432 AND ABOVE EME NEWS FEBRUARY 2010 VOL 38 #2 Note: E-mail addreses have been modified [ "XX" ] EDITOR: AL KATZ, K2UYH; DEPT. ELECTRICAL/COMPUTER ENGINEERING, THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY, PO BOX 7718 EWING, NJ 08628, TEL (W 609-584-8424) OR (H 609-443-3184), FAX (609-631-0177), E-MAIL a.katzXXieee.org PROD/MAIL: TOM KIRK, KA2VAD (609-584/8424), E-MAIL kirktXXlintech.com NETNEWS EDITOR & INITIAL LISTS: G4RGK, DAVID DIBLEY, E-MAIL zen70432XXzen.co.uk (based on K1RQG's Netnotes & Reflector News) EME NETS: 14.345, 10 AM ET SATURDAY AND SUNDAY (AFTER VARO NET ENDS ON SUNDAY) NET CONTROL AND SKEDS COORDINATOR: JOE, K1RQG*, TEL (207-469-3492), E-MAIL k1rqgXXaol.com EME DIRECTORY: http://www.dl4eby.de/, DL4EBY/DK0TU, KLAUS TIEDEMANN, TEL (49-30-7955467), E-MAIL: tklausXXsnafu.de NL EMAIL DISTRIBUTION and EMAIL LIST CORD: WARREN, W2WD wbutlerXXieee.org [TXT OR PDF OR "ON WEB" NOTICE] THE NL WEB VERSION IS PRODUCED BY REIN, W6SZ AND AVAILABLE AT http://www.nitehawk.com/rasmit/em70cm.html CONDITIONS: The end of Dec and beginning of Jan activity weekends (AWs) produced generally good conditions and good activity levels of 70 cm as a result of the DUBUS sponsored 70 cm SSB Contest on 2/3 Jan and the 70 cm CW activity time periods (ATPs) on 27 Dec. EA8/G4RGK showed up on 432 to provide a new station and a somewhat rare location. 1296 was not dormant with the first 1296 activity from Kazakhstan by UN7GK. – see the reports. Look for additional activity on the weekend of 23/24 Jan. This weekend coincides with the ARRL’s VHF. This contest makes no distinction between propagation modes. EME counts for both station points and multipliers, so expect several stations to be on EME (on both 70 and 23 cm) looking for additional grids. The ezchange is the four character grid locator, i.e., JO20. 1296 EME SSB CONTEST RULES: This event is intended to be fun. You do not need to transmit on SSB to participate. CW to SSB and vice verse exchanges are encouraged and count for points. (Only one QSO between stations is allowed, i.e., you cannot work a station SSB to SSB and SSB to CW for extra points). The contest starts on Friday 26 Feb (Friday Z) at 2000 and end on 27 Feb at 2000. Everyone one should have one common moon pass with operation moving from EU to NA, to NA to Asia/VK, and to Asai/VK to EU. Operation is on 23 cm only. Scoring is contact points times number of two letter Grid Sectors (IO, JM, FN, EM ...) worked. SSB to SSB contacts count as 2 points. SSB to CW (or CW to SSB) count as 1 point. The exchange is your Sector (IO, JM, etc.). Only the 2 sector letters need to be sent and copied by EME. The exchange of signal reports and/or 4 character grids is optional and not required. Operation may be by single or multiple operators from one location. No distinction for scoring will be made. Assisted operation is not encouraged. All skeds/operational announcements should be made prior to the start of the contest. Logs should be sent to the "432 and Up EME NL" by email to a.katz@ieee.org ASAP after the end of the contest. The top scoring station will receive an attractively framed certificate that will be presented at the next International EME Conference (Dallas 2010). 