May MAD Microwave Activity Day

Scott AA2SD/R and Joe KC2SGV point across the sand quarry in FM29 Located at Pole Hill Park in Gibbsboro NJ.

Pack Rats KC2SGV, WB2RVX, N3RG, And K1RZ get on the Air for The May “MADs” Microwave Activity Days.

AA2SD/R Rover - April 5,2026  Microwave Activity Days -  Sunday morning I coordinated with Joe to meet up locally to attempt his first 10GHz microwave contact. Joe recently acquired a 10 GHz equipment from AB4CR and like myself is new to the microwave bands. We set up at one of the highest local South Jersey locations 190 feet overlooking a sand quarry on a very blustery day. The view of the quarry almost appeared like a scene from an apocalypse movie,  with large cranes in the distance, a radio tower and the wind swept open field. We were constantly buffered by winds and had to hold on to the dishes a few times. We set up our tripods overlooking a downed fence pointing into a Southern horizon. These windy conditions were not good for large dishes, but we prevailed and Joe was able to make his first 10GHz Contact

You can Watch the You Tube Here

youtube.com/shorts/X76VkUAsw6w?feature=share

Joe KC2SGV Makes adjustments to his small Rover Box

Congratulations on Joe’s First 10 GHz Contact - Joe was testing a 2 foot dish and Demi Transvertor, and he also tested his portable Rover 10 GHz set up. We were successful with contact to Mike WB2RVX, but we failed to make a confirmed QSO with N3RG and K1RZ and KC3BVL.

You can view a view photos here:https://photos.app.goo.gl/wgVG3WNAc71a8gHi7

MADs What Are Microwave Activity Days?

Microwave Activity Days(MADs) are organized, non-competitive events for amateur radio enthusiasts to test microwave equipment by operating from portable, often high-altitude locations. The goal is to get amateurs out of the "shack" and onto hills to establish contact with other enthusiasts, usually on the first Saturday of the month, as seen in North Texas Microwave Society. The fun part of the MAD Days is that the focus is on testing equipment and enjoying the process of setting up and testing equipment, often from a hill top or high elevation area. The concept has strong activity in Australia (VK) and has been adopted by other groups, like the West Carleton Amateur Radio Club in Canada.Amateaur operator VK3FS offers a excellent web site and blog that can be found at the links below.

You can learn more about MADs at the link here from VK3FS.  Please also view the You Tube video from VK3FS at the link here. https://youtu.be/C5x9bkH6VjI?si=eZBxTtCO4WydjIey

Groups.IO List  - You can also visit the10GHz-Up groups.io list . A group of Amateur Radio operators interested in 10 GHz and up 2-way radio activities centered around operating plans for various Amateur Radio competitions.  Related entrant information is maintained in a database sponsored by Roger W3SZ.

https://groups.io/g/10GHz-Up

Thanks to all operators that supported us in the field during the test. Please listen for us during the next Microwave Activity Day

Go Out and Play Radio , Listen for the Weak Ones

Scott

AA2SD

www.aa2sd.com