2005 ARRL International EME Competition
12/15/2005 |
OK1DFC
During the first leg of the ARRL EME I was QRV on 1296 MHz all the time. I only missed the last 2 and a half hours of Saturday-Sunday due to a strong wind storm. Conditions during the first night were very strange; my own echoes were weaker than usual. Also, from time to time, I received very weak the signal from the EME beacon Dominique, HB9BBD. It looked like Faraday on 432 MHz, but that is impossible on 23cm using circular polarization. I think that the main reason for this problem was the very strong tropo inversion conditions in my area.
I spent one and a half hours repairing my driver PA, but I think that I didnt miss any stations active on the band during this period. I worked 18 initials for a total of 131. Also from Trevor VK4AFL I got new grid locator field #29. MP3 signal recordings can be found on my web site. I also worked SSB. W6IFE was producing a great signal and I enjoyed very much working the San Bernardino group.
During the second leg of the ARRL EME contest the weather was great, no problems with the wind and we did not have the inversion situation. I could hear my own echo all the time very loud and clear. Also, the signals were very easy to copy. I missed 3 multipliers and 11 stations that I heard on the band working other stations. I think that it will do better in next contest. I am now getting ready to install new CommScope coaxial cable CR1071 for a 1 dB improvement on the RX line and transmit power.
My final score was 83x40 and 332000 points. I have worked 145 initials and 42 DXCC entities to date. Information about EME initials activity in OK can be found on http://www.ok1fm.com/eme.htm
My station consists of a 10 m home made dish, f/d 0.4 and septum feedhorn of my own design. The LNA has an FHX35LGA device on the 1st stage and an ATF54143 on second stage for a noise figure of 0.23 dB and a total gain of 32dB. The transceiver is an FT1000MP + transverter for 1296MHz. The driver is a 2 x 2C39BA with 60W output and the PA is a YD1336 for 600W out. The coaxial cable is 40 meters of CommScope CR1070 for RX and TX.
I have now ready feeds for 432 MHz and 144MHz to test the dish also on those frequencies. Therefore, I hope to hear you all soon via the moon.
-- OK1DFC
I spent one and a half hours repairing my driver PA, but I think that I didnt miss any stations active on the band during this period. I worked 18 initials for a total of 131. Also from Trevor VK4AFL I got new grid locator field #29. MP3 signal recordings can be found on my web site. I also worked SSB. W6IFE was producing a great signal and I enjoyed very much working the San Bernardino group.
During the second leg of the ARRL EME contest the weather was great, no problems with the wind and we did not have the inversion situation. I could hear my own echo all the time very loud and clear. Also, the signals were very easy to copy. I missed 3 multipliers and 11 stations that I heard on the band working other stations. I think that it will do better in next contest. I am now getting ready to install new CommScope coaxial cable CR1071 for a 1 dB improvement on the RX line and transmit power.
My final score was 83x40 and 332000 points. I have worked 145 initials and 42 DXCC entities to date. Information about EME initials activity in OK can be found on http://www.ok1fm.com/eme.htm
My station consists of a 10 m home made dish, f/d 0.4 and septum feedhorn of my own design. The LNA has an FHX35LGA device on the 1st stage and an ATF54143 on second stage for a noise figure of 0.23 dB and a total gain of 32dB. The transceiver is an FT1000MP + transverter for 1296MHz. The driver is a 2 x 2C39BA with 60W output and the PA is a YD1336 for 600W out. The coaxial cable is 40 meters of CommScope CR1070 for RX and TX.
I have now ready feeds for 432 MHz and 144MHz to test the dish also on those frequencies. Therefore, I hope to hear you all soon via the moon.
-- OK1DFC
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