8J1AXA: Mike (JH1KRC) jh1krcXXsyd.odn.ne.jp reports that he expects to receive approval for operation of the big dish on 1296 very soon. The telecom inspection is scheduled for 15 Jan and if all goes as expected will be followed by 23 cm exhibition QSOs with JA6CZD and JA6XED (probably ~ 1430-1500). Unfortunately the Moon is in far south and the window too small for either NA or EU QSOs. They will next be QRV for the SSB contest – "A luxury SURE electret microphone is ready for SSB”! They also hope to receive a license for 6 cm but still will not operate on 6 cm until other issues are resolved. Look for them on 23 cm over the 23/24 Jan AW. Mike estimates a station with a 3 m dish and 10 W output could QSO them on CW. 9H1TX: David davcutXXmaltanet.net (JM75fu) writes -- I was QRV again on 432 as the band was clear from the power line noise. I worked SM4IVE in the Dec leg of the ARRL EME Contest. I also tried with NC1I but he could not get my call but was close. I finally stopped TXing. I hope we have better luck next time. Signals here were very strong. I heard for the first time K0RZ and some others. On 30 Dec I worked DG1JKG and DL7APV on CW. It was frustrating to hear all those nice signals but not be heard due to QRP. I am looking for a bigger SSPA, maybe 500 W in future as my GS35 PA project has stopped. I am also thinking of upgrading to 8 yagis this year. I am presently running 4 x 8.5 wl yagis ,ATF54143 LNA and 100 W SSPA. DK3WG: Jurgen dk3wgXXonline.de worked on 70 cm JT65B initials with DL2NUD, RU4HU, IV3CYT and WA3QPX to bring him to initial #489. He also had a partial with VK7JG - not complete. EA8/G4RGK: Dave zen70432XXzen.co.uk made good use of his holiday with some 70 cm EME -- I found some space to take some gear down to EA8 for 432. I have a fairly well established 2 m station down there, so I only needed to make up an antenna from the bits I had down there and some welding rods. The antenna finished up around 7 wl long. After a bit of a fight with the az/el support I was able to elevate it up to 65 degs. I was only able to be operational for one Moon pass and worked on JT K2UYH, UA3PTW, I1NDP and DL7APV. All these were very easy QSOs in a minimum time period. Bernd's CW ID was fully copyable. So maybe I will try and get my K2RIW down there next time, so I am no longer limited to 85 W. My grid is IL38BQ. DL1YMK: Michael dl1ymkXXaol.com writes about picture below -- It very rarely happens, but this year we actually have some snow in the alternative QTH on the North Sea in JO33-square. From the above picture you can see, how a leaf vacuum cleaner can not only be effectively used in autumn to clean your backyard from leaves, but following an idea of the second operator here is the proof that it can be used effectively to blow the snow out of a dish – as long as the snow is dry enough. Only drawback experienced so far: the operator looks like a snowman after this procedure. The only moonbounce related activity here is the planning of the next dxpedition to another searched after location. Most likely it’ll be another ‘mystery tour’. F2TU: Philippe f2tu.philippeXXorange.fr reports on his ARRL Contest results: I operated single op, CW only and could not be QRV in Oct. During the microwave weekend on 7/8 Nov I ended with scores on 13 cm of 43x32, on 6 cm of 11x9 and 3 cm 13x12. On 5/6 Dec I scored on 70 cm 9x8 and 23 cm 47x31. G3LTF: Peter g3ltfXXbtinternet.com writes -- Not a lot to report this month as the best moon times seemed to coincide with social activities and also we are having some pretty bad WX. The dish has been full of snow to the 4 m level on two occasions. I was on for the 70 cm ATP on the 27 Dec and worked NC1I, DK1KJG, SM4IVE, DF3RU, DL7APV, K0RZ, I1NDP, K2UYH, G4RGK and DG1KJG. Heard were N4GJV, UA3PTW, KL6M and K3MF. Signals were good with sharp polarization peaking. On 28 Dec I was on 1296 and had a nice CW chat with G4CCH and on the next day (29 Dec) I tried to tailend Howard’s QSO with JA1WQF (549), but without success. On 1 Jan I worked HB9IZ, again a nice CW chat. I missed out on the 432 SSB activity on 2/3 Jan. On moonset (~0800 3 Jan) I found no CW/SSB activity, except that I worked G4YTL. Echo strength and consistency was amazing. This winter period has produced some