KH6/KB7Q Summary

So what to think about an "ultra light" EME dxpedition using SSPA amps and single Yagis? I designed the operation around being able to have access to the extra gain of moon rise using the Pacific Ocean - I got to do that for two of the five operating shifts, enough to know that really helped put folks in the log and made my small station work great.

I did not have access to a western window for Asia and eastern Russia so those folks were left wanting. Remember I'm balancing family time with lunacy. :-) I may return at some point with total focus on ham radio and bigger antennas.

Losing access to the first QTH was a setback, but certainly not the end of the world. The second location right at our rental house worked fine once the moon was at 4 degrees and above for the last three sessions. As a bonus cold beer was just a flight of stairs away!

I'd guess that my 2 meters signal was  down 2 db compared to the 2x 9 element Yagis I use back home. Here was a 12 element M2 Yagi and 800 watts. I also substituted LMR400 coax for LMR600 for the feed line because of weight considerations.

On 70cm my lack of experience with the greater Doppler shift showed, and Faraday would really lock me out for hours at a time, but giving DL7APV his 50th State was an honor and a pleasure. When signals were there they were quite good. My system was 500 watts, and a single 28 element Yagi, again with an LMR400 feed of 10 meters. 70cm needs more activity too.

Bottom line:
It all worked out great and exceeded expectations. 53 2 meter and 13 70cm stations were logged, giving folks a new State, grid, and DXCC country. It proved what an "Ultra Light" EME station can do.

All contacts are up on LoTW. QSL cards to my home address as listed in qrz.com will find me in about 10 days and I'll return a card promptly. QSL cards have been ordered.

A special thanks to Lloyd, KH6LC for his local knowledge and support, and Rick, N7WE for the use of his FT-897D for the 70cm station. Thanks also to W7GJ and PE1L, guys who's EME trips inspired me to try one myself.

Thanks for being there, it was a great adventure,
Gene, KH6/KB7Q

Aloha!

KH6/KB7Q 70CM EME Session #2

February 15, 2016
I managed to add a few more stations today before I start packing the gear away. OZ4MM (-20), OK1KIR (-25), OK1DFC (-23), K2UYH (-22), and best catch of the day K5DOG (-30). Not having that Pacific Ocean ground gain like the first QTH really hurt the QSO rate, but it was still great fun.

70CM total: 13 stations worked.

The 70cm station in all its sloppy glory.

All hail the moon, a fickle goddess indeed.

OK1DFC contact.

KH6/KB7Q 2M EME Session #3

Once the moon came up cleared a house and a big Norfolk Island Pine we were off to the races. Fifteen stations logged including two 2x Yagi stations - a nice way to finish out the 2M operating. One 70cm session to go and done.

Stations worked:
RZ3BA (-25), ES3RF (-25), SK5AA (-24), OZ1LPR (-26), OH3AAW (-27), OH4LA (-23), DJ2TX (-26), PA3FYC (-20), PA0JMV (-25), W2DBL (-24), DK4RC (-20), OZ4VV (-23), KF8MY (-27), KC3OL (-27 2x Yagi), AE3T (-26 2x Yagi).

Summary:
53 2 Meter stations worked off the moon, I'd say that's pretty fair for a single 12 element Yagi and 800 watts.
LoTW has all the 2 Meter contacts.

Gratuitous picture of the local scene just a 5 minute walk from the house aka the "ham shack".

KH6/KB7Q 2M EME Session #2

February 13, 2016
I shall not be stopped! I went over to the ocean side QTH this morning and found that the house owner left for the day and inadvertently locked me out of access to mains power. I know she sets a house alarm so I was screwed. I pulled everything down, stopped at the hardware store and bought another power cord, and  drove back to our rental QTH and stuck the Yagi back up in time to worked several European stations and more. 18 stations logged.

Worked:
I3LDP (-24), SM2BYC (-25), SM7GVF (-20), OK1UGA (-25), SM4GGC (-23), SM5DIC (-22), PA3CMC (-19), HB9Q (-19), WA4NJP (-22), DK9ZY (-21), EA2AGZ (-21), N9XG (-20), EA4CYQ (-24), N7NW (-23), EI6GF (-23), N7SC (-26), AH6LE (-26)

Running Total: 38 2M QSOs  8 70 CM QSOs.

