spares you even that. So 0.5 dB is an extremely pessimistic value. Even with 0.5 dB, the loss in S/N is less than 1.4 dB typical (signal goes down .5 dB, .5 dB of loss at 300 K gives you 37 K of noise - adding that to 160 K (70 K preamp, 30 K antenna, 60 K Moon/3 m dish - very optimistic values) gives a 0.9 dB increase in noise). 1.4 dB is less than the approx. 2 dB we are loosing on average with linear pol because of geometry. I have described this in my Rio paper, also available at http://lea.hamradio.si/~s57uuu/emeconf/ltsgocir.htm. Going circular will in- crease our signals and make them more consistent. When listening to US stations on 3 cm linear pol, I can see quite well the signal dip caused by geometry. I do not believe that significant polarization can happen at the Moon. It is DEPOLARISATION that happens, and that is as detrimental to linear as it is to circular. This is also described in my Rio paper. The bi-static case cannot be that different from the mono-static. The Earth as seen from the Moon is 2 deg across - and that is limb to limb. EU-USA is more like one deg max. So the impact angle is less than one half deg. That is negligible compared to the 7 degs average slope of the lunar terrain (as determined by RADAR)." Kent, WA5VJB responded: "The problem is that a Right Hand Circular pol (RHCP) signal is reflected off the moon as a Left Hand Circular pol (LHCP). If all 3 cm stations went to RHCP we would all be cross-polarized. A RHCP station can work a LHCP station, but each station would not be able to hear their echoes. I am afraid simple circular polarization is not the answer."

Charlie, G3WDG added: "You would need to have 2 orthogonal probes in the feedhorn, one for LHCP the other for RHCP, much like the IMU horn has, where the polarizing is done with a phase delay section using a waveguide section loaded with screws. I have not seen the Rio paper, and do not know whether a practical feed design has been published. An apology in advance if this paper has discussed the issues I want to raise below. If the polarizer section is done with a length of suitable dielectric, the losses would probably be acceptable. The consequence of this from a practical point of view is that we would likely end up using coax to feed the probes in the horn. This requirs transitions to be made if there is any waveguide in the system (e.g. to bring the TWTA power to the feed, or waveguide input preamps). Since most preamps are coaxial input, this is not much of a problem. Where losses would arise, though, is in the protection relay, which you would almost certainly need to switch the preamp over to a 50 ohm load while in TX. I don't think many people would risk relying on the isolation in the feed (difficult to get > 25-30 dB) to stop burning up the preamp. A waveguide switch would be better than a relay, but then 2 transitions would be needed, and it all gets a bit bulky and complex to have at the feed! It was this type of reasoning, including the simplicity of a linear feed, which led to the (almost) universal adoption of LP by 10 GHz EME ops. I think it would be desirable for those seeking to change the standard to try CP out in practice and compare signal levels to linear. If there is ANY significant reduction in system performance I would personally not want to trade that for the only advantage I can see that CP offers, namely the elimination of geometric rotation. I have on occasions had to adjust pol angle, but not that often to justify the extra work that building and installing a CP feed would entail. I do not agree that on average using LP costs us 2 dB as is claimed. It depends on the geometry of the path and can be zero if you can rotate your linear feed. If CP is to be adopted widely (and let us not end up in a mess where some are on linear and others on circular!), then 2 things need to happen. Firstly, practical designs for feeds need to be published so that others can copy them, and secondly the decision needs to be ratified at IARU level, since there is an IARU standard in existence which recommends LINEAR pol for EME use above 3 GHz. The RSGB wrote a paper on this some years ago (which I wrote on behalf of the Microwave Committee of the RSGB). This was adopted (I can't remember at which meeting, but it was at least 5 years ago I think), and is thus the "official" standard. Most EME ops are currently using linear. An unorganized switch to CP would not, in my opinion, be productive in increasing activity as there would be residual uncertainty in peoples' minds to put them off. EME conferences are a good place to sound out ideas, but I don't think they're a representative forum for reaching decisions of international significance. That's one of the things IARU exists for!" After reading Marko's paper, Charlie wrote: "I have now had a look at the paper. The arguments in the paper are well known and have been aired before when the matter was debated years ago. I personally don't think anything has changed to justify changing the IARU standard. The fact that the proponents have not yet been able to show us how to build a simple horn, I think justifies the comment that there is yet no reason to change. BTW I am a firm supporter of CP on 23 and 13 cm!"

