[Moon-net] Newcomer Confusion

Tue Nov 14 08:14:32 CST 2006

Hi Paul,

You bring up an interesting point. I am new to this myself. I have not 
actually made any EME QSO's with anyone yet but I do a fair amount of 
listening. Typically while I am on 2m while tuning around and  studying the 
Spectran waterfall for hours at a time. Judging by the veering doppler 
effects I often see displayed, it seems I have definetly been recieving at 
least a few stations on EME. WSJT sometimes logs a few of these signals and 
displays callsigns, grids etc.  but I am not sure about the validiity of the 
recieved signals when using the software.

I found this out after I emailed a few people informing them I have recieved 
thier station via EME using WSJT software to which they replied they did not 
operate EME at the time I indicated. ??

As a newcomer, I must be missing something in the overall software 
configuration and I am not sure how to tell if  a displayed callsign or 
recieved signal is valid or not.

You are correct about the confusion timing and other "communication 
protocals" seem to be to newcomers like myself.. I wonder if there is a 
website that explains these details in better clarity? Perhaps watching the 
second hand on the atomic clock in my shack in combination with Spectran 
waterfall might improve my odds of recieving more stations?

I am open to any suggestions.

73 Charles - KC8VWM Columbus, Ohio EM89KW

* Usually listening around 144.127
  CW &  WSJT "B" - 240 watts
9 el ON6MU homebrew computer optimized yagi 
http://users.belgacom.net/hamradio/yagi_vhf_antenna.htm

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Paul Kelley N1BUG" <paul.kelley.n1bug at gmail.com>
To: "Moon-Net" <moon-net at list-serv.davidv.net>
Sent: Tuesday, November 14, 2006 6:20 AM
Subject: Re: [Moon-net] ARRL Contest - for AA1YN

>> e. yes, you are right of tx/rx sequences of several cw stations, 
>> including
>> myself. But if there is noone on the band sometimes the tx sequence might 
>> be
>> longer so as to try and attract attention. Personally i always give the
>> other station a minute or more, if i hear something and until he stops 
>> his
>> tx, during my receive periods. I do not think that not having strictly 
>> 1min
>> tx/1min rx sometimes, is a problem for those really wanting to work cw
>> random.
>
> To all 2m CW EME'rs:
>
> I'm breaking a promise I made to myself. I wasn't going to offer any
> more opinions on things! But...
>
> I must respectfully disagree. I have 20 years 2m CW EME experience
> and some thousands of QSOs, many of them random. For now I am
> operating with a small station consisting of a single 20 element
> yagi and 1.5 kW. Even though I have quite a lot of EME experience, I
> sometimes found it very difficult or impossible to know when certain
> stations ended a transmission this contest. With the QSB
> characteristics at 2m, it is possible to have a station strong
> enough to copy his call but then fade down for some time. The fade
> may last a few seconds to a few minutes. If he stops transmitting
> while he is too weak to hear, how do you know he stopped and it is
> now OK to call him? Even using Spectran I could not always tell.
> This resulted in lost time when I should have been calling, and
> sometimes calling over the station. If everyone is using strictly
> timed tx/rx sequences it is easier. When the top of the minute
> comes, you know he stopped even if he is at that moment in a fade
> and not audible. You also know how long to call him without risk of
> transmitting over him.
>
> I also noticed at least one station using strict one minute tx/rx
> periods but his clock was off by some 15 seconds. I figured this out
> after a few periods, but for the newcomer this may take longer and
> be another source of confusion. Please remember to set your clock
> before starting to work EME.
>
> If I am having some trouble with the lack of timed sequences, how
> confusing do you think it is for the newcomer who is not experienced
> at 2m CW EME? Do you think confusion and frustration will encourage
> him to keep trying CW? I do not think abandoning time tested and
> proven procedures is a good thing for CW EME. We need to make it as
> easy as possible for the newcomer to participate. We do not want to
> add confusion or frustration. Sadly I believe 2m CW operators by
> their own actions are starting to contribute to the decline in CW
> EME activity! This breaks my heart! I will say again: PLEASE let's
> NOT make it harder for the newcomer to CW EME. I do understand the
> frustration of calling CQ for long hours and not getting many
> callers, and wanting to attract attention. But changing the
> procedure and making it harder for newcomers who may be trying CW is
> not a solution to our long term problem.
>
> Personally, when I finally get my new 2m array finished so that I am
> strong enough to call CQ, I will ALWAYS be using strict one minute
> periods. The only time I may abandon that is during a QSO with a
> very strong station. After such a QSO I will immediately revert back
> to one minute periods. And my clock will be accurate. Count on it.
>
> Please note I did say 2m several times. At 70cm the QSB
> characteristics are different and lack of timed periods is not so
> much a problem.
>
> This has been my humble and unsolicited opinion. I may be wrong. ;-)
>
> 73,
> Paul N1BUG
> (temporarily QRT 2m due to a damaged PA)
>
>
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