New open air shack with Yagi behind.

Not a bad European pile-up for a single Yagi.

KH6/KB7Q 70CM EME Session #1

February 12, 2016
Today was decidedly a mixed bag. I had a nervous 30 minutes trying to get audio to the FT897D and see some power output - I eventually found the setting that needed to be changed and was ready in plenty of time.

 I only managed 8 complete QSOs.Signals were huge on my moon rise with several stations at -13. I was able to give DL7APV his 50th State so he could complete his W.A.S. award. Only 35 years for Bernd to nail it down! DK3WG completed for his State #47. Things went dead and after an hour of trying to defeat Faraday and work K5DOG and N0IRS I packed it in.

I think I'll maximize my 2M effort this weekend and try 70cm later in the month.

Worked:
DF3RU (-23), DL7APV (-13 State #50), HB9Q (-17), DK3WG (-13 State #47), WA4NJP (-24), N4QH (-21), DL5FN (-18), and G4RGK (-25). Near misses with K5DOG, N0IRS, DL8DAU, OK1KIR.

DL5FN and G4RGK dancing down my screen.

432 MHz setup. 500 watts, FT897D, and 9wl Yagi.

KH6/KB7Q 2 Meter EME Session #1

February 11, 2016
I rolled out to the site and got all the gear hooked up with five minutes to spare. Just as expected the ground gain over the Pacific was a great help. It sure slowed down after I started to elevate, but still I logged 20 stations and had five near misses, so a single 12 element Yagi and 800 watts plus lots of patience works ok. I got the impression conditions were fairly soft today too.

Stations worked:
ZS4TX (-23), I2FAK (-20), PA5Y (-21), S52LM (-24), I3MEK (-20), W2HRO (-25 2x Yagi), G4SWX (-19 1X Yagi), K3JYD (-27), W1PV (-26 2x Yagi), KB8RQ (-19), K7MAC (-20), N1DNN (-25), K5DOG (-27), VE1KG (-21), W4YTB (-25), W4RBO (-25), K5LA (-21), ZL1HD (-26), VK5APN (-24), and WA7XX (-26).

Contacts were re-loaded to LoTW with the correct grid square.

Endless salt water horizon.

W1PV was a quick QSO. A great signal from Skip's two Yagi station.

Looking south from the operating QTH.

Sometimes you can go a bit too tropical. Like my sun shade? That's KH6LC's pet.

KB7Q/0 IOWA - Day 2 Seotember 29, 2018

Conditions seemed even better this session. Clouds moved in early, then the rain started, so I had to use my azimuth circle and angle meter to stay on the moon. This was the last session for this trip and I ended up with a total of 93 contacts. I ran out of callers so I "hit the hay" at 2 AM local time. I know that five folks made their Worked All States on 2 meters so I slept well.

Stations added to the log this session:
PA1BVM, RK3FG, VE1KG, UX5UL, NC2V (WAS), UT6US, DL1VPL, HB9ADJ, SV6KRW, NJ2R, UN9L, OK1RD, DD0VF, UR3UB, YO3DDZ, HA6NQ, YO3JR, UT5ZN/P, W5UN, W6BBS, HB9MEY, SM5KWU, DF6SM, YO6OBK, ON4KHG, F4EGA, ZS4TX, PA2CHR, SM2BYC, SM4GGC, DK5EW,YU7XL, OT7K, OK1IL, PA3CMC, K6MYC, SK5AA, W2HRO, EA1YV.

It was great fun being able to put Iowa on the air - the station ran flawlessly and folks were great at spreading out so I could work them quickly. A special thanks to Rick, N0YY and Dee for hosting Joyce and I on this adventure.
Where to next? Hawaii perhaps?

Not everybody gets their own EME array in the front yard. :-)

KB7Q/0 IOWA - Day 1 September 28, 2015

The antennas set up in N0YY's front yard looking south.

Europe is in strong, but very fast Faraday rotation.

I got to take over the kitchen table for the station. Everything runs off a single 120 vac outlet, so the power is around 800 watts maximum.

A very good start for the Iowa trip. We arrived mid-afternoon and in about 2 hours had the station ready to go thanks to N0YY's help. Four stations made their 50th State for the W.A.S. award during this moon pass. How nice is that?! Conditions were generally pretty good, but Mr. Faraday was spinning wildly at times. The lunar eclipse was an extra special treat - Yes, we did have a "blood moon" here, but the world didn't end, my amp didn't even blow up. LOL.

