February 26th, 2022
After my visit to Berlin a fortnight ago, where Thomas, DC7YS, granted me massive support in assembling my 10/24 GHz duo band rig, I have been out today to give it a try in the BBT contest.
![](http://www.dj5ar.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC_0127-1024x683.jpg)
The selected location is a building in the vine yards just a little south of my home.
![](http://www.dj5ar.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC_0123a-1024x683.jpg)
It has a terrace upstairs with a perfect view to the horizons.
Despite beeing an asolute newbie, I logged two QSOs. The first one I had with Martin, DL3SFB/p on the Hornisgrinde in the Black Forrest near Freiburg. Signals were just good enough to complete in SSB over 144 km. Second was Daniel, DL3IAE, near Landau, 70 km away.
![](http://www.dj5ar.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC_0131a-1024x683.jpg)
Daniels signal was extremly distorted by windmills and even in CW very hard to copy.
![](http://www.dj5ar.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/2022-02-26-BBT.png)
A test with Ewald, DK2DB, in Karlsruhe was not successful, because of a pear tree obstructing him in my direction.
![](http://www.dj5ar.de/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/DSC_0130a-1024x683.jpg)
The grey box houses latest Kuhne transverters for 10 and 24 GHz, driven by an IC-705. Output after all the lossy semi rigid and relays is measured to 6 W on 10 GHz and 1 W on 24 GHz. The feed a dual band horn, made by Paul, W1GHZ. The size of the dish is 80 cm. Power sources are batteries of my Makita tools.
After the Test with Ewald I decided to leave, because some strong gusts came up and the dish has a quite a good wind load. As the stuff is very heavy, the tripod is too fragile to withstand the weight plus the wind.