432 MHz AND ABOVE EME NEWS
JULY 1999 VOL 27 #7
ALLEN KATZ, K2UYH
Editor
ENGR DEPT., THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY, TRENTON, NJ 08650-4700 (W 609-490-2817
OR H 443- 3184, FAX 609-443-1713, AND EMAIL:
Allen Katz, K2UYH
PRODUCTION ASSIST:
TOM KIRK, KA2VAD (908-521-2049).
NETNEWS EDITOR: G4RGK, DAVID DIBLEY
SKEDS CORD & DIRECTORY: DL4EBY/DK0TU, KLAUS TIEDEMANN,
HALSKESTR.35, D-12167 BERLIN, (49-30-7955467), E-Mail:
Klaus Tiedemann.
EME WEB DIRECTORY by DL4EBY
***E-MAIL LIST CORD: Scott KD4LT***
*** NA EME BBS: 704-284-4854 ***
EME NETS
14.345, 10 AM ET SATURDAYS, AFTER VARO NET SUNDAYS:
CONDITIONS
May did not produce a lot of reports, but there
appears to have been plenty of activity on 70 and 23 cm, and
even 6 and 3 cm were represented. Conditions were mixed with
different stations perceiving conditions differently. I found
70 cm conditions quite good, and picked up 2 initials on
random. Next month (July) there will be only 3 weeks between
SWs. The July SW will move back to the high declination
weekend and closer to perigee.
BURMA 70 CM EME DXPEDITION
BURMA 70 CM EME DXPEDITION: W7TVF reports that there is an
excellent chance that he will be on a dxpedition to Burma in
Jan of the coming year. If he is selected to go, he will
operate EME, possibly on 432. He is a good weak signal
operator and has been on 432 EME. [TNX W7HAH for forwarding
this info. Shep will keep us informed of developments.]
AL7OB
Mike tried a number of 432 skeds in May, but did not
have a lot of luck. On 16 May he heard nil from DL7APV -
probably burned out preamp during this sked, nil KB4CNI -
realized 25 minutes into the sked that preamp was bad,
(Cowles copied him (339)), missed W7QX sked fixing preamp,
Mike got his preamp back on the antenna with only 5 minutes
left for his W7CNK sked and managed a good QSO by "borrowing"
a few minutes into his next sked, and then worked WA9FWD, and
JA5OVU later that night. During the SW on 21 May, Mike had an
error in his AZ readout system and believes he was more than
15 deg off the Moon. He heard nil from K2UYH and KB4CNI. The
Moon then became visible and he was able to correct his
calibration error. Mike then had a partial with W7GBI (O/T).
He was on for DK3WG but heard nil. He tried again on 24 May,
but heard nil from K2UYH - [I did not receive news of the
sked in time to be on], nil K1FO, partial KB4CNI (O/-), then
his VSWR skyrocketed and nil W7GBI. Mike plans to try again
during the June SW. He is also planning to add 23 cm EME this
summer. Mike has a 13' 0.36 f/d dish, 2 x7289 PA and preamp.
He needs suggestions for feed and TR relay.
DL4KGS
Gerald was QRV in May, but will be moving QTHs and
grids soon -- I found May 70 cm SW conditions very
changeable, and activity extremely low -- I heard hear my
echoes most of the time, sometimes (529), and worked DF3RU
(549/549), DL1YMK (539/559) for initial #54 and G3SEK (O/O) -
all on random. I heard JA5OVU (SSB test with DF3RU) and
JA4BLC. A sked with DL8OBU was nil because of high noise (S5)
on my side. No stations from the US were heard. Since the SW
I have changed my job and I am now working in JN48. This is
about 400 km from my home in JO31. I am still QRV, but only
with limited time as I am not at home every weekend. I will
start to dismantle my equipment in June/July and hope to move
to JN48 in August. In the mean time I am trying to be QRV as
often as possible. So, if anyone is interested in skeds - try
my new e-mail address or , or my
homepage at . A noise source, which drove me
crazy for several weeks has disappeared and I can hear my
echoes most of the time. My rig is now TS-850 + homemade
transverter to a GS23B PA (1000 W out) and 4 x 29 el BV
yagis.
G3LTF
Peter says that there is not too much to report this
month -- WX was pretty poor with lots of wind on the Saturday
of the SW. The libration was fast, so signals sounded weaker
as well. On 1296, on 22 May I worked HB9SV, W6HD for initial
#143 [see July 98 NL for Tay's station's details], EA6ADW and
ZS6AXT, and on 23 May DF4PV #144, LX1DB, SM2CEW and DF3RU. I
had a nice visit from W5LUA earlier in the month, we both
have lots of plans, but less time than when we were young!