Worked:
I2FAK, UX0FF (WAS), UY0LL, PE1L, DF2ZC, UR7DWW, OZ1LPR, OE3NFC, UA3PTW, PA1GYS, ES6RQ, S52LM, ON4AOI (WAS), YU7AA, ES3RF, EA8TJ, SN5CUI, SM7GVF, UT5ZN/P, F6HVK (WAS), HA8CE, DL8FBD, DL8MAI, XE2AT (WAS), UW8SM, F5AQX, W2DBL, W1PV, RX1AS, OH6UW, EA8DBM, DK5SO, DG1VL, EA4CYQ, PA0JMV, DJ2TX, K7MAC, DK3WG, K9MRI, K5DOG, N0IRS, DK3XT, W7GJ, VE2JWH, N5TM, W7MEM, N7NW, WA7BBS, N0KE, KD7UO, KK6FAH, ZL2ADU, NT0V, K6EME.

Bonus Round from the Montana Mountain Cabin DN45me

Joyce and I took an overnight run up to our friend's cabin expressly to try and work OJ0B via 2M EME. Not only did I get that done I added 32 other stations to the log. OJ0B was right there at my moonrise and was worked in about 15 minutes. The cabin is a very quiet radio location which really helped.

I learned that the Meanwell 48 volt switching power supply I'm using for the SSPA doesn't like running off my 2KW Honda generator. When I'd first start a transmission the generator  voltage sags a bit while the generator tries to speed up to handle the load. The power supply switches itself off much below 105 vac killing the amp. The generator speed up, the power supply comes on, the amp comes back on and the process repeats. A wild, scary ride!

The solution was to cut back the drive and lower the  VDD  to 45 volts to keep the output power of the SSPA around 700 watts for less initial load on the generator. Even then things were on the bitter edge.

Honda makes a cable set to parallel two 2 KW generators that will be the solution - that should get me back up to 900 watts output as I can borrow my friend's Honda generator for trips that go off mains power. I need that 1 db of extra power. :-)

Anyhow we had a restful time in the mountains and worked the following stations:
ES6RQ (-17), OJ0B (-25), EA4CYQ (-20), G4ZFJ (-22), OK1IL (-22), SM5CUI (-16), W5ZN (-15), PA3DOL (-25), K3RWR (-16), OH3KLJ (-24),  UX0FF (-15), YL2GD (-24), UX5UL (-22), DK1CO (-20), UT6UG (-19), OH6UW (-26), PA1BVM (-23), F6HVK (-20), W1PV (-23), DL1VPL (-24), I1ANP (-20), PA0JMV (-17), SM4GGC (-25), F1DUZ (-25), DG1VL (-31), OK1RD (-19), DK3XT (-27), G4SWX (-24), KL7UW (-21), K5DOG (-19), N7NW (-25).

Looking south toward Yellowstone Park. Those two Yagis are small!

That laptop computer never did hit the floor. A cozy ham shack.

One generator for the amp, the other for the rest of the equipment.

Nice signal from DG1VL.

Wyoming - Fifth Moon Pass

June 10, 2015
Last operating session from Wyoming - great expectations as the degrdatation is quite low. A cold front with strong winds came through just before moon rise so I had to use ropes to tied the array onto the right heading. The wind quit after an hour or so. Signals were very strong, but I ran out of steady callers after two hours, then it was lots of CQ'ing and working some smaller stations which was neat. Plenty of SM and OH stations tonight too. 

I managed 113 EME QSOs on this trip, not too shabby for a small two Yagi system with fixed polarity and 900 watts.

In the log: SM5CUI (-23), UT5DL (-18), DK5LA (-16), PA3FPQ (-23), SM2BYC (-13), SM5DIC (-12), UR7DWW (-15), OE6IWG (-24), SM7FMX (-18), SK5AA (-16), YU7AA (-14), ZS1LS (-17), DL7FF (-20), OH3AWW (-18), OH2LHE (-22), UT5ZN/P (-20), SP4K (-18), DK5SO (-23), PA3CMC (-15), PA5MS (-18), OH7PI (-21), KB8RQ (-13), DD0VF (-26), W5ZN (-25), AE3T (-25), F1DUZ (-24), KC3OL (-27).

