[Moon-net] 1296 EME Expedition

[WARD,AL]

The team of W5LUA, K5GW, and WA5WCP are pleased to announce an
expedition to the states of CT, RI, MA, and possibly VT on 1296 MHz EME
from August 13th GMT through the 21st GMT. Paul, WA5WCP has been working
on a portable EME array for the past year and many of you have already
worked the same installation that is going portable next month. Paul's
work schedule quite often makes it tough for him to plan such an event
months in advance but it does look like August should work out OK. 

 

The trip from Texas to the states in the northeast is a 1700 mile
(2700km+) trip that should take 3 days. Assuming a successful trip to W1
land, the tentative plan at the moment is to spend 2 days or 2 moon
cycles at each location. August 13 and 14 will be spent in Rhode Island
where the moon will rise after 0145Z on the 13th which is the evening of
the 12th local for North America. August 15 and 16 will be spent in
Connecticut, August 18 and 19 will be spent in Mass and if all goes well
August 20 and 21 will be in Vermont. This is a tough schedule of 8 days
of operation with a day break scheduled for Aug 17 which can be used if
the schedule slips for any reason. The exact locations along with grid
squares will be announced shortly. The call of W1AW will be used in
Connecticut while WA5WCP will be used at all other locations. 

 

Joe K1RQG has volunteered to keep a sked list updated for each location
on a near daily basis. Knowing that this is prime hurricane season and
the fact that Murphy can strike means that we must remain somewhat
flexible while Paul attempts to put these states on the air. At his moon
rise at each location, there will be a CQ period where Paul hopes to get
as many stations worked as possible. If you are unsuccessful in working
Paul on random or would like to be put on a sked list, please email
K1RQG k1rqg at aol.com

. As evidenced by the very successful operation of CT3/DL1YMK where
Michael worked 40 plus stations on 1296 EME, it would be virtually
impossible to sked this many stations in a 2 day period so it is hoped
that most of the bigger stations will attempt random operation at least
on the first day in each state. If you would like to be on a
distribution list for last minute information and skeds, please drop Joe
K1RQG an email and he will add you to the list. 

 

Paul's equipment consists of a trailer mounted 10 ft dish with US
Digital encoders and autotracking is done with K5GW software. Paul is
using a Septum feed with a scalar ring and a W7CNK preamplifier. Paul
uses an IC-910H and all operation will be done on CW. The amplifier runs
about 300 watts from a WD5AGO 4 tube 2C39 amplifier. Paul has already
worked 33 initials with this equipment so we are optimistic for a very
successful expedition.

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to email one of us.

 

73 from W5LUA, K5GW, WA5WCP and K1RQG

July 1, 2006