September 18, 2024
It's not everyday you get a chance to work Tristan Da Cunha (ZD9) on any band, much less 6M EME. Lance, W7GJ is on the ultimate DXpedition. LINK to see what the end of the earth looks like.
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| Sometimes it all just works, and quickly too! |
Date/Time: September 25 to October 3, 2024
Call: KB7Q always 1st sequence
QTH: BK29mn, Keeau, Big Island, Hawaii
Mode: Q65-60B CFOM 1500Hz DF
Frequency: 432.095 MHz
Gear: IC-9700, AGO Preamp, 500 watt SSPA, 1x 9wl Yagi
Internet: Will come up on the HB9Q Logger
Donors: KH6LC, PA3DZL, NC1I, N4DXN
It has been almost 8 years since I last activated Hawaii on 70cm. Time for another go during some pretty decent mutual moon windows to Europe. Shipping the gear over/back is spendy these days so any help is appreciated.
September 30, 2024
Dry and a lovely visible crescent moon until the sun came up. Worked EA5CJ (-26), K1WHS (-21) and VK4EME (-23). EA5CJ and VK4EME were new, so the final station count is 20. LoTW uploaded.
I lent KH6FA my SSPA amp, so he'll be on 70cm with 2x Yagis going forward.
September 29, 2024
Rain, rain go away! Never-the-less I worked DG5CST (-25), DK4RC (-23), and K1WHS (23). This brings my station count to 18. I ran with Cowles, K4EME for an hour, he peaked -18 but couldn't copy me no matter what polarity I tried. 😢
LoTW upload done.
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| The station on the lanai, well sheltered from the occasional showers. |
September 28, 2024
In a word 70cm was "DISMAL". Only OK1VUM re-worked.
I did get over to KH6FA's place and see his newly activated 23cm station. Nice that Hawaii now has a permanent 1296 MHz presence. Frank is working on his 70cm station also.
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| KH6FA is QRV on 23cm with a 2.4M dish and 300 watts. |
September 27, 2024
The dynamic duo of Digi-Key and Federal Express got the replacement power supply here from Minnesota in just under 24 hours from the time I placed the order. Some post-Covid things still work great!
A slow session, I only worked two new stations. Peter, PA2V worked me despite lightning strikes on his end that did pop the circuit breaker right after we completed. Logged: NC1I (-10), DL1VPL (-25), W6TCP (-21), PA2V (-18). LoTW updated.
September 25, 2024
Station set up went very well, and the moon came up thru the best opening in the trees right on schedule. I worked 13 stations, missed two, and gave PA3DZL State #46. Faraday rotation was the usual 70cm dance, but for the most part things would move off center every 30 minutes or so. Mr. Murphy sucked the life out of the amp's 48 vdc Meanwell power supply right at the end of the session. I'll not be on September 26th, but NH6Y will be from a portable spot on Maui.
There is a spare power supply on island, and in theory a replacement unit is being shipped FedEx over-night. We'll see ...
Worked: UA3PTW (-18), NC1I (-14), K5DOG (-23), UT6UG (-22), W5ZN (-23), DL1VPL (-23), PA3DZL (-20), UT5DL (-22), SM4GGC (-22), GD0TEP (-18), PA0BAT (-25), OK1VUM (-14), ON4AOI (-19). LoTW upload done.
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| Shooting the gap on moonrise at KH6LC's quiet QTH. |
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| A ham-helper came rustling out of the bushes. Feral hog! |
Date/Time: September 5, 2024 @ 1600z and September 7, 2024 @ 1735z
Call: KB7Q always 1st sequence
QTH: DN43rs Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area, Wyoming
Mode: Q65-60B CFOM 1500Hz DF
Frequency: 432.095 MHz
Gear: IC-9700, AGO Preamp, 500 watt SSPA, 1x 9wl Yagi
Honda 2.2KW generator.
Internet: Will come up on HB9Q Logger if possible
September 7
That was a bust! Conditions seemed to be just awful, as was the forest fire smoke. I did work NC1I again, but he was "only" -22. After an hour I called it off and went camping.
September 5
We found the wide open spot, "Moran Vista" aka "gravel pit" that Google Earth suggested, and I was ready to go just before 1600z. Today Faraday rotation favored Stateside stations, I worked only a single European. Even trying vertical polarity didn't produce. N9HF beat his computer issues into submission and worked me just before his afternoon thunderstorms started in earnest to bag his State #31. W6TCP now has 41 States on 70cm. Logged today: PA3DZL (-22), N1AV (-23), AG7CM (-24), W5ZN (-23), K5DOG (-27), NC1I (-14), N9HF (-25), and W6TCP (-22).