Wyoming - Moon Pass four

June 9, 2015
Off to a superb start - for the first two hours I was logging a contact every four minutes. Signals were simply outstanding! I know I missed a few stations - one more day of operation I'll be QRV moonrise 0830Z June 10th, then back home.

The contact with Ray, N3RG gave him State #50 and 2M W.A.S. 

I tiptoed down to 144.124 MHz and worked the C6ANS dxpedition which was the "cherry on top".

Logged: ES3RF (-24), YO3JR (-17), ES6RQ (-15), N3RG (-24), UX5UL (-24), S52LM (-20), IK1UWL (-20), UT6UG (-20), HB9Q (-17), I1ANP (-24), OK2PMS (-23), SP2OFW (-14), OE3NFC (-22), OK1CU (-13), DK9ZY (-16), SP4KM (-16), DK5YA (-19), SV6KRW (-18), DL8II (-25), OE3FVU (-23), DJ9MG (-24), DM1CG (-17), DL1RPL (-22), DM1AC (-16), PY2GN (-22), C6ANS (-25), W1PV (-20), WA3QPX (-20), AA4SC (-25), K1SCE (-25), N9HF (-25), W7IUV (-24), VE2JWH (-22)

The little SSPA that could. :-)

WOW!

Time Away From the Radio

Joyce and I went off exploring the Big Horn National Recreation Area/Wild Horse reserve today. I'll share a few views with you to give you an idea of the area.

I'll be back on the moon my moonrise June 9th at 0730Z. Better declination these days means more time to work European stations. 144.140 MHz.

Devil's Canyon

Big horn sheep working out their pecking order.

Wild horses from the Pryor Mountain herd can be traced back to Spain.

Wyoming - Third Moon Pass

June 8, 2018
Excellent conditions tonight - many very strong signals during the European window. I tried to work all eastern Europe stations I heard first because of their limited mutual time. Some QRM from stations on top of each other, but really sharp operators made it fun, fun, fun!

It was especially rewarding to make a contact with ZL1ADU later in the day, I knew someone was there, but it took about 10 minutes for his signal to peak.

 Stations logged: DK3BU (-18), OK1RD (-17), YO3DDZ (-11), HA6NQ (-16), OK1IL (-22), HA8CE (-18), I1ANP (-23), DL9MS (-11), YU7XL (-15), DF7KF (-12), ON4KHG (-22), HA0HO (-19), EA2AGZ (-16), PA2CHR (-15), EI4DQ (-20), HB9MEY (-25), G6PHH (-27), G4IDR (-22),

AD4TJ (-26), NJ2R (-23), N8PR (-26), W2DBL (-25), VE1KG (-20), ZL2ADU (-24)

That microHam Digi-Keyer II has a superb sound card, and the 2 port sequencer is a bonus.

Everybody in 650 Hz. :-)

Wyoming - Second Moon Pass

June 7, 2015
As soon as the moon cleared my 3.5 degree mountain range on moon rise at 0640z it was off to the races with European stations. I logged 13 stations in just over two hours of mutual moon. Best effort was working UX0FF during a very short window, now Nikolay only needs Iowa to complete W.A.S.

I saw nobody after the European window so back to bed for a few hours. Back up and calling CQ by 1130z and attracted some folks. It was really nice to work VK5APN easily on the other side of the world.

Stations logged: I2FAK (-20), UX0FF (-26), PA0JMV (-22), OZ1LPR (-19), PE1L (-20), I3MEK (-19), PE1DAB (-20), DL8GP (-24), DK3WG (-21), CT1HZE (-17), IK7EZN (-22), EB5EEO (-21), G4SWX (-18), W8PAT (-25), N7NW (-22), NC2V (-22), N0KE (-24), XE2AT (-26), VK5APN (-19), NT0V (-21), and N0LWF (-22), JP3EXR (-25).

Heard: PA3CMC, OK1IL, KE7NR

This is dry country, we're in the rain shadow of the Pryor Range.

Please s p r e a d o u t! Not many folks calling me lower in QRG. I'm looking +_ 1 KHz.