HA5SHF
Csaba's group report the following 23 cm QSOs during
April and May: Worked on 17 April at 1520 W2UHI (549/449) and
1526 K5JL (579/539), on 24 April at 1840 HB9SV (569/449), on
22 May at 1830 HB9SV (569/429), 1921 N2IQU (559/439), 2104
W2UHI (549/449), 2130 nil WA8WZG on sked, 2200 nil W7SZ on
sked and 2234 KD5FZX (559/439), and on 23 May at 1543 EA6ADW
(O/O), 1619 HB9SV (569/549), 2100 nil WA8WZG on sked, 2130
nil K9BCT on sked and 2230 nil VE6TA on sked.
JA6AHB
Toshio is again QRV on 70 cm after several years of
absence. He is now located in a new QTH and grid -- I have
come back on 432 EME from a new QTH. The grid is PM53cp (my
last operating location was in PM51kj). I am still running a
K2RIW type PA with a new 7 m dish on an az-el mount. I am
receiving 14 dB of Sun noise and am interested in skeds. My
e-mail address is:
Toshio, JA6AHB
K3HZO
Harry was active on 1296 during the May preSW, but
heard nil from DJ5MN and did QSO F1ANH. He was unable to be
on for his 1st day SW skeds, and made no contacts on the 2nd
day, but did hear EA3UM and HB9SV.
KB4CNI
Cowles had the opportunity in May to visit the
Greenbank Radio Astronomy Observatory and see the "GBT",
which will soon be the largest steerable dish in the world
(about 2.3 acre)! Before the SW Cowels worked on 432 W7GBI
for an initial, JA5OVU and had a partial with AL7OB. During
the May SW he had problems with thunder storms and heard nil
from EA3DXU, only a partial with DL3YEE (T/-), nil AL7OB -
heard good echoes, and did work W7BBM.
LX1DB
Willie is working on 24 GHz EME and is looking for a
feed system for his 0.4 f/d dish. He has waveguide and
expects to have a 30 W TWTA soon. During the SW Willie QSO'd
PA3CSG on 10 GHz.
N2IQU
Mark went to Dayton, but was back for the May SW and
worked 8 or 9 on 23 cm and one station on 70 cm. His 10 GHz
dish has been moved to it operating location and needs to be
recabled. Mark expects to be QRV on 3 cm with 20 w in a month
or so, with more power to follow later.
ON5RR
Marc writes -- As reported in the last NL, Michel and
I did quite a bit of work on our 1296 station. Our antenna
mast is now cut down from 12 m to 7 m. The dish is fully
enforced and stressed. To get active, it now only takes about
half an hour. All connectors and relays have been measured
and checked out. The biggest improvement we made involved the
feed. By trimming the monopoles, we moved the return loss
from 10-11 dB to 28-29 dB. On Sunday 23 May we tested the
complete station. Our OZ9CR did not like activity after 2
months of sleep. It was oscillating and produced only about
100 W. Luckily we did not blew the preamp. After retuning it,
we worked HB9SV, SM2CEW, DF3RU, F2TU, W2UHI, EA6ADW, LX1DB
and W4RDI for initial #79 and K9BCT #80. Nil was heard in
skeds with W3XS and WA8WZG. DJ5MN and K9ZZH couldn't make
their skeds and left a message. Our impression is that the
station has improved. Received reports were better than
before and we had very consistent echoes all the time. Even
the Sun noise we measured was up to 17 dB! We plan to be QRV
again in June.
PA3CSG
Geert was active on 3 cm in May and QSO'd VE4MA,
LX1DB, and DL2LAC to bring him to initial #19 on 10 GHz. He
plans to be QRV again on 3 cm in June, and requests no skeds
on 70 or 23 cm because of his 3 cm activity. He notes that
his max azimuth on 70 and 23 cm is now 250 degs because of
blockage from his 10 GHz dish.
RW1AW
Alex's new PA is working well with 1.6 kW out on 432.
He worked during the SW K2UYH, DL7APV and DF3RU
He says his
random QSO with K2UYH (569/559) was excellent.
VE1ALQ
Darrell is now QRV on 6 cm with a 11' dish and 180-
200 W, but with the following limitations -- These same
restrictions will apply to up and coming 3 cm as well.
Minimum el on moonrise is 30 deg due to spring and summer
tree foliage. Fall and winter the restriction is only 24 deg.