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| The Teton Mountains are just to the west of the operating position. |
July 27, 2024
I'm the only 70cm EME station in Montana and I haven't been on in over a year. So I put up my meager station of a single 9WL Yagi and 500 watts and got after it. This first session was quite productive. I had no wind, and a 100% visible moon. Logged were DK3WG (-20), PA2V (-22), OE3JPC (-20), DL1VPL (-26), W7MEM (-23), NC1I (-11), PA3FWV (-21), GW4ZHI (-24), and K4EME (-29).
July 28, 2024
The next night was quite a different story. Can you say "Faraday Lock Out" boys and girls? Each contact was an hour-long struggle. Through shear persistence I worked UX5UL (-27), W5ZN (-20), and G4RGK (-27). The contact with Joel, W5ZN was especially frustrating, as you can see from the screen shot below his 4x Yagi station was excellent copy for a long, long time before polarity finally rotated just enough for a contact. Phew!
July 31, 2024
Another session to work folks who were at the Central States Conference and more. I remembered can I change polarity with a twist of the boom if needed so that's a help. Official two way communications on 70cm via the moon completed with DL1VPL (-26), N9HF (-26), N1AV (-21), W6TCP (-25), PA3DZL (-17). W4ZST was as close to a contact as one can get, but no joy over 30 minutes. M0CTP was also heard well at times.
All in all good times - 17 stations worked over three sessions, and several folks nudged along toward their Worked All States award. LoTW upload done.
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| A fine example of Faraday Rotation effects . W5ZN peaking -20, but can't hear me ... yet. |
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| The not-so-little 70cm Yagi that could. ;-) |
Call: KB7Q always 1st sequence
Mode: Q65-60C
Frequency: 1296.095 MHz CFOM, 902.105 MHz CFOM
Gear: IC-9700, AGO Preamp, 500 watt SSPA, 2.4M folding dish w/ patch feed
SL-1 Tracker, Honda 2.2KW generator.
Internet: Will come up on HB9Q Logger if possible
Thank you donors: PA3FXB, W7JW, DL1AT
Logs have been loaded to LoTW
July 7, 2024 Idaho DN44gh 23cm Band
Set up went well, and I was ready to rumble on 23cm by 1500z. I had very gusty winds which messed with my tracking the whole session, but I still worked 20 folks. Interest in Idaho tapered off quite sharply so I went QRT, and packed it up. Joyce and I took the Mesa Falls Scenic Loop road heading south to Utah and the next operating site.
Logged: DL4DTU (-14), DF3RU (-17), OK1UGA (-14), PA0TBR (-22), PA3FXB (-22), OK1KIR (-10), DL1AT (-21), OK1VUM (-19), UA3PTW (-10), UA9FAD (-22), IK7EZN (-20), K5DN (-18), DK5AI (-23), N6RZJ (-17), N1AV (-24), OK1IL (-20), ES3RF (-24), PA3HDG (-22), PA0BAT (-19), KB2SA (-22).
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| The night before we camped on the banks of the Snake River. |
July 8, 2024 Utah DN41ai, 23cm Band
No wind today, and the morning was blissfully cool for setup. Newton Reservoir wasn't the very best location as I discovered - it was in a bit of hole. However, the north end had enough open skies to the east to work. A grove of cottonwood trees provided welcome shade.The road around to the north end called for patience, a 1 mph pace, and four wheel drive low range - but we made it.
The goal was to work Dave, G4YTL for his State #49 on 23cm. It took a while, but he was finally decoded and it was a snap after that. I also worked K7ULS via scatter. Mike was 42 miles south of me so I just bounced off the mountains to work him. There were some very strange conditions at times, I tripled checked my aiming and it wasn't me, but all signals pretty much disappeared for 30 minutes.
Into today's log went : K7ULS (terrestrial -7), OK1KIR (-14), SM6CKU (-20), SP5GDM (-23), OK1IL (-22), PA3DZL (-21), F4KLO (-23), UA3PTW (-15), RW6HM (-22), G4YTL (-27), G0LBK (-20), DL1AT (-20), PA0BAT (-21), PA3FXB (-24), EA8DBM (-22), ES3RF (-25), IK7EZN (-20), W2ZQ (-20), OH3LWP (-22), GM0PJD (-24), OK1VUM (-21), K5DOG (-21), KB2SA (-20).
