. During the SW he
was on 432 and worked the 1st night DL3EAG, WW2R and W7KK. Nil was heard in
skeds with OZ6OL, DJ3FI, CT1WB and WL7U.
He also observed "strange"
polarity effects. Willie will be on 70 cm on 20/21 March and for the next
SW (27/28 March). Willie is still working on his 1296 equipment, 4 tube PA,
power supply, etc. Willie will see you on 1296 off the Moon soon.
W2UHI
Frank in Feb worked on 23 cm K3HZO, DJ9YW, K5JL, OZ6OL, W7SZ, NL7F,
VE1ZJ, WA8WZG, W3XS, W6HD and others. SW conditions were good with ideal
WX, winds were down and temp mild. He worked in the contest 18 stations the
1st night and 19 the 2nd for a total of 37x27 including one initial with
DH9FAG. Frank is working on 3 cm gear.
W7CNK
Chuck worked in Feb on 432 DL9KR, G3SEK on SSB - best ever heard,
G4ERG, WE2Y and JA5OVU. VK4AFL was heard. During the 1st night of the SW
Chuck found condx strange with signals at cross pol. Signals sounded like
reverb on a SSB contact. He worked OK1KIR, G4ERG, K1FO, W1ZX - 1 way SSB,
W7BBM on SSB, K2UYH. Heard were OZ6OL, WA4NJP, WE2Y and SV1BTR. The 2nd
night activity was down and he only QSO'd DF3RU (O/O) - but strong signal.
CWNR were W7CI, WW2R and W7QX. Chuck has also noticed enhancement on echoes
at sunrise and sunset consistently and it does not seem to matter what is
the Moon declination. He has only seen the effect on his own echoes thus
far and wonder if anyone else seen this significant enhancement? [Up to 6
dB of ground reflection gain is an accepted fact. It depends on terrain. On
70 cm the advantage of ground gain is often masked by the increase in
antenna noise due to the Earth's temperature.]
W7HAH
Shep missed his last update, but here is his report for Feb -- I
worked on 31 Jan I5TDJ (M/M) for initial #197, W1ZX (579/559) - powerful
signal, K1OR (O/O) #198 - need a QSL from him, on 1 Feb partial S52CW (M/-
), on 21 Feb EA3DXU (O/O) #199, and on 2 March
W5ZN (O/O) #200 and my 47th
state. I also need QSLs from WD8ISK/4 and K5GW. On the 27/28 Feb SW
freezing rain had the VSWR out of sight. I will be QRT from 15 Mar through
5 April. I am always looking for skeds and need NE, RI and KY for WAC.
WA2WIM
Neil reports -- I have been working on setting up a trailer mounted
1296 EME station for about 1 year now. We have the trailer, dish mount, and
dish almost finished. We are now working on the feedhorn and power supply
for the amplifier. I am seeking help in 2 areas: 1) I need a source of
material for the feedhorn. Does anyone know a source of sheet brass 0.020"
or copper? How about using galvanized sheet metal like they use on furnace
duck work? [It will work, although rust can be a problem where the
galvanize is burnt away.] 2) I need to locate either a HV power supply or
two identical microwave oven transformers or other transformer with
suitable winding so I can build a suitable power supply. I would prefer
ending up with about 1200 VDC. If anyone could assist please e-mail to:
Neil, WA2WIM
WA4NJP
Ray will be using a TH-293 cavity PA on 23 cm soon. He is presently
running only 25 W and getting 0.3 dB of Moon noise. On 70 cm he worked
KB4CNI, SV1BTR, S52CW and WW2R
- possibly others. On 23 cm skeds he heard
9H1ES, DJ5MN and WA9FWD, but did not complete any of his sked QSOs.
WS0F
Donzil in Prescott Valley, Az (DM34) writes -- I am active on weak
signal VHF-UHF and have been interested in EME for approx the last 6 months
or so. Through the 20 m net and NL off the web I hooked up with Jerry,
W7QX, who has been very helpful. I have also visited with Chuck, W7CS, who
has offered help. Jerry, W7QX has helped me to come up with a Paraclipse
3.8 m dish. I already had an Icom IC-1275A with a Hi-spec pair of 7289
tubes, misc 7/8 Heliax, etc, so I'm not too far away. I hope to be QRV on
23 cm by the summer. I'm still looking for information for building my
feed, pre-amps and measuring sky noise, etc.