The max el is 61 deg due to polar mount limitations. The max
AZ is 260 deg due to an adjacent 40' VHF tower obstruction.
Minimum el is set by the limit on max AZ. 6 cm power is 200 W
+/- 10 %. The dish is 3.4 m with an f/d of 0.36. Moon noise
is 0.75 dB from a W5LUA preamp with an SMA input (working on
W5LUA preamp with WG input). Computer tracking dead band 0.12
degrees (still need full 360 degs for accurate calibration).
The feedline is 18' of WR-159, 6' WR-159 Flex and 13' WR- 137
flex. The dish feed is VE4MA/W5LUA with VSWR non-detectable
at TWT output and -32 dB reflected coupling. The LO freq
stability and accuracy is locked to a 0.005 PPM 5 MHz
standard. It will be the same for the 10 GHz station. The TX
IF is a TS-790 at 144 MHz, RX IF is a TS-950SDX at 28 MHz
with HB 144 MHz down converter. I prefer not to operate when
the Moon is at Zenith as was the case with my 1st 2 initial
QSOs with VE4MA and W5LUA.
The Doppler with VE4MA was -850
Hz, and with W5LUA -65 Hz and falling. The CW notes were (T),
terrible. Skeds are welcomed, if E-mailed please send copy to
K1RQG, especially if on a SW.
W2UHI
Fank is QRV again on 23 cm after having problems with
his rig. His xvtr is still not repaired and he is operating
split TX/RX. During May he QSO'd DF4PV, KB2AH, N2IQU, HB9SV,
OE5EYM, W4RDI, KD4LT, ZS6AXT, EA6ADW, W6HD, HA5SHF and W7SZ -
most during the SW. He is also making progress on his 10 GHz
system, but is not yet QRV.
W7HAH
Shep writes -- Not much to report this time. On 20
April I worked VE6TA (0/0) on random and W3XS (559/459) for
initial #204. I had a number of skeds with VK4AFL and was
heard on 21 April (M), but still no QSO. I am always
interested in skeds.
WA9FWD
John was active on both 70 and 23 cm in May. During
the SW he had WX problems, but did QSO on 70 cm EA3DXU. On 23
cm John worked KD4LT and W6HD. Someone else called, but he
never identified the call. John now has an e-mail address:
John, WA9FWD
and is willing to take skeds.
ZS6AXT
Ivo's report for the last SWs -- I worked on 23 cm,
on 23 April HB9BBD, VE1ALQ and K5JL, on 24 April HB9BBD,
I5MPK, KB2AH, HB9SV and OZ6OL, on 25 April OE5EYM, OE9ERC,
SM2CEW, GW3XYW, DF4PV and LX1DB - CWNR were IK3GHY and K5JL,
on 22 May HB9SV, N2IQU, KB2AH, W2UHI, KD4LT, EA6ADW, G3LTF
and W6HD - CWNR was I5MPK (something was wrong with his RX),
and on 23 May ON5RR, OZ6OL, F2TU, DF4PV, W2UHI, SM2CEW,
LX1DB, OE5EYM and DF3RU - CWNR was HA5SHF. No other stations
were worked or heard so there was not much activity during
both weekends. There was good weather here during both
weekends, but otherwise very bad with rain, thunderstorms,
etc., (it is our "dry" season here!), so I was not able to do
much outside. This seems to be improved this week, so I will
try to check, install and try again my 6 cm equipment in the
feed. ZS6JON may be also soon QRV on 70 cm and later on 23
cm, with a low power initially. Peter, ZS6PT, has moved
permanently to ZL, so hopefully he may be QRV from there,
when he settles down. I look forward to more EME activity
from ZS soon.
K2UYH
I was only able to be QRV on 432, the first day of the
SW this month because of conflicting family actives. I
recently switched over to a direct video camera readout of
azimuth using a system developed by KB2AH. This eliminates
the errors I have experience with my previous pot based
readout. I became involved in making some last minute changes
to this system and lost track of time. When I realized the
time, I had missed my RW1AW sked - sorry, but fortunately we
were able to connect later. Conditions seemed to be quite
good despite the shift from perigee. I have found that signal
"copyability" is much more important than path loss for
making QSOs. Contacts made on 22 May were at 2038 ON4KNG
(559/559), 2055 SM2CEW (559/559), 2058 I5CTE (559/559), 2110
OZ6OL (449/549), 2121 DL1YMK (449/449) for initial #615, 2133
QRZ - this station was sending too fast for me and never
identified despite several exchanges, 2215 RW1AW (559/569)
for initial #616, 2236 DF3RU (569/569) and (55/55) on SSB and
2300 nil AL7OB on sked. A 2nd e-mail sked with AL7OB was
received after sked time. I will be in CA for the
International Microwave Symposium and will not be back in
time for the SW, so no skeds or activity this month. I may be
able to listen from one of the CA stations.