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| Glorious shade, a real bonus this time of the year! DN41ai, Newton Reservoir, UT |
July 9, 2024 Utah, DN41ai 33cm Band
Joyce and I checked out of the hotel early while it was still cool, and headed back to Newton Reservoir to put a fourth State on 33cm. We found a lovely shady patch of cottonwood trees with wide open skies to the east. I went six for seven today, I even worked K0DSP, another 2.4M dish station. We packed up pretty efficiently and were rolling north by 2 PM local time. It was worth the effort to give folks a new State on a challenging EME band. Logged: W7JW (-25), K0DSP (-29), VE4MA (-27), W5AFY (-23), W2HRO (-22), VE6TA (-26).
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| Adding the 33cm transverter reaches wiring critical mass! |
Date/Time: June 9, 2024 1630z Start time (moon needs to clear ridge)
QTH: Wyoming - Yellowstone Park DN44lw
Call: KB7Q always 1st sequence
Mode: Q65-60C
Frequency: 1296.095 MHz CFOM
Gear: IC-9700, AGO Preamp, 450 watt SSPA, 2.4M folding dish w/ patch feed
SL-1 Tracker, Honda 2.2KW generator, Jimmy-Johns #7 sub-sandwich to fuel the op.
Internet: Nope
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| Just another day in the Park, but what a park. Yellowstone! DN44lw |
It was a fine day for a Yellowstone Park outing. I left the house at 7 AM, stopped at the last Internet access spot at Big Sky Resort to time sync my laptop, and by 9:30 AM I was calling CQ. Signals were a bit mixed until I cleared the top of the lone pine tree between me and the moon.
I worked 20 stations, and was pleased to give an initial Wyoming contact to several folks. Stateside folks were absent - only three W/K/N stations logged. Some sun, some rain, some wind, some mosquitoes, but nothing to slow things down. Being just past new moon meant that I never saw madam Luna, but the SL-1 tracker did great, the 1000 count/360 degree encoders are an improvement.
Best contact was with K4EME. Cowles chased me for 90 minutes. I saw him at a steady -23 most of the time, and finally it all clicked for him. Sweet!
Logged: F4KLO (-21), DL1AT (-23), OK1VUM (-22), PA3FXB (-21), DK3WG (-23), RX3DR (-20), ON4AOI (-15), DL8FBD (-22), OH3LWP (-20), N5TM (-20), NC1I (-11), PA0TBR (-23), DL4DTU (-20), SP9VFD (-18), IK7EZN (-21), CT1WO (-25), G0LBK (-18), G4CCH (-13), DF2VJ (-23), K4EME (-23).
Date/Time: May 11, 2024 @ 1800z
QTH: DN44GQ, just south of Raynolds Pass
Call: KB7Q always 1st sequence
Mode: Q65-60C
Frequency: 902.107 MHz CFOM
Internet:Yes
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| Drone shot - DN44gq, a mile south of Raynolds Pass in Idaho. |
Logged: W2HRO (-22), VE4MA (-24), VE6TA (-17), N0LNO (-22), KC0SKM (-22), W5AFY (-20), W7JW (-25), K0DAS (-22), W6TCP (-23), AC0RA (-24), K0DSP (-23), W6LUA (-22). LoTW upload done.
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| 6,834 feet, the waters divide here. |
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| Just too nice a day to not share the view. The road home south of Ennis, Montana. |
April 19, 2024
As promised, I rolled down to Yellowstone Park this afternoon. I was surprised to find the dirt road into the Big Horn Trailhead was still under four feet of snow, but the wide pullout off Route 191 was still 25 yards into Wyoming so that was where I set up. I did have two different sets of "Lookie-Lous" stop and ask about what I was up to. The looks I got were priceless - they thought I was loonie!
Anyhow, I worked all callers again. I did have to grapple with wind moving the dish off axis, the fiberglass center post just was too slick to hold in the light breeze. A few cinch straps fixed the problem, and I already have a long term cure thought out. Once on the moon the SL-1 tracker kept me there.
Worked (at apogee no less) were AC0RA (-24), W2HRO (-20), W5AFY (-23), VE4MA (-23), W7JW (-23), K0DAS (-23), N0LNO (-23), KC0SKM (-24), W6TCP (-25), K0DSP (-24). I appreciate the activity, it makes these outings well worth the effort. LoTW upload done.
Bonus: I saw elk, a moose, and a small herd of big horn sheep on my travels to and fro.
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| DN44lw32ns Wyoming (just). Big Horn Trailhead was still snow bound. |
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| Yellowstone Park, WY (DN44lw) with the moon riding high. Click on the photo to get a hi-res version. |
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| Back seat station, no quick stops! |
April 13, 2024
Of course it's easy if you spend a week re-doing every cable in the station with heavy duty connectors, and pondering where is the quietest location within driving distance. A friends cabin in Tom Miner Basin (DN45me), just north of Yellowstone Park, is the ne-plus-ultra for a quiet spot. So that where I went today. It was an exceptional spring day - usually the road up to the cabin doesn't go snow free until mid-May. This year it was an easy drive in my Subaru Forester. We're talking 71 degrees at 6,500 feet elevation!