Wyoming - Moon Pass #1

June 6, 2015
It was an easy 210 mile tow over with the trailer from Bozeman, MT to Big Horn NRA, WY. We got here early enough to get the second best camping spot for moonbounce i.e. on the south side of the campground with few neighbors. Later in the afternoon the "weekend warrior" campers piled in.

The station setup went flawlessly until I plugged in the 48 vdc power supply for the SSPA. Poof! Turns out the common and ground side of mains power here are wired strangely, and the power supply was trying to protect itself. Finally got that resolved.

Solid Internet access is 3 miles back up the road, which is actually good in a way. I'm not distracted when operating. :-)

We had occasional rain and lightning for hours last night so that combined with low declination made for some slow going. I ran out of callers quite early. The folks I did work all had excellent signals.

In the log with a Wyoming QSO: K9MRI (-25), DF2ZC (-21), W6BBS (-20), ON4AOI (-20), N5TM (-25), W7MEM (-23), and wonderfully loud EB5GP (-12).

I'll be QRV at 0700Z June 7th for more.

ON4POI made the most of limited common moon to Europe.

More thunderstorms in the forecast.

 

The shack, I brought a big screen computer this time.

Wyoming 2M EME Trip Information

Now that I have a working portable 2M EME system I can travel to Wyoming as needed. It is about a three hour trip to the site and I am happy to do multiple trips this summer and fall if there is interest. The campground QTH I'm going to try has a decent horizon and several camp sites have electrical power.

It looks doubtful for Internet, but I'll try to get out to town each day and post an update here.

I'll be using the "W7GJ" technique for operating, so review here. Please spread out. If you need Wyoming as one of your last States for W.A.S. be sure to let me know. I hold 2M WAS #86 so I know what the chase is like!

The array on the front lawn at home. 27 stations worked while testing.

The station set up for testing in the basement. The 900w homebrew SSPA works well.

2 Meter LDMOS Amp Project

Post Script - After the trip I got the idea in my head that having a LDMOS amp for 2 meters that can do up to a full KW would be a fun project. I figured having several more db when out and about putting grids on wouldn't hurt, and adding another Yagi will make me EME capable for a trip to Wyoming next summer.

Here are the photos of the amp project. I'm using a -10db pad on the input so 7 watts drive from the Elecraft K3/internal transverter gives me 550 watts. That's a very comfortable level for for testing.

I did finally swap in a -8db pad for 850 watts out - that was the design power level goal, and about what my generator can source when in the field. The amp draws 25 amps @ 48 vdc. I added a small fan inside to move some air over the output coax and LP filter when doing modes like JT65b.

I set my 9 element Yagi up in the driveway for a few days and made nine EME contacts, so the project seems to have worked out well. :-)

See Jim, W6PQL excellent web site for more info and top quality modules and parts.

The smoke test. 7 watts drive = 550 watts thru a -10 dB pad.

It all fits in a 8x12 chassis. My sequencer controls FET switches for the 48 vdc and 12 vdc supplies.

That is one mighty big heatsink, a 4 inch muffin fan will sit on top too.

Home Ground

We're almost in the driveway after a 10 week jaunt around Saskatchewan, Montana and Wyoming. I put 21 grids on from a variety of interesting and high places. Es season on 6 Meters was kind of punk, but when it did double-hop I tried to be there. It was fun to develop an effective 2 Meter station to take out in the field with the truck for some 1200 - 1300 miles meteor scatter contacts. Two EME contacts were made also.

Thanks to all for the many fine contacts! LoTW is up to date.
Gene, KB7Q

Heading home to familiar mountain ranges under summer skies.

DN54fw - redux and EME #2

I ran back up to DN54 on te Beartooth Plateau last evening for several hours. I had a few sprinkles and some lightning setting up, but then it cleared off nicely. I was able to add ND0B, W7XU, KF7CQ, WA5TKU, KS7S, and N0LWF to the 2M meteor scatter log.

During a lull in my skeds the rising moon was just too tempting a target - so I dipped down to 144.140 MHz aimed at the moon as it was 10 degrees above the horizon and immediately heard a JT65b signal in the speaker. I figured it was someone fairly neary by doing EME. When it decoded it turned out to be I2FAK with a huge moonbounce signal. Realize I'm just using a 9 element Yagi, 200 watts, 50 feet of LMR400, and the just the pre-amp in the TE brick when you look at this:

Mama Mia! Nothing like a random 2 meter EME contact to finish off the DN54 visit.

