M&M EME DX pedition 2012

TK/DL1YMK - TK/SA6BUN  

 

 

 

 

Summary of DXpedition TK/DL1YMK 2012

 

Hi all,

for the ninth time in sequence we were able to accomplish a multiband EME-DXpedition. For a second time (after the GI-activation) we brought TK on five bands to the moon. As TK politically belongs to France, our favorite band 9 cm was not licensed. During a fortnight of Moon-bounce activity we made 178 CW-QSO's with a total of 139 initials. On 23cm 29 different countries were worked, on 13cm 22 and on 70 cm 20 DXCC-entities were logged. As expected, our stressed dish is not really suited for 6cm, however, we managed to contact 5 initials. For the first time we used a second solid dish (1.8 m with 30 W at the feed) for 10GHz and were able to log 7 initials with our marginal set-up. We heard more stations than we were actually able to work, so consequently we need more power on that band.
Only 3 stations worldwide were in a position to work us on all five bands: LX1DB with every time a huge and rock-solid signal on all bands, OK1KIR (despite an exploded 70cm PA) and F2TU. We have received many mails during the DXpedition, stating many feed changes, repairing PA's and LNA's, just in order to work us on Corsica, so many many thanks to all of you, who were on the moon for the DXpedition. A very positive side effect of our DXpedition was a significant increase in Moon-bounce activity on those bands, where we showed up. Consequently a large number of initials were worked by other active stations.
The log will be transferred from paper to Zdenek's website after our return home, please be patient a little while. If you decide to QSL direct, may we ask you to include SASE. A special TK-QSL will be designed as usual by Monika. A warm thank you goes to Zdenek for hosting the special website, and also to LX1DB and OK1KIR, who with endless patience have produced beacon signals for us on the higher bands. On 23cm the ON0EME beacon operated by ON7UN/ON4BCB was most helpful.

vy 73 de M & M - team

 

TK/DL1YMK last update

 

Hello lunatics,

the last three days were a little stress, as we changed sequentially between 4 bands, in order to give TK to a maximum number of stations.
Tuesday, 29th of May, we showed up for a second time on 70 cm, due to less degradation and no wind at all, we had all the moon pass own echoes. We worked on 70cm only in CW: JA6AHB, ES5PC, G4RGK, PA3DZL, G4YTL, SM4IVE with a huge signal, DJ3JJ, OK1KIR, G4FUF, K2UYH and WA4NJP. The next day, Wednesday, 30th May, we were for the last time on 13cm and worked: JA4BLC, G4RGK, DF3RU (in CW, then in SSB), CT1DMK (first SSB, then CW), W5LUA and K2UYH.
During the following two nights we ran tests with K5GW on 10GHz, we could copy Gerald with a very substantial signal, but no 2-way contact could be established.
Today, 01.06.12, we knocked down both dishes, dismantled the station, stuffed all back into Monika's car and are ready to enter the ferry to Toulon tomorrow afternoon.

vy 73/88 de M & M

 

 

28.05.2012

 

Hi lunatics,

we have to give an addendum to our 23cm contest report, as some more stations were worked on Sunday after ON5RR. Those are as new ones: CT1DMK, S59DCD, and ON5TA. In the former report DL3EBJ turned into DL3EBW, a mere typo, sorry. Today we have taken the challenge to activate 3cm for the first time during a Moon-bounce DXpedition with a portable set-up. it was a hard piece of work, as we could hear more stations than we actually could work. RXing was very competitive by a WG-LNA from DB6NT (NF=0.6 dB @ 25 db gain) and a tailor-made round WG-feed with chaparral ring, provided by Willi, LX1DB, but the RF-power was confined to some 30 W in the feed, generated with two homebrew SSPA's. After Willi, whom we worked already 25.05.12, we are happy to have made another 5 country-firsts from TK on 10 GHz. Worked were PA0EHG, OK1KIR, DL7YC, F2TU, W5LUA and with a super signal W7CJO. Thanks to all other stations, who tested with us, but did not succeed in a 2-way contact - we just need more goo on that band!

 Please remember: Tuesday, 29th will be the last chance for 70cm and Wednesday, 30th for 13cm. 

vy 73 de M & M

 

 

27.05.2012

 

Hello lunatics,
the DUBUS contest was an enormous boost in activity on 23 cm and gave us the opportunity to work 27 new initials from Corsica. Even smaller stations tried it and it was often possible to give them TK! The new stations are: SP6JLW, OK1CS, RA3AUB, LZ2US, G4CCH, SV1BTR, RA3YF, DL3EBW, HB9SV, OE5JFL, N2UO, WD5AGO, OK2ULQ, PA3DZL, WW2R, WA6PY, PA2DW, W5LUA, VE6TA, N2NQI, WB2BYP, IZ1BPN, PA7JB, IK1MTZ, IK6EIW, K5GW, ON5RR,  In total we now have made  90 QSOs so far on 23 cm from Corsica, more than the half of them during the contest. TNX to all takers and to Joachim Kraft for arranging the DUDUS contest.