This multi-mode transceiver is computer controlled and includes waterfall display and EME friendly functions including: AZ/EL display, Auto Doppler shift of Rx, Auto echo display and the FSK mode called PUA43, which was used for this QSO. The system's ability to dig into the noise results from long-term integration, separating signal from noise. With this as background, "PUA43" is the transmission of up to 43 tones, one at a time. Each tone represents an alpha or numeric character. Characters must fall into a spectral bin, adjustable from 2 to 9 Hz wide. Each character's tone is sent for 2 seconds and repeated once or twice per minute for long as one wishes. To further improve reliability, there is a random frequency "stir" to eliminate the effect of birdies. This requires that both sked stations have their computer clocks synchronized. The Frequency accuracy was accomplished via a GPS controller (July 98 QST) steering a 10 MHz VCXO. Output of the OSC is buffered and power divided to feed the DSP-10 transceiver and "lock" the 23 cm txvtr. Unlike many FSK systems, this is not an all-or-nothing copy of text. A process called "message estimation" is used to determine the most likely characters. The confidence level of a received character is noted by it's color and improves with integration time. The improvement over aural copy is yet to be fully established, but various experiments (non- EME) have shown it to be 20 dB or more, depending on the operators patience. The software to implement these EME functions is still in Beta test. However, Bob is close to a formal release. One problem experienced during this 1st EME QSO was error between predicted and actual Doppler. Both W7LHL and W7SZ had to correct by 9 Hz to be in sync during the contact. This correction was established via the Auto Echo mode prior to QSO. A 2nd "FSK" QSO between W7LHL (10' dish) and W7SZ (12'dish) was completed on 18 Jan. Both stations again using 50 W. However, based on the margin, QSOs should be possible at significantly lower power levels. More tests are planned.

The French VHF/ UHF/ Microwaves group will be meeting at SEIGY on 31 March/1 April – see F1ANH's report.

OK1D FC has announced a special award open to those who attend the EME2002 in Prague: Johannes Kepler, one of the greatest astronomers spent 12 years of his fruitful life at the court of the emperor Rudolf II in Prague in 17th century. The community of radio amateurs interested in moonbounce communication elected Prague to be the place of their international conference in the year 2002. The organizers of the conference see the parallel of the EME enthusiasts coming to Prague in 21st century with the ancient scientists coming to enjoy the hospitality of the progressive emperor. One of the activities, which shall promote the conference, is the issuing of the Johannes Kepler EME Award. The certificate will be awarded to each licensed radio amateur who attends the conference and fulfils the following conditions: 1. Completing two-way EME contacts on amateur bands (144 MHz, 432 MHz, 1296 MHz, 2.3 GHz, 3.4 GHz, 5.7 GHz and 10 GHz) with total value of 100 points in the period from 1st Jan. 2001 to 30th June 2002. 2. The contacts have following value: Station from Czech Republic = 25 points, Station from Germany = 15 points, Station from Austria = 15 points (The countries, where Kepler lived and worked), 3. It is obligatory to work at least with stations from 2 of the above-mentioned countries, whereas one of them, must be from Czech Republic. The contact with the same station on different band is valid. 4. The final condition is that the applicant must attend the 10th International EME Conference in Prague personally, where the certificates will be awarded on a special ceremony. 5. The station that achieves the maximum points will be awarded a special "Johannes Kepler Trophy". 6. The applicant must present a list of the contacts with call, date, time and frequency not later then the 15th July 2002 by mail or e- mail to the following address: Antonín Jelínek, OK1DAI, U Dobranskych 5/271, 110 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic or antonin_jelinek@eurotel.cz. For more info on the award and the conference see .

Among the technical problems discussed on the 20 m EME net was how to deal with rodents that eat through control cables and coax. Solutions offered included spreading Habanero Chili oil as a repellent. Bonide Hot Pepper Wax Spray available at home and garden centers was offered as an alternative. I have had this problem over the years, and have not had much luck with repellents. I considered putting an ultrasonic noise source at the feed, but never got around to trying it. I did find that trapping and transporting the offending critters always was effective, although often on the late side!

IW0BET asked me to remind everyone of the ARI's EME MARATHON Contest. This is a cumulative contest based on the sum of all EME QSOs made on all band above 50 MHz during the year (2001) times the total number of DXCC countries worked during the year. The full rules are printed at the end of this NL.

I learned that KA0Y's father passed away this past month. I know Ken has the sympathy of all the EME community at this difficult time. That the News for this month. Please keep the info coming.