WW2R
Dave had a much better month in Feb -- On the skeds on 27 Feb I
worked on 70 cm at 0000 DK3WG (O/O), 0300
W1ZX (O/O), 0330 N4GJV (O,O) -
good job Ron was loud enough to overcome TV TX QRM on a bad sked freq, 0500
VE1ALQ (O/O) and nil UR5LX. Heard were W0KJY, W7GBI, W7QX and W7SZ. On 28
Feb also worked on random at 0000 DF3RU (O/O) and heard W1ZX calling CQ
(559). On 1 March at 0130 worked K1FO (O/O), nil from W7QX and W0KJY, but
heard DF3RU FB. I called a station on .014, who came back with my call and
report, but didn't get his call and signal just got weaker by the minute,
so I never did complete despite his sterling patience with me! In a single
weekend I went from 6 to 12 initials. I will be QRV for REF/DUBUS Contest
on 432. After March, I will probably concentrate on 1296. I have built a
VE4MA feed, and am looking for a hybrid, any offers? For those sending
QSLs, please note my current address is (2506 Sherbrooke Ln, Mckinney, TX
75070).
ZS6AXT
Ivo reports -- The 1st Moon pass was only about hour on Saturday
morning, so I did not bother to get on. Then I worked on 23 cm on the
evening of Sat. 27 Feb HB9BBD, SM3AKW, OH2DG, IK3GHY, OZ6OL, ON5RR, F6CGJ,
OE5EYM, DH9FAG, F5PAU, OH2AXH, OK1KIR, DF3RU, JH5LUZ, HB9SV, OK1DFC, F2TU,
OE9ERC, CT1DMK, HA5SHF, OE9XXI, VE1ZJ, K2DH, K4QI, VE1ALQ, W2UHI, K5JL,
K2UYH, PA3CSG, OE5JFL, N6BQ, W6HD and WA8WZG, CWNR K3HZO, W3XS, VE6TA and
VE4MA, and on Sunday evening F1ANH, JF3HUC for initial #143, DL0SHF,
SM2CEW, DH9FAG (dup), LX1DB and N2IQU, CWNR were DJ5MN and W3XS for a total
of 41x23. Conditions were good on Sunday night. There were a few times of
decreased signal strength due to Aurora, as I learned later. No activity
heard from G-land and not many JAs, etc. Despite all this I managed to work
more stations than ever during one weekend! The WX here was ideal, no wind,
but very hot; my water cooling however worked fine. My only comment is that
weaker stations should use (M-O) reports in the contests rather than RST. I
am looking forward to the 2nd part of the contest. I will be on 13 cm and
hopefully also on 6 cm. I just hope that WX will cooperate here again. I
now have installed a mechanical "bias" for my AZ drive, which should
greatly reduce any play when wind is present.
K2UYH
I decided to operate on 70 cm the 1st night of the SW because of my
skeds, despite the REF/DUBUS 1296 Contest. 432 pol was very sharp and
required TX at 90 deg to the optimum RX pol to be heard. It is difficult
for me to get home much before 0000 on Fridays - particularly with my
spring schedule, and consequently I was on 10 min late for my IN3AGI sked
and heard nil from him during the remaining 20 min - I hope he did not
quite early. On 70 cm, I worked on 27 Feb at 0027 G4ERG (559/549), 0030
UT3LL (O/O) for initial #611, 0100 N2HLT (O/O) #612, 0130 nil CT1WB, 0200
nil W7ALW and 0248 W7CNK (569/559), 0655 WE2Y (559/559) and 0714 VK4AFL
(O/M) #613. I worked on 27 Feb on 23 cm at 2300 RW3BP (O/O) - extra sked
arranged via e-mail, 2323 OK1KIR (559/559), 2335 ZS6AXT (559/559), 2337
K5JL (569/569) and 2343 K4QI (559/549), on 28 Feb at 0110 W2UHI (559/559),
0119 W6HD (559/559), 0124 SM3AKW (559/559), 0128 partial IK3GHY (O/-) -
left for sked, 0130 nil DH9FAG, 0153 OZ6OL (549/559), 0200 ON5RR (559/539),
0200 nil IK2RTI, 0258 K2DH (559/559), 0305 OK1DFC (549/559), 0315 OE5EFM
(559/559), 0316 HB9SV (569/559), 0320 N6BQ (559/559), 0505 F6CGJ (559/559),
0600 K9BCT (559/559) for initial #165, 0630 nil WA9OUU, 0645 W7GBI
(559/559), 0730 nil JF3HUC, 0815 JH5LUZ (559/559), and on 1 March at 0030
DJ5MN (O/M). My 70 cm sked with UA4API was cancelled as we had already
worked, and my 23 cm sked with DJ5MN was moved to 1 March because of WX
problems at his end. Contest time was limited because of my 70 cm operation
on the 27th and a visit from Paul, S57RA on Saturday. I took Paul over to
KB2AH's QTH to see Tom multiple dishes and also gave him his first taste of
1296 EME on the 28th.
NETNEWS
by
G4RGK, David Dibley
9H1ES
has dismantled his 23 cm feed and is moving up to 10 GHz, but will
back on 23 cm in 2 months. During the Feb SW he completed with PA3CSG and
heard K3HZO, but received nil from OZ6OL and WA4NJP.