very unusual EME conditions on 432. It must be something to do with the solar inactivity plus low libration. I came on again later in the day at moonrise and worked JA6AHB, LZ1DX and DF3RU. My 432 PA does not like SSB operation and I've never yet bothered to work on it to find the reason; its CW performance is superb! I1NDP: Nando nando.pellegriniXXtiscali.it reports on his Jan AW operation -- I have been active during the second Moon pass of the contest and despite the small number of stations active in the SSB contest, I had some fun. The best QSO was with NC1I, the chat with Frank was just like a 20 m QSO TNX to his capability to change polarity. I completed SSB with OZ6OL, DG1KJG, SM4IVE, UA3PTW, LZ1DX, K0RZ, VE6TA (SSB/CW) and NC1I. The QSO with VE6TA was hard to complete in SSB/SSB, but I heard later VE6TA with NC1I with a much more stable signal and easy copy. I heard and called W8TXT and K4EME but with no luck. Unfortunately a lot of stations potentially able to handle SSB traffic did not show up at least during that Moon pass I was on. IK5QLO: Andrea was active during the Jan AW on 23 cm and found quite good activity on JT, but less on CW -- I worked using JT65c with my 2.4 m dish and 100 W ES6RQ, RW3BP, RD3DA, OK1DFC, ES5PC, OK1KIR and LA9NEA. CW signals heard were OK1DFC and LA9NEA - Viggo had a very good signal. JA1WQF: Mits ja1wqf@d5.dion.ne.jp is QRV on 23, 6 and 3 cm EME from QM05av. On 23 cm he is mainly active on JT65c, but has an excellent signal. On the higher bands he only has 1.8 m dish. On 5750 he is QRV on both CW and JT. He uses the same dish on 10.450 GHz and has plans for 24 GHz too. K0RZ: Bill wmccaaXXcomcast.net was active on 70 cm during the Jan AW and made a QSO with a single yagi station, OK1TEH (M/M). Overall he worked 12, two on SSB, I1NDP and NC1I, and the rest on CW. OK2POI and OK1TEH were initials. Bill also heard VE6TA on SSB. KL6M: Mike melumXXalaska.net unfortunately missed the 70cm SSB fun on 2/3 Jan due to an elevation drive failure. The motor winding fried just before the New Year due to stoppage from ice build up in actuator channel. Mi ke plans to be back in operation as soon as the new parts arrive. N4GJV: Ron qstdembXXyahoo.com was QRV during the 27 Dec 70 cm CW ATP -- I enjoyed swapping signal reports and New Years greetings with NC1I, SM4IVE, I1NDP, K0RZ and DL7APV. I called DF3RU without success and heard K2UYH, G3LTF and UA3PTW. Conditions seemed to be poor with rather severe libration QSB. I planned to be QRV during the DUBUS SSB contest in order to attempt some cross mode QSOs (no SSB xmit here), but was feeling a bit "under the weather" and I only remained on long enough to contact W8TXT on CW on 2 Jan. I also heard was NC1I. K7XQ! [Ron discoved that K7XQ is located in CA and gained an additional multiplier in the ARRL EME Contest]. N4PZ: Steve w9ojiXXyahoo.com was on EME during the Jan AW and worked K1RQG on 70 cm, and on 23 cm W4OP on CW and N0OY on SSB. He also worked SP7DCS on 23 cm in Jan. Steve has just completed another GS-23B 70 cm high power amp and will be checking it out in next couple days. It loafs along at 1500 W out on 432. NC1I: Frank frankXXnc1i.com reports on his end of Dec/Jan operation -- I was active for the 70 cm CW ATP on 27 Dec and worked at 2047 G3LTF (569/569), 2055 I1NDP (579/579), 2101 N4GJV (539/469) – Ron was drifting down the band, 2109 DL7APV (559/579) - heard (589) later, 2118 K2UYH (579/589), 2123 DF3RU (549/559), 2127 DG1KJG (559/569), 2140 G4RGK (579/579), 2152 DL2FN (559/579), 2159 SM4IVE (589/589), 2226 K0RZ (579/579), 2247 K3MF (579/579) and 2308-2325 QRZ - at first I thought it may have been OK1TEH but just could not pull the call out. I started calling CQ around 1945 but did not hear anyone until