73 Al - K2UYH

     WORLD WIDE  EME MARATHON 2001
         -----------------------------
Sponsored by the Italian Radio Amateur Association
SECTIONS: OM and SWL, portable or fixed station.
Date/time: from 0000 1/1/01 to 2400 12/21/01.
Frequency        Category
VHF    50 MHz
SWL    50  "
VHF   144  "1A) QRO (erp pwr = or > than 100 kW)
VHF   144  "2A)  QRP (erp pwr <100 kw or 1 to 4 ants)
SWL   144  "3A)
UHF   432  "1B)  QRO ( >50 DBW ERP)
UHF   432  "2B)  QRP ( <50 DBW ERP)
SWL   432  "3B)
SHF   1296 "1C)  QRO ( >60 DBW ERP)
SHF   1296  "2C) QRP ( <60 DBW ERP)
SWL   1296  "3C)
SHF   2304  "
SWL   2304  "
SHF   5760  "
SWL   5760  "
SHF  10450  "
SWL  10450  "
(If you don't SPECIFY the category you will be assigned to 
the QRO category).
The same station cannot be worked more than once per day, but 
it can be worked in the following days.
VALID QSOs: 2way EME CW/SSB.
SWL: in this category are admitted also OM stations 
Licensed radio amateurs) but only SWL and not trasmitting.
EXCHANGE: callsignes and RST or TMO.
SCORING: 100 points per QSO multiplied by the total number of 
DXCC countries PLUS 1 (your country is valid for the 
computation).
EXAMPLE: 20 QSOs and 5 DXCC countries + 1 means
12000 points.(20 x 100) x (5 + 1) = 12000
PRIZE: the 1st 3 OM and SWL of each band and category.
ENTRIES: postmarked no later than Jan 31st, 2002 to:
IW0BET GIOVANNI ZANGARA
P.O. BOX 36
00100 ROMA CENTRO
ITALIA       I
Or via E-mail:iw0bet@amsat.org  (attachement)

        World Wide Marathon 2002 

Packet iw0bet@i0tvl
EME MARATHON A.R.I. MANAGER   73' de IW0BET
        -----------------------------
                                  

EME SKEDS

2 MARCH

Time     432.045

2130z  AL7OB -UA6LGH
2200z  AL7OB -HA1YA
2230z  AL7OB -S52CW
2300z  AL7OB -ON5OF
2330z  AL7OB -DJ3FI

3 MARCH

Time     432.035        432.040        432.045        432.070

0000z                                AL7OB -PA0PLY
0300z                                WB0GGM-KL7HFQ  7M2PDT-
AL7OB
0330z                                VK4AFL-K4EME   JH1XUJ-
AL7OB
0400z                                JH1XUJ-WB0GGM  JA2TY -
AL7OB
0530z                                AL7OB -N1BUG
0900z                 RW3PF -AL7OB
1630z                 HB9Q  -RW3PF
1700z                 DL4MEA-RW3PF
1730z                 DF3RU -RW3PF
1800z                 DK3BU -RW3PF
1830z                 OE5EYM-RW3PF
1900z                 G3LTF -RW3PF                  WB0GGM-
UA9FAD
2000z                 K2UYH -RW3PF   WB0GGM-YO2IS
2030z                 K2UYH -DL5LF
2100z                 KD4LT -G4YTL   WB0GGM-UA6LGH
2130z                 KD4LT -PA4FP   K4EME -W1ZX
2200z                 W1ZX  -PA4FP   AL7OB -YO2IS
2230z                                AL7OB -OE3JPC
2300z  PA4FP -K0RZ                   K4EME -KJ7F
2330z                                AL7OB -PA4FP

4 MARCH

Time     432.045

0230z  AL7OB -KJ7F
2230z  AL7OB -DK3WG
2300z  AL7OB -CT1DMK

3 MARch

Time    1296.050

0200z  VE6TA -WA9OUU
2130z  WA1JOF-IK2MMB
2200z  VE6TA -HA5SHF
2230z  VE6NA -HA5SHF
2300z  LU8EDR-K0YW
2330z  WA1JOF-VE6NA

4 MARCH

Time    1296.050       1296.060

1900z  DJ5MN -OK1UWA
1930z  DJ5MN -PA3DZL
2000z  DJ5MN -WA4NJP
2030z  DJ5MN -W4RDI
2100z  DJ5MN -WA8WZG
2130z  DJ5MN -VE6NA   K2UYH -OK1UWA

3 MARCH

Time    5760.050       5760.100       5760.150

0600z  WA6PY -JA7BMB
1600z                 RW3BP -F2TU
1630z                 SM4DHN-F2TU    RW3BP -F1ANH
1700z                 OK1KIR-F2TU    SM4DHN-F1ANH
1730z                 OH2AXH-F2TU    OK1KIR-F1ANH
1800z                 OE9ERC-F2TU    OH2AXH-F1ANH
1830z                 OE9XXI-F2TU    OE9ERC-F1ANH
1900z                 I6PNN -F2TU    OE9XXI-F1ANH
1930z                 ZS6AXT-F2TU    I6PNN -F1ANH
2000z                 LX1DB -F2TU    ZS6AXT-F1ANH
2030z                                LX1DB -F1ANH
2130z                 WA5ICW-F2TU
2200z  WA6PY -LX1DB   W7GBI -F2TU    WA5ICW-F1ANH
2230z  WA6PY -HB9SV                  W7GBI -F1ANH
2300z  WA6PY -G3LTF
2330z  WA6PY -DL6LAU