The timetable  for the last 3 days of activity is as follows:
Monday, 28.05: 10 GHz, certainly only possible with stronger stations, as the second, solid dish is very small (1,80m) (see photos)


Tuesday, 29.05: back on 70 cm


Wednesday, 30.05: last trial on 13 cm On 13 and 70 cm we will be active at any case also on moonrise and moonset, so we hope for activity from JA and US!

Yesterday Knut Theurich, the editor of the well known magazine "Funkamateur" and his wife played us a visit, as they are spending their holidays on Corsica and met us in the supermarket! Knut was very interested and got the opportunity to follow moon-bounce traffic. We hope to make additional QSO´s during the last activity sessions from TK!
Vy 73 de M & M

26.05.2012

Hello lunatics,
 

yesterday we made the first TK - LX on 3cm! We tested our portable set-up, which we installed yesterday in the noon sun, with Willi, LX1DB, in order to find out, if it is at all possible to reflect 
a signal off the moon with a small dish. And yesss, it is possible to run 10G on a DXpedition. Of course, our station is marginal, and it needs an optimized RX on the other end. 
we are using an 1.8 m solid prime focus dish with a WG feed in vertical polarization, the feed being supplied by Willi, LX1DB. 
The TX power is about 30 W from 2 combined homebrew SSPA's. We heard Willi with a steady readable signal, and received 539 at 
best from him! Unfortunately, a trial with F2TU failed, this means we only have a chance to succeed with big guns on 3cm. 
We hope for other QSO's on Monday, 28th.
 

vy 73/88 de M & M


10 GHz setup Visit from Funkamateur magazine 
Monika and dishes 

 

21.05.2012

 

Hi lunatics,

today we managed to bring TK via the fourth band over the moon. All components of the set-up were only tested on the workbench separately, but never all together as a combo. Although we assumed the stressed dish would not be suited for a frequency higher than 3.4 GHz, we still wanted to give it a try. And indeed, we managed to make 5 country firsts from TK - the first one worked was OK1KIR with a good signal. The OK1KIR-Crew was followed by F2TU, LX1DB and DL7YC. A sudden thunderstorm forced us to QRT, as the rainfall would have drowned the open LNA and SSPA-arrangement. We had to quickly protect them with plastic bags. In the afternoon we found our way back to the moon with the help of Willi, LX1DB us were able to work W5LUA. A big thanks goes to Willi and the OK1KIR-crew, for providing stable signals, that help us finding our way to moon in the absence of own echoes.
We tried also with a few other stations, but unfortunately no complete QSO's resulted. Anyhow, our appearance boosted an enormous activity this afternoon, as many stations were able to increase their initial score  - this was the initial idea, when we started moon-bounce DX petitioning 9 years ago, showing up as EI/DL1YMK on 23cm in a stagnating EME-scene at that time..
Tomorrow, we will assemble the solid dish for 10 GHz, in order to try this band on Monday, 28th of May. As a reminder: on Tuesday, 29.05.12 we will come back to 70cm, and on Wednesday, 30.05.12, you will have the ultimately last chance to work TK on 13cm. We will especially listen for JA at moonrise, as the new converter arrangement proved to work very well. Skeds on all bands are welcome.
During the oncoming Dubus-contest you will find us on 1296.045 MHz.

vy 73 / 88 de M & M

SSPA mounted to the feed pole LNA and Feed horn for 6cm band
Dish with 6cm setup

 


 

21.05.2012

Hello lunatics,

today we were mostly sightseeing, despite the bad WX-condx. But also were back on 13cm for a short time in the morning and in the evening, after coming back to our sheep stable. We managed to add on 13cm despite heavy wind and rain (incredible drop size...good for rain scatter): ON5TA (dupe), PY2BS, SM4IVE and VE6TA (this time with solid RST exchange, Grant, TNX).


Tomorrow we will be QRV again on 13cm for a short period after breakfast from 08:00UT on. Take your chance, if interested!!

Due to multiple requests we decided to come back on 70 cm on Tuesday, 29th of May, from 13:00UT on (hopefully with better condx). 6cm tests are still on schedule for Thursday, 24th of May. For 3cm we will assemble the solid 2nd dish in the next days, which is still in exploded form in our sheep stable - but very comfortable stable with a dish washer for Monika's delight ;-))

CU off the rock,

73 de M & M

 

Mike's rain protection during tuning LNA :-)

Please note Monika's state - of the-art rain protection!!!!

