ES3RF: Estonian HAMRADIO Station

All of us knows, how hard to get Zone Nr.2 for WAZ Award. Even on HF bands. And this is absolutely rare Zone and grid square for VHF and UP bands.
So, Peter (VA3ELE) together with Rene (VE2TWO) made a great EME expedition to the Zone #2 on 432 and 1296 MHz from 39 of June to 7th of July.
I was very happy to work with VE2TWO (grid FO60TE) on 1st of July. Firstly on 23 cm and later on 70 cm. They used 1.8 diameter dish and SSPA on 23 cm and 2×28 V-pol. antenna/350W PA on 70 cm. Condition on these days are not the best for EME/ Because of the Sun and the Moon are very close to each other (new Moon on 2nd July). Peter sent the picture to HB9Q EME chat to show his antenna position. But, by the way, we all have had the same problems with sun noise.

Any way, I worked on both bands. Easy on 23 cm and hard on 70 cm. So Zone Nr.2 and rare grid on my log now.
Thanks to Peter and Rene!

Wyatt (AC0RA) and Dave (KG5CCI) as a W7D team made a great
DX-pedition to activate rare grid squares on 6m, 2m EME, 2m Meteor Scatter, and AMSAT. For me the main interest, of course, the EME part of this expedition.

So, chance to get at least 5 new grids. And I tried!
First the Team’s stop was in DN20. This QSO was quick and easy. But I did not made a screen shot of this contact.
Second stop in DN10 grid. Also quick enough QSO:

Third stop in DM18. This night was totally bad for me. Local noise increase +10 db from azimuth 250 – 300 degrees: exact direction to the Moon, then it has low elevation angle (12 degrees and lower). So, I missed this grid.

Fourth stop on DM38 grid. Not quick, but I did it. They were really strong:

The last stop in DM47 was a real nightmare for me. Very strong and continued thunderstorm made job in the air nearly impossible. First of all, the lightening area was exactly on the Moon direction. Let’s say, between me and the Moon, like a screen. Additionally, lightning flashes prevented the decode signal JT65b even when I saw one. And the last problem – the common window was short. Only 1 hour and 50 minutes… Fortunately, when the moon was only around 2 degrees above the horizon, the thunderstorm subsided a bit and I finally saw the signal weak but decoded. And they are answered immediately

So, 4 grid squares for 5 expected. Not bad!

The Team’s trip continued, but no more EME operation, Only Rover and terrestrial operation. Anyway, we have no common EME window in a few next days.
Thanks for Wyatt and Dave for this great expedition. More information is here, including some pictures.

lUCKY DAY! One more rare country (by DXCC list) in my log! Nr. Kay, JH3AZC, together with a team, made new EME DX-pedition to Saipan Isl. (grid QK25ue). Today is a new moon, so noise from the Sun, sometimes, was up to 8 db! Practically, I even did not saw trace from KH0/W2AZ till 07 utc. But after 0700 it was, like explosion! Up to -21 db! Is it Mr. Faraday job?
They answered me from the 3rd call.

Last night I completed EME QSO with VP2EMB on the 3rd band – 70 cm!
So, thanks to efforts of the Chris and Jos ( PA2CHR & PA3FCY) not only me, but many-many others had got a new DXCC on 144, 432 and 1296 MHz.
My QSOs with the team:
144 MHz: 12.04.2019 17:59 – 18:02 utc -24/-21 db
1296 MHz: 13.04.2019 20:30 – 20:34 utc -24/-21 db
432 MHz: 15.04.2019 21:28 – 21:31 utc -28/-26 db

The story, expedition log and many pictures are possible to see on QRZ.COM. Search VP2EMB and enjoy!

X-Team DH7FB & DF2ZC QRV from EA9 Ceuta. They are started operation on 2 M band today.

The line from N0UK EME chat:
15 Mar14:45 EF9LZ IM75  CQ 144.114 -EF9LZ- tx 1st .
We are started to call themes, but few minutes later we saw another spot in the chat :
15 Mar 14:54EF9LZ IM75  hmmm….s7 noise bursts here… 
And it was the real problem: they could not hear no one, just sending CQ,CQ, CQ… I spent around 30 minutes, before understood, that much better to stop and wait for better conditions. Also I need to do some home job.
4 hours later I came back to the shack and had a look on MAP65’s screen. Yes!! Еhey are worked one station after another! Seems, conditions improved! I called and EF9LZ answered just after my first call. Easy QSO, new DXCC and new grid

Expedition’s log is here.
Next target – 70 cm EME QSO with EF9LZ. Very hope for a good conditions!

Unfortunately, they cancelled 70 cm EME operation due to a high 
antenna's SWR. Pity...