Curacao 23cm EME Dxpedition (PJ2T)

 

Dates: February 8 - 13, 2023
Call: PJ2T - always 1st sequence
Location: Curacao (FK52)
Frequency: 1296.090 Mhz
Modes: Q65-60C CFOM preferred, can do CW after I work digital stations
Gear: W2HRO folding 1.8M dish, WD5AGO pre-amp, 350 watts @ feed
Internet: Yes, will be on HB9Q Logger.  
QSL Info: LoTW update after each session. W3HNK is the paper QSL manager for PJ2T

Donors that helped with luggage costs: JA6AHB, PA3FXB
A custom photo QSL card was sent to each station worked to commemorate the first 23cm EME ops from Curacao.

February 8, 2023 - Even with tight flight connections along the way we arrived in Curacao and the checked luggage with the amp was there waiting for us. It took awhile to cobble together a tripod and mount that would be up to the wind. It was clear at first RF that the station was not right. I thought the high wind was deflecting the dish enough to drop the gain - but my TX was down at least 10 db, so that was a clue to look elsewhere.
 
Never-the-less we pressed on. It was the middle of a week night in Europe so activity was down some. Fourteen stations were logged over four hours, most for a new DXCC. Logged: OK1KIR (-15), UA3PTW (-20), OK1DFC (-18), G4CCH (-20), ON4AOI (-24), RA4HL (-19), PA9RX (-22), RD4D (-19), W2HRO (-28), PA3FXB (-25), KD5FZX (-14), OH2DG (-15), PA3DZL (-20), YO2LAM (-22). Heard quite well - IQ2DB, K2UYH, W5AFY, W7JW.

Brett, PJ2BR was my co-pilot this first evening, he picked up several operating tips. His home 23cm station is about 80% complete.

February 9, 2023 Clearly things here are still not right, but I now have 21 stations logged. Tonight's catch SM6CKU (-19), ES3RF (-21), SM5DGX (-15), OK2DL (-18), HB9Q (-12), DF3RU (-20), K2UYH (-19).
Heard: NC1I, OK1IL, IK3COJ, PA0BAT, KB2SA, W7JW.

Great News! Your knuckle-headed dxpeditioner assembled the hybrid to the patch feed upside down and reversed the circularity. Kudos to Paul, W2HRO for looking at the picture I send and seeing the issue in 15 seconds. I had disassembled the feed for transport to Curacao and I did not realize how it needs to all go back together on re-assembly. The plastic mount for the hybrid is on the lower half of the patch feed if the patch feed shell is orientated correctly- it matters. We party at my moon rise tonight!
 
February 10, 2023 It was a great moon pass with a fully functioning station. I worked every station that I saw with a two hour nap in the middle when the moon went above my ability to elevate. A quick tropical rain shower found me working stations while tucked under a tarp trying to keep the gear dry. After a sleep period I got back on for the setting moon and added three folks - VK2JDS went into the log at 0.5 degrees elevation.  
      
Twenty-two folks worked in this session for a total of 43 stations. High winds are forecast for the next few days with rain showers so it might be a while before I can try more EME. I've disassembled the station for now to protect the gear.
 
Worked were: OK1IL (-23), SP5GDM (-25), DG5CST (-16), IK3COJ (-23), PA0BAT (-21), IQ2DB (-22), YO2LAM (-23), ZS6JON (-25), SP7EXY (-26), DK3WG (-25), W5AFY (-24), DL8FBD (-26), PA0PLY (-28), ZS4TX (-23), N1AV (-23), KB2SA (-24), VE6TA (-23), W7JW (-24), N5BF (-25), JA6AHB (-25), K5DOG (-23), VK2JDS (-25).

February 13, 2023 - It was well worth it to set up for one last session. Between rain showers I worked G4CCH (-23) and stronger later on CW (419), DL7UDA (-26), YO2LAM (-24), DG0FE (-23), NC1I (-16), IK2DDR (-22), W5GLD (-26), and K7EME (-27). That brought the total of stations worked to 51. I'm well pleased with the result.

Kudos to W2HRO - not only have I used three versions of his folding dishes (1.6M, 1.8M, 2.4M) now, but his product support has been first class the whole way. His dishes make these portable forays a treat!
 
Also a big thank you to Brett, PJ2BR for letting me commandeer his 1.8m dish for this operation. Also a tip of the cap to K8ND for keeping my log updated to LoTW.  W3HNK will handle paper QSL card requests.

Behold the correct orientation of the hybrid device.  

Waiting for the moon to clear the ridge on the ?sun? deck.

PJ2T HF contest station - I'm also here as part of the ARRL DX CW team.