Daily update for Zdenek

Sarténe, the most Corsican of all Corsican villages

Inside sheep stable


20.05.2012

Hi lunatics,

yessss, we are spending our vacation on the island of Corsica, as most of you deciphered on the first shot (...but not all ;-) ). Corsica is supposed to be a sunny resort, but NO: today it rained cats and dogs all day long and with every feed change we needed new clothes, because we were drenched - too much EME gear means no space for rain coats, horrific!

Today we switched between 23cm and later in the day 13cm, as the activity was relatively low. On 23cm we added SM7FWZ, ES5PC, F5SE, OK1DFC, SM6FHZ, SM4IVE .

Later on 13cm we worked LZ1DX, K5GW, WD5AGO, F2TU, WW2R, VE6TA, WA6PY, SM3AKW (fine Carl that you made it) and N2NQI.
As we have worked the majority of active 13 cm stations, we will only switch the 13cm gear on 2morrow evening from 1600UT on (Zdenek, hurry up with the repair!!).

As the moon bounce-server seems to be down, please follow carefully the updates on the webpage, that Zdenek kindly hosts for us. Any potential alterations to the schedule you already know, will be published there.

vy 73 de M & M
 


19.05.2012

Hi gang,

due to heavy wind gusts we were forced to a premature QRT on Saturday afternoon for the 13 cm activity. For this reason we could not change the feed to 23cm as planned for Sunday, so we are still on 13cm for our Sunday morning moonrise. Today we heard several Japanese stations calling, which we could not work all 2day. So if interested give it another try on Sunday morning on 2424.100. Please call for long periods, as even in this remote location there is a lot of garbage on that band.
We will change the feed around noontime to 23cm, if not any voting from the US to stay on 13cm the whole day, as we missed the US window on Saturday. We will NOT come back on 13cm on Monday, because the interest so far was surprisingly very moderate.

On 13cm we worked so far: OK1CA, ES5PC, JA4BLC, JA8ERE, OK1KIR, PA3DZL, G4CCH, HB9Q, OZ4MM, SV3AAF, F2TU(CW/SSB); ON5TA, OZ6OL, PA0BAT, PA7JB, G3LTF, SP6OPN, SM2CEW and LX1DB.


Correction for the last 70cm session: forgot to mention QSO with Christof,SP7DCS - sorry Chris!


18.05.2012

Michael DL1YMK working 23cm

Dish and feed for 1296 MHz - 17.05.2012

Dish and feed 432 MHz - 18.05.2012

House where Michael running units during pedition

Hi Lunatics,

very difficult conditions today, so far...taking a break for lunch, will be back at 1200UT.
Worked till now: OZ4MM, VK3UM, HB9Q, DL7APV, DF3RU, OK1DFC, G3LTF, LX1DB. A last hint for 2morrow on 13cm: will start around 0430UT, estimated end 1600UT. Will be on 2320.100 TX/RX, 2304.100 RX, 2424.100 RX, 2301.975 RX. To make things less deep-searchable: the DXpedition will use another callsign ;-))

Please be patient with us on 70cm, have already thought to have grilled the LNA, put in another 54134 (on the kitchen table , Monika holding a torch - sheep stable = dim), discovered new one behaves the same way, Faraday is playing very dirty tricks today. Rotable feeds win today...

 

after lunch added on 70cm: DL9KR, I1NDP, F2TU, UA3PTW, LZ1DX, SM2CEW, K5GW, DF3RU. Was a real struggle 2day with Faraday and librations, gee... For those who missed us today: we will back another day on 70cm (yet to be defined) in CW and JT (if wanted)
 

73 de M & M


17.05.2012

Hi gents, this morning we showed up via moon as XX/DL1YMK, hope you all had big fun in decoding deep search ;-))

23 cm was quite successful, we ended up with 34 QSO's (including 3 most enjoyable sideband contacts). Franta, OK1CA, was up early as usual with a 569 signal logged for the first. Followed by: HB9Q, VK3UM; UA3PTW, OK1KIR, SP7DCS, JA4BLC, JA6AHB, RD3DA; I1NDP, OK2DL, SM2CEW; F2TU, ON7UN, DF3RU, SM7FWZ, OZ4MM, PA3CSG, SV3AAF, PA3DZL, G4RGK, G3LTF, PA0BAT, LX1DB (CW and SSB); IK3COJ, F2TU (SSB), TM9ELM, PY2BS, DJ9YW, PA3FXB, I1NDP (SSB), K2UYH.

Began with a slightly defocused feed in the morning, corrected it later on (alum tubing's are new and therefore having a different 'shape factor'. Station has been converted to 70 cm, and tested for mains stiffness....seems okay. As mountains to our East are not as high as anticipated, we can be on from 04:00UT onwards until presumably 1500UT to our West (there the mountains are a bit higher as checked by Goggle Earth. BTW: this year's barn is an old sheep stable...but very comfortable accommodation. We have relatively stable I-net access, so stay tuned. WX forecasts is not too good, expecting gale force winds on weekend. If you find the time, work us early, you never know...