HP3XUG,
Louis confirms a QSO with SV1BTR (O/M) but nil from W7CNK. W1ZX was
copied with a nice signal.
WA6ZKY
should be QRV on 23 cm very soon.
YZ7REA/45AT142,
Vladimir at e-mail: YZ7REA/45AT142 is looking for 70/23
cm EME ideas.
K7XD
had to cancel all his Feb skeds due to work emergency.
W1QC,
Wayne in Londonderry, NH is interested in getting started on 1296 EME
and wants suggestions on equipment he needs and getting set up. [Who needs
NH on 23 cm?] E-mail at: Wayne, W1QC
W5LUA
is a proud grandfather! He was not active in the contest, but did add
initials on 23 cm with DJ5MN and KD5FZX.
WA9FWD
has a feedhorn for 13 cm built, but still needs to finish his xmit
and PA before he can be QRV on this band. He was active on 23 cm for the
DUBUS/REF Contest, but had problems with his dish readout and TX. He did
QSO'd F5PAU, OE5EYM, N6BQ and K5JL, and heard KD4LT.
W7QX
worked W7GBI and W7CS on 70 cm in Feb and reports SW conditions were
more like 144 than 432.
DK3WG
canceled his KB4CNI sked. Jurgen has changed his PO Box to 1531. His
initial total on 70 cm is now up to #351.
WE2Y
worked on 70 cm in Feb W7CNK, JA5OVU - deep QSB, DF3RU, G4ERG, W7QX,
KB4CNI and IK5QLO for an initial.
N2HLT
had to cancel his DF3RU sked.
VE3FAC
is QRV on 70 cm but has no preamp at his ant, but has 700 W and will
go to 1500 W and ant preamp soon.
KL7HFQ
hit a moose but was not hurt and still QRV on 70 cm.
W5ZN
had 70 cm equipment problems the 1st night of the SW. He heard nil in
skeds with IK5QLO, VK4AFL and W7HAH, but did work W7HAH in a later extra
sked.
NC1I
was QRV for the JA window during the 1st night of the SW and heard
only K2UYH and WE2Y. He will be active in March during the contest.
W7SZ
is now using a diagonal feed on 23 cm. In the contest he worked 11
with 4 initials (N6BQ, W7GBI, K4QI and F6CGJ) on 23 cm. DH9FAG's grid is
JN49lx.
LU6DW
is rebuilding his 23 cm dish.
K1OR
had WX problems on Friday of the SW and worked only G4ERG on Saturday
on random. He CWNR W7QX.
WA8WZG
worked 1 initial, F2TU, and QSO'd 16 in the contest on 23 cm. Tom
missed his 9H1ES sked due to bad WX. Next month he will be on 70 and 13 cm
for the contest.
GM0ONN
is trying get started on 23 cm EME. He has a 1.2 m dish and 150 W.
DF3RU
had a partial on 23 cm with WA4NJP.
KB0PYO
was not QRV for the contest due to bad WX.
WA5TKU
has a new e-mail address at: WA5TKU
KB0VUK,
Matt (EN34) near Red Wing, Minn is coming on 70 cm EME with 4x27 FO
yagis and GS23b final. He may be QRV in April.
KB8RQ
will be QRV again on 70 cm EME for the REF/DUBUS Contest weekend with
4 x 82 ele crossed yagis and 8938 PA.
K9BCT
will not be on next activity weekend. He will be in Ireland near
Dublin and is interested in meeting up with local hams.
DD1XF
has a new QTH (Kehrwieder 18, 22941 Hammoor, Germany) and tel 04542/
261377. Frank expects to be QRV on the Moon again in April or May.
FOR SALE
K9BCT has for sale a Kenwood TS-790 VHF/UHF Transceiver in absolutely mint
condition. It is complete with 144, 432 and 1296 modules along with CW
filter, microphone, power cable, original manual and box. It Works as good
as it looks. I am asking $US1500 plus shipping. Please call Randy at 954-
472-3846 or e-mail at: K9BCT
KA9LNP is
looking for connectors for 7/8" Celwave Flexwell.
