EME FOR DUMMIES - OE6TZE, Tom´s eme/moonbounce · EME FOR DUMMIES • WSJT is a computer program for VHF/UHF communication using state of the art digital techniques. • It can decode

EME FOR DUMMIESEME FOR DUMMIES

That was me!That was me!byby

KC7VKC7V


• 1ST thing I did was ask for help – AA7A• Sought advice from W7IUV as well• Did internet google research on keywords

EME and Moonbounce• Downloaded free WSJT software used for

EME and Meteor Scatter work• http://pulsar.princeton.edu/~joe/K1JT/


• WSJT is a computer program for VHF/UHF communication using state of the art digital techniques.

• It can decode fraction-of-a-second signals reflected from ionized meteor trails, as well as steady signals more than 10 dB weaker than those required for conventional CW.

• One of its operating modes is particularly well optimized for amateur EME (Earth-Moon-Earth) communications.

EME FOR DUMMIESEME FOR DUMMIESWSJT supports five principal operating modes:

• FSK441: for meteor scatter

• JT65: for EME and extreme troposcatter

• JT6M: for meteor scatter (optimized for 50 MHz)

• EME Echo: for measuring your own echoes from the moon

• CW: for EME QSOs using 15 WPM Morse code


• 1ST thought was to purchase a single dual polarity antenna (vertical & horizontal)

• Adds plenty of expense when it comes to stacking

• Phasing lines for both polarities required• Instead I …


• Acquired 8 2M5WL 2m antennas along with elevation rotator

• Started with IC-271H 100w 2m all-mode• Rigblaster Plus• Borrowed Landwehr preamp• Heliax 3/8” coax about 200 feet• Bought 160w brick


• Built 1 yagi and mounted it on a pole• Moved pole to elevate antenna and used a

block to hold pole in place• Was able to copy W5UN with this 1 yagi

without a preamp


• Next step was to find a way to mount 2 antennas

• Used a 10 ft. top section of Rohn 45 from my stockpile

• Used 1/8” cable to guy off to points close by

• Used old 12 ft. aluminum mast as boom and pieces of the H frame for vertical supports


• Decided to sell the IC 271H and acquired a Kenwood TS2000

• TS2000 has excellent digital interface • Based on research done by W7IUV• Also has 70cm and 6m too!


• INITS = Initials – Means working individual unique stations the first time

• Working initials is a big thing in the EME world

• AA7A has nearly 600 initials – nearly 350 were worked the hard way on CW before the invention of the WSJT modes

• KC7V – 54 to date all on WSJT


• In AA7A’s words – every tenth of a .db means working more stations

• We measured my loss to be 2.67db from the shack to the antennas

• I am losing nearly 50% of the TX output by the time RF reaches the antennas


• How can I lower my loss – better coax!• How can I improve my signal – more

power!• Get more antennas in the air!

# Call DateNew Call Grid GRID #

MODE

State

State #

DXCC #

Zone Station Year

Init Q's

Init ttls

Q's YR

TTL Q's

1 W5UN 12-Nov-05 NA EL29 1 JT65B TX 1 1 4 32x17/QRO 2005 2 2 2 2

2 W7IUV 11-Dec-05 DN07 2 JT56B WA 2 3 8x8/KW 2006 54 55 56 58

3 S52LM 8-Jan-06 EU JN65 3 JT56B 2 15 4x17/1500

4 RA3AQ 9-Jan-06 KO85 4 JT56B 3 16

5 ES6RQ 4-Feb-06 KO28 5 JT56B 4

6 EA6VQ 4-Feb-06 JM19 6 JT56B 5 14

7 PA2CHR 4-Feb-06 JO22 7 JT56B 6

8 RU1AA 4-Feb-06 KP40 8 JT56B 16x14/QRO

9 PA3CMC 5-Feb-06 JO21 9 JT56B

10 ZL3TY 5-Feb-06 OC RE57 10 JT56B 7 32


• Good sites to learn from:• http://web.wt.net/~w5un/primer.htm• http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj/smalle

mestn.htm• http://www.gm4jjj.co.uk/K6PF/k6pf.pdf• http://k7xc.tripod.com/id19.html


• KC7V EME STATISTICS• 24 countries worked• 12 states worked• 13 zones worked• WAC worked• 58 total QSO’s• All considered QRP by EME standards

Documents

EME FOR DUMMIES - OE6TZE, Tom´s eme/moonbounce · EME FOR DUMMIES • WSJT is a computer program for VHF/UHF communication using state of the art digital techniques. • It can decode