Of 11 stations calling I worked 10! W2HRO (-21), W7JW (-21), W5AFY (-20), VE4MA (-21), AC0RA (-22), K0DSP (-23), K0DAS (-23), N0LNO (-23), KC0SKM (-23) and finally W6TCP (-23) after an hour's chase.
I have ready access to this location, so if you still need Montana I'm happy to roll uphill again.
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| 2.4M dish, 500+ watts, and no stinkin' noise! The wicker chair was a nice touch. |
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| The Theodolite app helps when setting the dish up. Looking 81 degrees. |
March 30, 2024
The new amp rocks with in excess of 500watts, so I threw the station into the truck and drove northwest to Canyon Ferry Lake for moonrise on March 25th. The 902 noise was down, the wind was down, the moon came up, and I failed ... again. I had lots of callers including W5LUA with his best of band signal, but I heard nil, and was heard by none. Hmmm, that's a hint - I'm not on frequency.
Sure enough, at N1AV's urging, I checking the local oscillator settings in the SG transverter. I was only 24 Mhz off frequency. The change of one, stinking, shorting block was the cure. Note to self: RTFM, it's only four pages!
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| A pretty, too quiet, early spring evening on Canyon Ferry Lake DN46fj. |
Noise is still an issue, but the road to the mountain cabin north of Yellowstone Park gets better everyday as the snow and ice melt off and the mud dries out. That has to be a great spot to get away from the RF smog. I'm looking forward to operating from that high, off-the-grid perch.
March 10, 2024
After two sessions trying to get the NXP LDMOS pallet to play nice, I replaced it with a W6PQL pallet. It took some fiddling to re-jigger the 12 vdc bias circuit, re-do the 50 vdc VDD lines, and solder the RF input and output coax in place. Slipping two layers of index card stock between the circuit board and the heat-spreader works really well - otherwise the copper heat-spreader draws the heat off too fast to get a good, clean solder joint. I could even solder the conformable coax in place with a 45 watts HAKKO soldering station cranked all the way up.
Today was the smoke test. 3 watts of drive = 400 watts. That's 21 db gain which is very nice! I have some level setting to do with the transverter's 144 MHz drive level, even at 0% power indicated, my IC-9700 hits the transverter a bit too hard. A 3db 10W attenuator is on the way.
I've also discovered my usual operating spot in the barn just south of town is not a good location for 902 EME reception. There are just too many 902 - 905 devices chirping away across the band. For the next test I'll retreat to the mountain cabin just north of Yellowstone Park as soon as snow comes off the access road.
In the meantime I've been streamlining the station's cables and generally getting things ship-shape for some summer travels with 902 and 1296 gear.
Onward!
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| Finished soldering the .250" conformable output coax in place. Note the card stock to be removed. |
February 10, 2024
There seems to be a sudden surge of interest in achieving Worked All States on 902 MHz. W5LUA has just nailed down WAS #1 and N1AV has 48 States in hand. I was asked if I could active Montana and other western States via the moon to help the cause. Sure!
KA6U has been out and about including 902 EME on his epic road trips, so folks have been upping their W.A.S. totals already thanks to his Herculean efforts. Here's a taste of his activity.
Many hands make a 902 moonbounce station - Ian, W6TCP sent me a NXP Semiconductor 915 Mhz test pallet to work up into a fully functioning amplifier. I managed to stick things together in two four hour work sessions to create one of my "KISS" amps, but but initial testing was a bust. After some expert help from W6PQL, we can now say, "It's alive". I should have 350 watts to play with given the drive from the transverter. The nice thing about the NXP pallet is that the bias voltage is generated directly from the 48 VDC VDD supply.
N1AV plyed me with a loaner 144 MHz to 902 MHz transverter he had picked up along the way. W2HRO sent west a patch dish feed for my 2.4M dish. I've have two superb WD5AGO pre-amps in hand, so I'm close to first RF on my sixth EME band! Later this month after a long-planned trip south to bask in the warmth of Mexico we'll see what can be done.
I understand Jim, W6PQL is now offering 902 amp pallets. So QRO power on the 33cm band is no longer hard to generate.
So this is a group effort to get some western States on the air - have camper will travel*.
* Once I won't freeze my butt off - we've seen -40 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 C) here in Bozeman this winter!
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| NXP QRO pallet with bare-bones support circuitry. KISS! |
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| The W2HRO feed is a big boy! The hybrid label was applied upside down. |