You can reach
Pat at: KA9LNP
WW2R - For sale a
FT726R with 50/144/432
modules cw filter and Sat unit for
$US750. - Wanted schematic for VK3UM board.
Neither myself nor W7CNK have
got mine going. We have got to the stage, as Doug put it in his notes "This
is where it becomes tricky as all the following IC's are interlocked and it
is not possible to diagnose the exact IC if one is faulty". Dave is also
looking for a 3 dB 1296 hybrid coupler.
He can be reached at 972-548-1760
days, or at e-mail: WW2R
Motor The Surplus Center has brand
new 2 hp, 90 VDC motors with solid state
controllers for sale at $39.95. I bought one and it turns out they are
brand new GE motors that were built for treadmill exercisers - very heavy
duty. I wired it up and it will run from 10 rpm to what appears to be 2000
rpm. Very smooth and you can't stall it even at 10 rpm. It has a 1/2" shaft
with a key way. I'm converting my Linley Jig Bore as we speak. I called and
ordered three more to convert my drill press, and lathe. Surplus Center 1-
800-488-3407...Item #10-1572.
WA8WZG is
looking for 5 m dish for use on 23 cm.
W7QX is
looking for a list of 2C39 family type tubes that are useful on
23/13 cm and their relative merits.
[I like to publish such a list in the
NL!] Jerry still has some male "N" chassis mount connectors available.
W4AD is
looking for a noise head or homebrew circuit and calibration curves
to use with his HP-342 NF meter.
W1ZX has for Sale
a MFJ-784 Super DSP filter
$US150+s,
HP 415E SWR Meter-
brown unit (later build unit) $US95+s,
Bird 43 wattmeter $US190
with a new
meter movement, (2) Bird 43 wattmeter,
fair condition (cracked/broken meter
face, needs paint job) $US120+s or best offer,
Noise Com Noise Diodes
NC305, glass package $US33+s, flat package $US42+s. Call Willie at 301-645-
5584 between 2000-2300 EST, FAX 301-645-6853, 24 hrs, Email:
Willie, W1ZX
KB2AH has
a full line of cavity amps and 1, 2, 4 and 6 tube ring amps,
lin/circular feed horns and LNAs for 432 and 1296.
Tom also has mounting
blocks for K1FO yagis. For full details see Tom's 1296 WEB page at:
Tom KB2AH
for more details and pricing info e-mail at: KB2SH or phone 908-223-5067, FAX 908-
223-0901 (24 hrs) or voice 908-223-8124.
FINAL
Our apology to those who may have been confused by my comment that
the 1296 part of the DUBUS/REF Contest was in March. I was the one who was
confused! I did say the next SW, which was at the end of Feb not March. I
had everything shifted. The 70 cm and 13 cm up part is definitely the next
SW, which is in March.
There has been quite a bit of discussion about the EME Directory on the 20
m Net lately. Apparently a lot of people are not aware that a regularly
update version of the Directory is available at:
Klaus, DL4EBY
Klaus has been working 10 to 15 hours per
month in addition to his scheduling efforts to keep the Directory current.
A printed version is available by sending a SASE (SAE + funds for postage)
to Klaus. It is also regularly printed in DUBUS magazine and was included
in the Proceedings of the Paris EME Conference. It is also available in an
ASCII format (EMEDUBUS.TXT), which is read by various programs, like
VK3UM's EME Planner and W9IP's NOVA.
NU7Z, Rick has been working on a Microwave EME Directory. He needs updates
for this Directory. His list is now more than 15 sheets. If you desire a
copy of this list in electronic format, please e-mail Rick with your
request at:
Rick, NU7Z
and be specific as to the type of file you want
(.xls, .doc, etc) and he will try to accommodate. If you want a printed
copy, send 8.5"x11" envelope and enough postage to cover about 15 sheets of
bond paper to Rick.
Don, PY5ZBU is planning a CD-ROM Digest for EME2000 in Rio. As consequence
articles are needed very early. If you are planning to do a paper for
EME2000 please contact Don ASAP.
K1RQG reports putting up 12' dish with the help of KA1BC. Joe says the next
step is to get the actuator going on his polar mount, then mount the
feedhorn and look for signals. Maybe we will be hearing Joe on a band
besides 20 m soon.