working G3LTF at 2047. Also Europe pretty much disappeared around 2200, but I suspect that this was mostly due to the late hour there on a Sunday night/Monday morning. I continued to call CQ off and on up until around 0000 however no QSOs were added after K3MF at 2247. Conditions improved noticeably after local sunset. Receive polarity for Europe changed from horizontal to vertical at that same time. Transmit polarity remained horizontal throughout. Polarity seemed much sharper than during the Dec ARRL contest weekend. Signals also seemed stronger than during the Dec contest weekend. Overall conditions were very good, my own echoes were consistently S7-S8 and peaked S9. G4RGK, K0RZ and K3MF were probably the strongest I have ever heard them. On 31 Dec I worked K7XQ (559/579) and had a 25 minute chat with K1RQG on SSB. SSB Signals between Joe and I were between (57~58) but peaked (59)! At around 0130 on 1 Jan my CQ was answered by WB0QMZ (569/339) - he had rapid QSB that sounded like either power drift or an antenna blowing around in a strong wind. I have no info on this station but he did tell me (via EME) that I was his first 432 EME QSO. shows him in Florida. Also worked on 1 Jan were at 0225 K1RQG (569/589) and at 2320 SM4IVE (579/579), on 2 Jan at 0033 W8TXT (569/579) and (569/45) on CW/SSB, 0052 K1RQG (55/56) on SSB, 0124 UA3PTW (55/56) on SSB, 0210 LZ1DX (559/559) and called earlier on SSB but I only got QRZs, 0241 N4PZ (569/579), 0425 K2UYH on (54/55) on SSB, 0437 VE6TA (539/579), 0450 I1NDP (56/58) on SSB, 0500 K0RZ (56/56) on SSB, 0505 VE6TA (54/55). This gave me a score of 7x7 (counting my W8TXT CW/SSB contact). When I opened up my RX bandwidth to 2.8 KHz for SSB, I realized just how bad all the birdies are from 432.000-432.020. When I narrow the receiver down to 100 Hz and add 100 Hz audio filtering I can work around them much easier. For that reason I really prefer CW, but it was pretty cool to actually have a chat with folks on SSB. I was dealing with some very strong winds during the weekend of the SSB event that really limited my operating the second night. Winds were consistently in 30-40 mph range and peaked nearly to 50 mph on Saturday night/Sunday morning. I was on most every night during the week between Christmas and New Years and called CQ's for many hours with only a couple QSOs, but conditions were really good. My echoes were much better over this period than during the SSB weekend. Also during the week between Christmas and New Years I switched from the TS2000 to a TS870 and transverter. I had been satisfied with the TS2000 but I must admit I find the TS870 and transverter to be a better setup. Before I purchased the TS2000 about 7-8 years ago I used a TS850 and transverter (along with my trusty old Drake R4-C) for many years. It sure is nice to be hearing well again after repairing the sick preamp. After 15 years with the current array, I still find it very frustrating when RX/TX polarity is offset by 90 degs and it takes me nearly 90 seconds to move my antenna from horizontal to vertical. On the other hand I can't imagine not having polarity rotation at all. I will continue to be as active as possible over the next several months. Look for me during the next 70 cm CW ATP and over the 23/25 Jan ARRL VHF Contest weekend. M0EME: Paul paulXXm0eme.co.uk was QRV on 70 cm in Dec/Jan – I brought my initial list up to 12 over the festive period by working UA3PTW and K2UYH on JT65b. I called back to a couple of other stations on CW, but my system seems down on the transmit side. I will take down the antennas this summer and try to sort a few things out. OK1DFC: Zdenek ok1dfcXXseznam.cz sends news about his recent activity -- After long time off because of QRL related travel, I