NETNEWS
VE4MA, Barry is working on 24 GHz EME gear, and now have 2 24
GHz preamps running. On 5.7 GHz Barry worked VE1ALQ.
AC3A, is interested in ideas for 1296 EME. Scott can be
reached at:
AC3A
9H1PA, Philip, is QRV on 70 cm with 4 x 10 el XPOL 3 wl yagis
and 700 W. He can be reached via e-mail at:
9H1PA
KD4LT has been tied up with work, but was active on 1296 EME
in May and QSO'd worked DF4PV.
AA5C had a good contact with I4CHY for initial #20 on 10 GHz
during the preSW.
DJ5MN was unable to be QRV during the May SW and sent notice
to cancel all his skeds.
W4RDIV was QRV again on 23 cm during the May SW.
9H1ES was not QRV on either 23 cm or 3 cm in May, but expects
to be operational on 10 GHz before the June SW.
W7FNV is still around, but also still having RX problems on 70
cm and does not expect to be QRV for the May SW.
KB8RQ worked 2 out of 3 of his skeds: DL8OBU and W7CNK were
OK, but he only heard EA3DXU and did not complete.
WA8WZG missed his May SW skeds because of bad storms, but did
hear KD4LT before disconnecting.
W7SZ worked in the May SW on 1296 W2UHI on random. He heard
JA7BMB on only one and sequence and did not complete.
W7CNK, during SW skeds copied nil from EA3DXU - something was
in the noise, and worked KB8RQ.
WE2Y listen in on W7CNK - EA3DXU sked and says they were 90
degs apart.
HP3XUG had a massive power failure during SW and was also
hampered by bad WX. Louie needs reskeds with DL3YEE, and
reports that he will be QRT from July through Sept.
KA0RYT had power supply problems and was not QRV for the May
SW.
K6IBY has a new e-mail address:
K6IBY
EA6ADW worked only JA7BMB and KD5FZX during his May skeds.
KL7HFQ is QRV on 70 cm and is looking for info on 7213 amps.
VE6TA was QRV on 23 cm during the May SW and not on 70 cm. He
worked VK5MC for WAC, initial #35 and DXCC 25.
FOR SALE
DL4KGS is looking for a low noise preamp (< 0.4 dB NF).
Contact Gerald at e-mail: DL4KGS
WA4NJP, sends the following info on his offer to sell
sheet
of screening. The price is really $00.40/sq ft, which equates
to about 21 sq/ft per sheet at about $8.50 a sheet, i.e.,
$00.40 sq/ft not $.40 a sheet!
DL8YHR is
searching for a 432 PA with more then 500 W.
Contact Frank at e-mail: DL8YHR
W2UHI
needs SMA to WR90 transitions, 2 if possible.
THE EASTERN VHF/UHF CONFERENCE
The meeting will be held on Aug 27, 28 and
29 in Endfield, CT at the Harley Hotel. Guest speakers will
provide talks on topics from 50 MHz to 100 GHz (SHF Imaging),
Band Rap Sessions, Lab Sessions and Demonstrations, Flea
Market, and Antenna Measurements. Saturday afternoon will
host a NF measurement session for 50 MHz to 10 GHz. A
Conference Proceeding will be published and will be available
from the ARRL in Sept. A hospitality suite will be held
Friday evening for early arrivals and a dinner banquet on
Saturday night. Talks will begin at 0900 AM ESDT Saturday
morning and the Flea Market and Antenna Measurements on
Sunday Morning. If interested, please contact Bruce Wood -
N2LIV, 3 Maple Glen Lane, Nesconset, NY (516) 265-1015 (h) or
. Reservations can be made at the Harley
Hotel (800) 321-2323 or (860) 741-2211. A block of rooms is
reserved under the NEWS Group or Eastern VHF/UHF Conference
until August 6th, 1999. Many noted Northeastern [US] EME'ers
will be present.
FINAL
Time is getting short for making plans to attend the
EME Symposium in Rochester on 21-22 Aug being organized by
N2IQU. This meeting is intended primarily to help newcomers
get started on EME, but many of the 432 and above regulars
will be there. I will be doing a tutorial on Faraday
rotation. KB2AH is preparing a proceeding book on CD and is
sure to have examples of his 23 cm PAs. The trip should be
worthwhile just to see Mark's 48' dish!
