I was more or less active during one of the most powerful meteor streams of the air. Statistic says, I was in the air 5 hours and 33 minutes from 8th to 12th of August. The summary: 36 QSO, 29 squares and 12 countries. Best ODX – 2270 km (EI9E).
This memorial award is announced by Eesti Raadioamatööride Ühing (ERAÜ), Latvijas Radio Amatieru Līga (LRAL) and Lietuvos Radijo Mėgėjų Draugija (LRMD) to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Baltic Way – a peaceful protest against the Molotov – Ribbentrop pact signed on 23rd of August 1939, dividing the independent countries of Eastern Europe in spheres of influence between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. On the same date in 1989 more than 2 million people across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania joined hands to form a 675 km long human chain – the Baltic Way, showing their fight for independence.
Not the best conditions, weak tropo. 17 QSO, 11 grid squares, 6 countries. May be the first time I did not worked with LY stations. No success with RA2FGG, although we tried 3 times. Best ODX 583 km (SM7LCB). But interesting QSO with YL2GD: he was QRP – only 8 watts! ODX 237 km.
MS expedition to the one of the most wanted DXCC and grids (JN02SK) was made by Unio de Radioaficionats Andorrans team from 8 to 13th of August. During the Perseids meteor shower. Operators J. Jackes ON7EQ – Jackes ON5OO. Great deal, but…
…for me it is not real to make a Meteor scatter QSO on 144 MHz with C37MS, because of the big distance (over 2500 km). Another thing – they promised to QRV via EME on 13th of August after the can get the Moon above the mountings. They are used call sign C37NL for EME operation. The most exited thing: they have no elevation on theirs 2 x 9 LFA antenna array. So they are tilted whole mast to Moon direction on the sky! And it worked! The picture above (courtesy of C37MS) shows, how they did that. We were waited over 2 hours, starting from the appointed time (2000 utc). The first lucky man was John, G4SWX, than Franco (I2FAK)… I do not remember my number, but they got my callsign after next allightment of antenna. Sure, I was happy! And they did made only 8 EME QSO …
Thanks Team!!
– Transceiver FT-736 – DB6NT SSPA 250W (in the shack), -12 m of 7/8″ + 2m of 1/2″ coaxial TX line – 15 m of Flex-2000 coaxial RX line, – G4DDK LNA – VE4MA feed – 3 m diameter solid dish
The 1st of August, 2019 I will celebrate, as the first day of my regular Moon Bounce operation on 23 cm. There were several attempts before with a temporary installation of LNA, PA and controller. Always I’ve got some serious issues, but finally all working nearly well now. Although, one more I must to do: my SSPA need to be installed as close, as possible to the dish feed. Now it in the shack and 12 meters of 7/8″ coaxial between PA and the VE4MA feed. Plus 2 meters of 1/2″ jumper. But, any way, all is working. I hear all and all hear me! So, in 4 days I made 41 QSO with 23 DXCC and 35 grid squares! WAC Award 23 cm during the weekend. Not bad!
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.
VE2TWO 70 antenna (courtesy of VA3ELE)
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.
Picture is the courtesy of W7D Team
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
This picture is the courtesy of VP2EMB
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...