The Dayton Hamvention is not that far off. Tom, WA8WZG wants to invite all
EMEers attending Dayton to the VHF Weak Signal Group’s get together (Annual
Banquet) on Friday Night 14 May at the Holiday Inn North, Wagoner Ford Rd,
Dayton. Activities begin about 6:30 PM CST and include a cash bar, guest
speaker, great VHF door prizes, and best of all plenty of time to mingle
with fellow VHFers. The cost of the dinner is $30 and is limited to 125. So
get your reservations in to Tom, WA8WZG, 4641 Port Clinton East Rd, Port
Clinton, Ohio 43452. WEB site is at:
Tom WA8WZG
The Aug EME Symposium being organized by N2IQU is in Syracuse not
Rochester, NY as indicated in the last NL. Plans are coming along well. I
plan to present a tutorial on EME polarization effects and procedures.
My home address ZIPcode and town has changed to West Windsor 08550. I am
still at the same QTH, this is due to a change in post office.
The NL still needs more technical material. Please keep sending in your
ideas and circuits, they are needed, and reports too! Good luck in the
DUBUS/REF Contest.
CU on the Moon.
FINAL SSB CONTEST SCORES:
OE9XXI (32x2+1x1)x14 = 910 points
OE9ERC (30x2+1x1)x13 = 793 points
K2UYH (22x2+2x1)x12 = 552 points
KB2AH (21x2+1x1)x12 = 516 points
HB9BBD (27x2+1)x9 = 495 points
N2IQU (22x2+1x1)x8 = 360 points
K5JL (16x2+1x1)x12 = 342 points
S59DCD (17x2)x8 = 272 points
CT1DMK (7x2)x5 = 70 points
OZ6OL (9x2)x3 = 54 points
W2UHI (6x2)x4 = 48 points
OH2DG (5x2+6x1)x3 = 48 points
VE6TA (5x2)x3 = 30 points
N6BQ (4x2)x3 = 24 points
WD5AGO (4x2)x3 = 24 points
OH2DG (5x2+1x1)x2 = 22 points
ON5RR (5x2)x2 = 20 points
G3 LTF (6x2)x2 = 12 points
HA5SHF (1x3+2x1)x1 = 5 points
1296 Feed for TVRO Dish at HA5SHF.
HA5SHF on 1296 MHz with a TVRO Dish.
THREE WAYS TO INCREASE ACTIVITY ON 432 EME (from G3SEK)
At the Weinheim VHF meeting last September there was a really good session after the DUBUS dinner, putting the whole world of 432 EME to rights!
People around the table included DL9KR, CT1DMK, PA3CSG, PE1KXH, DL4MEA, ON6JY, G3SEK and our host DJ9BV. We came to a few good conclusions (and I hope this is an accurate summary):
1. 432 EME needs more new stations! It needs a publicity campaign to
encourage tropo operators to start trying to work the big guns on 432 like
they do on 144. The difference is that best results on 432 would come from
a dedicated EME antenna using high elevation angles, rather than ground
gain as on 144. It doesn't need to be elaborate - no tower, no rotators
and newcomers need to be shown how small an EME antenna can be for 432.
2. Following on from that, there needs to be some updated and detailed
advice on how to build a more permanent EME station for 432 that would have
the capability to work lots of stations of its own size and bigger... in
other words, something like 4 medium-length yagis and a kW. Again it needs
to be practical advice: "build it like this, and it will work." The Web is
a good medium for publishing this kind of advice and keeping it permanently
available.
3. This also ties in with the need for more DXpedition activity on 432 to
encourage activity from existing stations. There is very little point in
planning a QRP expedition or a "one night stand" that will only work a few
big stations - that kind of expedition actually DIScourages activity from
average stations. The KA0RYT/NE expedition was a real model of how to do it
well: a solid, consistent signal from 4 long yagis and 1.5 kW; good advance
publicity, good operating and long enough on the air to be able to work
lots of stations. We talked about the possibilities for two "traveling
systems" that could be shipped around Europe and the USA - the essentials
would be 4 long yagis and a preamp box, ready integrated together...
possibly built as a demonstration system for Project #2.
That's about as far as we reached that evening at Weinheim, so hopefully we
can take it on through the NL and MOON-NET now. Any comments, suggestions,
ideas?
NA EME CONFERENCE IN SUMMER OF 1999
Mark, N2IQU is organizing an informal
warm up to EME2000 scheduled for Brazil in the summer of 2000 (organizer on
site is:
Don, PY5ZBU
Mark's
conference is EME
Symposium 99, a beginner's workshop, and scheduled for August 20-
21 in Syracuse, NY. The objective is to bring in new blood. Many
old hands will be there to tell of their experiences and to
advise hams thinking about trying this most demanding mode of
communication. The registration fee will be nominal, just enough
to cover meeting room rent and cost of the proceedings: An EME
Primer.
This information was obtained from: Scott, KD4LT
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Rein, W6/PA0ZN
19981226