was QRV on 23 cm for a short time. Conditions were excellent and I had all of the time very strong echoes. Signals were also excellent. I worked on 2 Jan UN7GK on JT65c in Kazakhstan for digital initial {#81} and DXCC* 65 and the first OK-UN, YO8BCF JT65c {#82}, VK4CDI JT65c, YO8BCF (559) on CW for initial #266, RD3DA (9DB) JT65c, IK5QLO JT65c {#83} - Andrea has a problem with OCXO temperature stability but RIT and hand control help, LA9NEA JT65c, G4CCH (589/599) CW - excellent signal and SP7DCS CW - very good signal I also tested MAP65IQ during weekend. Information about my results can be viewed at http://www.ok1dfc.com/EME/1296/map65/map.htm and a related video on You Tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA8pUc2iT3k. OK1KIR: Tonda (OK1DAI) and Jan (OK1VAO) vladimir.masek@volny.cz report of their clubs EME during the first 2010 AW –- We worked on 2 Jan on 1296 using JT65c at 1954 UN7GK (20DB/17DB) for digital initial {#56}, MN field and a new DXCC, 2021 DF3RL (19DB/21DB) {#57}, 2149 RD3DA (8DB/6DB), 2247 IK5QLO (26DB/O) and 2317 LA9NEA (11DB/9DB) {#58}, and on 1296 using CW at 2109 YO8BCF (549/559) for initial #292 new DXCC on CW and 2134 G4CCH (569/569). OK1TEH: Matej ok1tehXXseznam.cz bring us up to date on his activity – During the last 4 months I made in 70 cm JT65 initials with K7XQ, ES5PC, SM2A, DL5FN, UA4AQL (1 yagi to two yagi QSO!), K3MF, UT6UG, OK2POI, DL2NUD and DF3RU, and on CW SM4IVE, NC1I and on 3 Jan K0RZ (O/M) for my mixed initial 42#* and #20 on CW/SSB). This last QSO wasn't easy but we finally made it thanks to incredible low degradation. Heard or saw were F6FHP, W7MEM, UA4API, W7AMI, WA2FGK, WA3QPX, EA3XU, IK6EIW and LU7DZ! I copied both LU7DZ and I1NDP during their CW sked. I was able to copy on CW LU7DZ with (T-M) report, but I didn't see his trace during several JT65 tests. I guess that he used less power on JT65. After my JT65 random QSO with LZ1DX in ARRL EME contest, we managed the first ever 70 cm meteor scatter QSO between OK - LZ during Quadrantids MS shower. SM2CEW: Peter sm2cewXXtelia.com was on 432 on 1 Jan and worked OK2POI for initial #431 (4 x 17 el yagis and 400 W) and SM4IVE - Lasses signal was impressive, just as I remember it from days before. I did not do any SSB on 432 as my class-C Ericsson 9000 SS driver was not at all happy in this mode. SP7DCS: Chris sp7dcsXXwp.pl has a nice start to 2010 with some EME QSOs on 23 cm on 2/3 Jan – Conditions were good providing the opportunity to say HNY to my EME friends. I had strong 15 dB echoes on Winrad with my 3 m dish and 500 W. QSO’d were on 2 Jan at 2030 G4CCH (579/569), 2135 YO8BCF (539/559) for an initial (#) and new DXCC, 21:40 ES6RQ (549/559) (#), 2235 LA9NEA (559/549) and 2253 OK1DFC (589/569) , and on 3 Jan 0418 N4PZ (559/549) (#). UN7GK: Vladimir un7gkXXmail.ru is now QRV on 1296 EME from Kazakhstan (MN83lj). He has worked OK1DFC and OK1KIR thus far on JT65c. VE6TA: Grant ve6taXXclearwave.ca was on for DUBUS 70 cm SSB fun test – I QSO’d on SSB K1RQG, NC1I and I1NDP. I heard K0RZ but was not able to make a QSO. I’m working on W2IMU horns for 13 and 9 cm. W8TXT: Mike was on 432 for 2/3 Jan AW and SSB contest. He made two cross mode CW/SSB QSOs worked N4GJV on CW. He plans to be on for the next AW and notes that he has a fix to deal with the array icing up. He now feels he can be up and running in a couple hours after initiating a de-icing process. De-icing can take up to four hours. K2UYH: I a.katzXXieee.org am finally getting decodes from BX1AD on 432 with JT65b. We ran several skeds around high Moon in Dec/Jan and came close, but when Edward was decoding me, I was not copying him and vice verse. During the 70 cm CW ATP on 27 Dec I QSO’d at 2119 NC1I (589/589), 2129 SM4IVE (579/579), 