K1RQG’s computer blew up last week and he lost his e-mail
capabilities. He thinks he may have lost his main hard drive
with many EME related files, which he did not have backed up.
Joe is devastated! It may be several weeks before he gets
things patched up and back on line.
That's the news for this month. We obviously need more
reports and technical material. Please keep the info coming.
73, Al - K2UYH
N6BQ Antenna Party at WA6KBL
AA5C ussing a RW90 TWT
DL1YMK:
4 x 30 el 8.2 wl BV opt.
MGF 4819, Cavity Preamp .35 dB NF
YL1050 HPA, 1,5 KW at power splitter of yagi's
JA5NNS:
Ant: Hor: 8 * CD-X-727 ( 27 el Yagi )
Vert: 8 * K1FO, 21 el Yagi
TX: Kenwood TS790S + 3CX-800A7 * 2 Input 3 KW
RX: Preamp FHX-35LG, NF 0.45 dB, JRC-NRD545 + x-tal conv.
From RW3BP:
Sergei lives in an apartment on the 16th floor on the edge of Moscow. His station is a 1.75m offset feed dish with a 50 Watt TWT and HEMT front end.
The 2 feeds are optimized for transmitting and receiving. His TR switching system moves the proper feed in position.
Sergei has made many 10 GHz EME QSO's with this setup.
The antenna was installed through the window, The basis ot the antenna mount is like a big door hinge with 100 mm of steel tubing
mounted to it. This lets me turn the support towards the window and install the complete antenna step by step. I had only help during
the last step of the installation. My friend held the dish with a rope from the roof while I mounted the reflector on the AZ-EL mount.
EME Skeds for JUN 19
Time 432.040 432.045 432.055
0330z JA5NNS-W7HAH
0400z VK4AFL-W7HAH
1300z EA3DXU-JA5NNS
1730z EA3DXU-OZ6OL
1800z HP3XUG-DL3YEE
1830z VE1ALQ-RW1AW
1900z WA9FWD-PY5ZBU
1930z WE2Y -DL8OBU KA0RYT-RW1AW
2000z WE2Y -EA3DXU
2030z W7HAH -DJ3FI KB4CNI-EA3DXU
2100z W7HAH -OZ6OL WB0GGM-EA3DXU
2130z W7HAH -GD4IOM AL7OB -WE2Y W7CNK -EA3DXU
2200z W7HAH -KB4CNI AL7OB -DK3WG PY5ZBU-EA3DXU
2230z W7HAH -PY5ZBU KL7HFQ-W5ZN
2300z W7HAH -LU4HO
EME Skeds for JUN 20
Time 432.040 432.050
0130z W7HAH -HP3XUG
0300z AL7OB -HP3XUG
0330z HP3XUG-W7CNK
EME Skeds for JUN 19
Time 1296.050
1230z ON5RR -JF3HUC
Skeds for JUN 20
Time 1296.050 1296.060 1296.070 1296.075
1230z HA5SHF-JA7BMB
1300z HA5SHF-4X6UJ EA6ADW-JF3HUC
1330z I5MPK -HA5SHF
1400z I6PNN -HA5SHF ON5RR -RW3BP
1430z HB9BHU-HA5SHF ON5RR -DJ5MN
1500z ON5RR -DL8OBU
1730z VE3BQN-HA5SHF
1830z LU6DW -HA5SHF
1900z WA8WZG-HA5SHF K3HZO -I6PNN ON5RR -LU6DW
1930z K9BCT -HA5SHF K3HZO -I5MPK W3XS -ON5RR WA9OUU-EA6ADW
2000z K3HZO -DJ5MN KB0PYO-EA6ADW
2030z W4OP -HA5SHF K9ZZH -EA6ADW K3HZO -EA3UM
2100z K3HZO -S59DCD WA9FWD-ON5RR
2130z K3HZO -G4DZU WA9FWD-PY5ZBU K9ZZH -ON5RR W7QX -EA6ADW
2200z K6DV -EA6ADW WA9FWD-K3HZO
2230z W7SZ -ON5RR
Skeds for JUN 19
Time 10368.050
1900z VE4MA -OH2AXH
1930z AA5C -OH2AXH
2000z W5LUA -OH2AXH
2030z N6BQ -PA3CSG
This information was obtained from: Scott, KD4LT
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Rein, W6/PA0ZN
19990615
