[Moon-net] 2m EME Operation in 3X in 2007

[Ned Stearns]

2m EME ops:

Mike, KC7V, and Ned, AA7A, are headed back to Africa to operate with the
VooDoo Contest Group for the CQWW DX CW. Again this year, Mike and Ned are
adding a few days to their stay in Africa to operate 2m EME after the CQ
Contest. They had reasonably good success last year in TZ6NS in their first
portable EME attempt and have worked on all of the noted weakness in their
portable EME station over the past year for our operation this year in 3X.
Here is a list of the primary improvements to the EME station plan:

1. Adding a second 2M28XPOL antenna to the array to add gain and tighten the
antenna pattern,

2. Selecting a site that is apt to have less noise (right on the shore so at
least there is no noise for 180 degrees in azimuth) and will be looking out
over water for moonrise and moonset, and

3. Spending more time to study the local noise situation and path blockages
before erecting the EME array to improve the overall system performance.

As a result, unlike last year when they started operation before CQWW, they
will initiate the EME operation on 26 November, after CQWW DX CW and ARRL
EME, and conclude operations on 30 November. They intend to operate from
moonrise to moonset by using a tag team operation to make sure that a
reasonably fresh operator is at the operating position at all time.

They also are intending to operate both CW and WSJT. They believe that this
year's station upgrade is significant enough to plan dedicated times at
"prime time" (common window to both EU, West Asia, AF and NA) on CW. They
encourage everyone to work them on either or both modes.

The EME callsign will be 3XT1 which would be unexpected to anyone operating
any mode without advanced notice to an operator who is expecting the normal
amateur radio callsign prefix consistent with the ITU allocations for
Guinea. So be forewarned that if you sense this callsign off the moon, it's
the VooDoo EME ops.

This year's EME adventure will be harder than last year. Mike and Ned will
be on travel on planes and a small African safari bus for a total of 5 days
before arriving in 3X. Then, Mike, Ned and the rest of the contest team will
build a world-class, 7-position contest station with monoband HF antennas 
and
then operate 48 hours in CQWW DX CW. After all of that, the EME ops will
unwind by operating four lunar days of EME using a homebrew antenna steered
to the moon using ropes. So, if you find it a challenge to work them, feel
good that there is apt to be an equal challenge on the other side of your
contact.

Please check out the 3XT1 EME operation webpage for the operating schedule
in JA window and for times when operations will be on CW and WSJT.

Look here for all EME operating information:

http://members.cox.net/aa7a/3XT1_EME.htm

For some background on the VooDoo Contest Group and what they do, check out
their new website here:

http://voodoocontestgroup.com

The VooDudes will try to be connected on the internet while operating 3XT1
and if successful, they will check into N0UK and ON4KST EME chat rooms from
time to time with updated information. QSL 3XT1 via AA7A (good on qrz.com).

73 and C U on the moon!

Mike / Ned

3XY5D & 3XT1 ops