2140 DL7APV (559/559), 2200 DG1KJG (569/569), 2206 DF3RU (569/559), 2210 G3LTF (569/569), 2221 G4RGK (569/559), 2228 DL5FN (559/559) for initial #717 and mixed #778*, 2235 K0RZ (569/569), 2245 I1NDP (569/569) and 2300 partial KL6M (569/-). I lost Mike, but copied several stations on SSB and QSO’d at 2320 I1NDP (56/55) SSB and 2324 SM4IVE (56/55) SSB. I added on the 28 Dec at 0013 EA3XU (15DB/15DB) on JT65b, on 2 Jan 0244 M0EME (25DB/17DB) JT65b 0251 for mixed initial #779*, 0251 EA3XU (14DB/14DB) JT65b, 0426 NC1I (55/44) SSB, 0435 EA8/G4RGK (23DB/26DB) JT65b #780* and 1005 partial BX1AD (O/O) JT65b, and on 3 Jan 0642 YL2OK (20DB/18DB) JT65b #781*, 0651 YL2HA (25DB/24DB) JT65b #782* and 0730 partial W6YX (27DB/-) JT65b – lost and on 1296 at 1110 JA1WQF (15DB/O) JT65c for a mixed initial (#). NETNEWS BY G4RGK: ON4BCB has a new e-mail address, ON4BCB @telenet.be. W2DRZ also has a new e-mail address, w2drzXXramcoinc.com. OH0/DL1YMK dxpediton photos and final logs can be found at http://www.ok1dfc.com/Peditions/oh0/oh0.html - TNX OK1DFC. VE4SA was QRV during the Jan AW on 23 cm and found a lot of activity. He heard N4PZ and LA9NEA with good signals. KA8ABR has a 16’ and hopes to become QRV sometimes next year. FOR SALE: K5JL has a 6x7289 23 cm amp for sale. N4PZ has for sale a GS-23B 70 cm high power amp. It loafs along at 1,500 W out. Pictures are available for anyone interested. Mail Steve w9ojiXXyahoo.com. K1RQG EDITORIAL: It never ends, I read again all about assisted vs. un-assisted for the umpteenth time. Everyone thinks they are right. BUT, I remind the critics that EME lies BEYOND just 2 m and fortunately, the majority of 432 and above operators have more important things to do. I would say 90% of the grumbling comes from those that are not aware that EME exists above 2 m where there is a great deal of activity, primarily on CW, but also on WSJT. I will remind you that the number of logs submitted does not symbolize or reflect the attitude of all stations. I can remember about 5 years ago that only 17 logs were submitted for 1296, yet the count was near 90 contacts. At this time there was not the assisted issue. My point is to quit complaining about this stuff, send in your comments, and instead of spending all your time on the reflectors moaning about who has a "leg up", spend some time at your workbench and in your shack improving your skills and equipment. FINAL: This NL was written as I am traveling and is not as complted as I would have liked. I will be traveling on business until 25 Jan and felt it was better to get the newsletter out than possibly missed the Feb issue. There are a lot of EME related activities coming up – please note the 1296 SSB Contest at the end of Feb. There was an error in the Netnews lat month. EA3XU’s was listed as EA3DXU in error. My apology to Benjemin. F1EHN has updated the EME data and calendar in his EME program with the help of Franck F5SE for 2010. The Galileo satellites contract has been placed. This is not good news as the originally published signal structure had "commercial navigation" and "public regulated navigation" on channel E6 which is 1260-1300 MHz. For more details see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8442090.stm. TNX G3LTF for passing on this info. It is time to start making plans for EME2010, the 14th International EME Conference to be held in Dallas, Texas on 12-14 Aug at the Weston Hotel near the Dallas Ft.Worth Airport in Irving, TX. If you are interested in presenting, let Al, w5LUA know at w5lua@sbcglobal.net ASAP. The deadline for papers is mid June. See www.ntms.org for more info. I plan to be back on the Moon on the weekend of 30/31 Jan. I hope to CU off the Moon then. Very best for 2010 & 73, Al – K2UYH