DN54fw - Beartooth Plateau, Wyoming - A great outing

I worked 11 stations last night on 2M: W7MEM, K6EME, NQ7R, WQ5S, W9JN, WB0ULX, N6ENU, W8BYA, AA7A, K7MAC, and WA7GSK. There were some monster blasts that made me turn the AGC back on in the K3 to keep from killing the speaker. This is a dandy location - a negative horizon in most directions and so quiet.

Tonight I'll go back up for a short session i.e. 8/13 0330z to 0700z, and call CQ on 144.144 MHz anytime I'm between skeds.

Pointed south toward AA7A at sunrise. Lots of rolled over rocks from bears hunting for grubs, so refueling the generator at 3 AM was a "keep looking around" job.

Pilot and Index Peaks out toward K7MAC's way, and Beartooth Butte catching the morning sun to the northwest.

Wow!

DN54fw - The Perseids Plan

Ah, DN54fw -- we stopped by on the way to the motel to check out the very best place to set up.

I'll be QRV from 11,000 feet on the Beartooth Plateau in Wyoming from 0600z to 1300z August 12 and again on August 13. No Internet up there, so contact me for a sked time slot if you like. I'll post my skeds here when I get a few more lined up.

Random Operation - I'll call "CQ U 4" on 144.140 MHz meaning I expect to hear you on 144.144 MHz. When I do I'll start calling you there so we can move off the calling frequency quickly. If I sense company on 144.144 MHz I'll not use ST, rather your suffix and R26, RRR, and 73.

I'll have Internet back at the motel in Red Lodge, MT and be up on Ping Jockey.

DN46fj - Canyon Ferry Lake

We're on our way to the RV dealership in Helena to get some work done on the trailer. So we overnighted on the shores of Canyon Ferry Reservior. The Perseids made 2M operation go quite well. KB7ME, ND0B, KA9CFD (1165 miles), K0SIX, N0LWF, WB0ULX, and W9JN (1062 miles) were logged.

No pictures! There is so much forest fire smoke there is literally nothing to see, the mountains just across the lake even disappeared, but not before I noted the azimuth of the notch to shoot thru for eastern contacts. The compass built into my hand-held GPS is one of the most important tools on these outings. The meteors were quite good both last night and this morning - I had to quit early so I could get to the repair shop on time.

DN45ts - Sheep Mountain, MT

Later then I had hoped, that's the 2m beam still on the ground. Looking east of course, Indiana is out there somewhere.

Crazy Mountains to the north, I counted nine mountain ranges.

Not much room to turn the truck around - Yellowstone River glinting on the right.

Enough to say W8BYA has a great signal, even 1308 miles out. I was still setting levels.

An interesting morning - I used Google Earth to find my way to the top of Sheep Mountain in the dark. The trail I took up was more of a cow path then a county right of way, 4x4 prevailed. On the way down I missed the turn and drove down the very nice access road use by commercial users of the site on around the other side of the mountain to within 50 feet of a county road - oops a locked gate blocked the way. I back tracked 4 miles and finally found my way out. I need to bring a bag of bread crumbs next time.

Anyhow it was a fun morning and a spectacular sunrise. 2 Meter stations worked: W8BYA (1308 miles), W9JN (1010 miles), WA7HQD, KF7CQ, KS7S (982 miles), K6EME, N6ENU, and N7EA.

DN25/35 Sula Peak

The view from Sula Peak looking at the Bitterroot Range. DN25/35

This morning I rolled out of Missoula early and beat-feet 90 miles down the Bitterroot Valley to Sula Peak, 6175' MSL. As promised I was QRV 2 meters by 12:30z. This was a double-gird as the parking area just in front of the fire lookout sits on the DN25/DN35 line. AA7A, KS7S, W7MEM, KC6ZWT, WA7HQD, K6EME, KR7O, and N0KE were worked fairly easily.

Now that the TE amp is working well it draws 28 amps, it tripped the thermal breaker on my Astron switching supply at one point. I need to re-connect a jumper inside that I installed to make the fan run all the time. I used a separate supply to power the K3. The four inch fan I have on the fins of the amp does a great job keeping things from going past slightly warm to the touch.

As I left a storm was rolling in. Good timing I'd say.