southern shore of Lake Superior. This circle drive is one of the most beautiful trips in all of the midwest. Gas was running $5.26 a gallon in Canada and $4.099 in the US. Jim and Greg's drive was very close to the same distance.

Many people dropped in on our operations for a visit as well as just to see what we were up to. Very much as last time but even more so. Greg spent a lot of time explaining our operations both on the beach and the overlook. The salmon derby was in full swing again in Wawa, but no one thought we were eavedropping on the salmon fishermen this time. Several people even commented that they remembered us from 2004. A fun trip and YES, you CAN work all the way across Lake Superior on 10GHz and we have done it! Thanks Glen, Jim, Greg, Bud and Pat, my XYL, plus all those that worked or looked for us.

73 Bill KØAWU (/VE3 EN77nw)