73 de M & M


23.04.2012

Gentlemen,   today the portable DXpedition set-up for 10 GHz was tested successfully, resulting in a first EME-QSO with Willi, LX1DB. It was only for the very substantial help provided by Willi, who kindly supplied essential wave guide components as a ‘develpment aid’  that this outcome was reached in a short period of time after a first failure in pure coaxial technique.....I had to learn my lesson the hard way, again, spending a few nights at the work bench.  Willis's extremely valuable hints, based on his huge experience, only made this outcome feasible – BIG TNX, Willi! Unfortunately, a potential second QSO with the OK1KIR crew could not be completed, as their signal got lost in a  huge Thuja tree...next time, guys!  

So, 10G will be definitely part of the DXpedition rig – just to let you know.   Vy 73 de Michael, DL1YMK


15.04.2012

Day

Date

Moon window

begins (UT)^

Moon window

 ends (UT)

Band

Remarks

Thursday

17.05.

04.00

15.00

23 cm

bank holiday EU

Friday

18.05.

04.30

16.00

70 cm

 

Saturday

19.05.

05.00

17.00

13 cm

 

Sunday

20.05

05.30

15.00

23 cm

sun close

Monday

21.05

07.00

18.00

13 cm

sun close

Tuesday

22.05

07.00

19.00

-

free

Wednesday

23.05

08.00

20.00

-

free

Thursday

24.05

08.30

21.00

6 cm

first trial

Friday

25.05

09.30

21.30

6 cm

altern. 3 cm

Saturday

26.05

10.30

22.00

23 cm

DUBUS contest

Sunday

27.05

11.30

23.00

23 cm

DUBUS contest

Monday

28.05

12.00

23.00

3 cm

bank holiday

Tuesday

29.05

13.00

23.00

?

on request

Wednesday

30.05

14.30

24.00

?

on request

Thursday

  31.05

15.30

00.30

?

on request

 We have mountains to the East, so the period of visible moon for us is estimated only, could eventually start a bit earlier.

 

*On the first Sunday and Monday (20.05/21.05) we will have to shortcut the time of activity as the sun will be very close to the moon. On 13 cm it should work in the remaining time!

 The operation on 6 cm and 3 cm will be somewhat experimental. We would like to test the equipment and technical capabilities for our 10th EME - DX pedition in 2013! For this reason skeds on these two bands will be welcome.

 

The operating frequencies will be as follows (+/- QRM or birdies):

432.045 MHz, 1296.045 MHz, 2320.100 MHz for TX, 2304.100 and 2424.100 MHz for RX 5760.100 MHz and hopefully 10368.100 MHz.

 

We will hang on to these frequencies at any time unless otherwise stated, i.e. for skeds.

 


06.04.2012

The M&M-team is  preparing the next EME-DXpedition, taking place in May 2012. We will set out for our destination just after having returned from the Swedish EME Meeting, organized by Lars, SM4IVE, on the weekend 12./13th of May in Örebro. We hope to reach our destination in time and to get  QRV on Thursday, 17th of May (bank holiday in Europe) on 23 cm, followed by 70 cm on 18.05. On Saturday, 19.05., we will be on 13 cm and on Sunday again on 23 cm. 13 cm will be run with a significant increase in power and full 2424 MHz coverage. For the first time during an EME- DXpedition, we intend to get also operational on 6 cm with our old, but proven stressed dish and a new superb feed made by our friend Tommy, WD5AGO. 6 cm will have an experimental character despite some 100 W out, as we couldn‘t test so far, if the under-illuminated dish will work up that high in frequency, so keep your fingers crossed!! Our plan is to give it a try on Monday, 21st May. Also, we intend to get active on 3 cm with a  separate solid dish, which of course is a lot smaller. Last weekend we made the first test with LX1DB, having installed the dish in our garden place. The tests were not yet satisfying, so our friend Willi right now is trying to help us out with some substantial development aid! During the DUBUS contest 26./27th of May, we will of course be active on 23 cm in order to  boost activity in the  moon bounce contest of contests. Our last day of operation will be Thursday, 31st of May. A detailed schedule for the days from 21st May onwards predominantly will depend on the progress with 10GHz in the meantime. Further details to be published soon!! This year’s DXpedition will be the 9th EME-DXpedition in a sequence for us. We hope to have fun all together as experienced during past years DXpeditions….but this largely depends on you… Needless to say that it’ll be again a CW random event, although doodle mode technically is possible (with a new laptop computer…) on request. We have no idea yet to what extent (if at all) i-net access is feasible, though.
Vy 73, Michael and Monika

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