ES3RF: Estonian HAMRADIO Station

Great event: the lunatics are happy! Z66EME and 3B8MB ( Rep. of Kosovo and Mauritius Island) in the air. I made a one time screen shot from my MAP65 software.
Both station are loud today. And both stations have  had a problems from the beginning of operation/ But seems all is solved now.
Z66EME was a new DXCC and new grid square for me. And Mauritius I worked before (in 2011). This expedition was situated in a new grid LH80TA and it was a new for me.

It was not a problem to complete QSO with both stations. I the pile-up very important to find clear place on the band around central frequency. Just look at the MAP65 and take attention regarding to doppler shift. If all is done correct, then you have much more chance to be heard by the DX station.


Thus, my DXCC score on 144 MHz was increased to 175 countries and grid square score to 998. Two more grids – and I will celebrate 1000 grids on 2 M band. Hope it will happens soon.

PA2CHR-Chris and PA3FYC-Jos, are activated via EME rare country – Guatemala. They intended to activate 3 bands: 144, 432 and 1296 MHz. The call signs are: TD9CHR and TD9FYC. Details are here.

On 24th of February our common window with TD9FYC was opened at 19:08 UTC. I was disappointed by the huge local noise level (over 20db!) from the azimuth of 210 degrees. Which, however, happens almost daily. Around 22:02 this noise suddenly disappears and I started to see( and hear!) TD9FYC on 144.137 MHz. Theirs trace was 19/-22 in QSO with IK2UWL and next CQ. Using MAP 65 I found a clear QRG and called them. From the first call I’ve got an answer! Can not say, it was easy QSO, because I waited for possibility around 3 hours. But we are, “lunatics”, have a lot of patience….
during our QSO TD9FYC was -23 db. on my screen. I received in H-pol. So DXCC # 172 and grid square # 989.
Next try on 70 cm will be on 3-4th of Mach. Team has a schedule, which we can see here

No easy, but complete QSO on 70 cm too. On 4th of March, 05:17 utc.His -23, mine -22 db.
Spatial offset on 3-4 of March was -84 to-88 degrees. I have only H-pol antenna on 70 cm, so impossible to see even faint trace. But Chris install his 30 el antenna in a way, that could manually change H/V pol. And he worked successfully with European stations exactly on V-pol.

Expedition’s log and some pictures are here.

N0w all worked 171 country by DXCC Award on 144 MHz are confirmed.
Waiting for a SUPER RARE 3Y0Z (Bouvet Island) expedition. The expedition team currently on the way to the island by “Betazone” ship. Easy to follow them.

From 13 to 18 of October DXPedition 3DA0EME will QRV from Swaziland on 6m, 2m, 70cm, 23, 13, 9, 6 and 3cm. Great choice, but as far, as I can operate EME only on 2M and 70cm, these two bands are most interesting for me. On 2M they have 4×9 el. H-pol, and on 70 cm 2×28 M2 yagi.

It was hard for me to complete Polarity offset, during first 4 hours was changed from -875 degrees! Sometimes I can see theirs trace only V-pol, sometimes H-pol.  I spent nearly 5 hours, before QSO was complete. They answered me one time, but did not get RO from me. So, I continued to call and was happy to get OOO again. This time we completed very quick!

Unfortunately, I even did not saw trace on 70 cm. So, only one band yet, but hope for 70 cm too.

Yes!! This morning was very easy QSO with 3DA0MB on 432.090. They answered me from my first call. His signal was -21 db, I;ve got -26 db.

Thus, I’ve got DXCC No. 167 (grid # 980) on 2M band and DXCC No. 52 (Grid #213) on 70 cm.

Thanks, Team!

LB6GG Hans will run portable EME on 144 MHz from two locations in KQ50
square, during late summer and autumn of 2017. He intent to start around July 20-22 and will be QRV until November 20 – depending on weather conditions. 
This will be a “QRP” expedition.
PWR around 450W into 2 x 2.4wl DK7ZB. Rx: LNA NF=0.5 dB

Hans was started, as expected, 21st of July. Conditions were poor enough after strong Aurora last night, but he completed his firsts EME QSO from KQ50kg square. His signal on my screen was very variable: from -23 to -27 db (rarely) to -30/31 db the most time.
I was unlucky at his first day.
Next day (22nd of July) was more successful for me: after his trace become solid on my screen, I called him and got immediate answer! 

This QSO gave me grid # 968 0n 2 M band.