LOGISTICS Because of the
lengthy plane flights, in addition to lengthy
layovers, several days are required for traveling
and then setup. I expect to periodically have access to
the internet. I should be able to update this
page daily with progress reports and stations worked
and will also be sending out the same updates to the
Magic Band EME email group. I will try
to check in from time to time on the ON4SKT EME CHAT
page. I have been advised that there is no WiFi
available in my Bungalow, but that I can access the
internet from the main building. So, I should be
able to update the log of worked stations regularly,
although probably not until the next day. I probably
will set the computer clock before each session
using GPS, and update the clock as necessary using
W9MDB TimeFudge, based on the DT of signals I
receive..
I am going to the Austral Islands before the TX7MB DXpedition in the Marquesas. Please work me from both DXCC! Info on the TX7MB DXpedition is HERE.
EQUIPMENT
My equipment
is described in detail here.
As you
can see from reviewing the results on my web pages
from previous 6m EME DXpeditions, many contacts
were made with single yagi horizon-only
stations. The smallest station contacted
from all the DXCC so far was N3CXV with his single
6M5X yagi (and 8877 amplifier) and extremely
short, low loss feedline. If you have a good
yagi, good ground gain, a quiet QTH, good power
and lots of patience, we should be able to
complete, even if you are a
horizon-only single yagi
station!
OPERATING SCHEDULE
My tentative
operating schedule as an Excel spreadsheet
is here,
in pdf format is here.
This assumes that all
the flights remain as scheduled, and
I am able to get all my gear on each
flight with me. All I can say is
that I will TRY to be QRV for as
much of the published operating
schedule as possible. Please try to
work me quickly when I do
finally get set up. The
moon position from FO/W7GJ during
the operating schedule is shown here.
As shown in the planned schedule,
operation is planned whenever the
moon is above -2
degrees elevation. Please watch the
ON4KST EME CHAT page and/or the DX Cluster
for updates on what people are copying and
when.
Please keep calling me even if you copy me working someone else, or even if you don't copy me. As long as you are not on the same frequency as the other station, you will not be interfering with them, and your call and offset frequency will be added to the AVERAGE. Please coordinate your calling frequency with others on the ON4KST EME CHAT page to prevent interfering with each other - ideally, stations should be spread out every 100 Hz. I try to decode all callers every receive sequence, and I make a note of each caller and their DF (or "offset:") so I can reply to you as soon as I am able, or use that frequency to identify you later if you are copying me (by sending me reports - see the special DXpedition QSO Procedure links above). Therefore, NEVER change your transmit frequency after you start calling - pick a clear frequency nobody else is using, stay on it, and don't wait until you see me before you start calling! I will try to contact any callers I can copy, but first priority will be given to people who are copying at that particular time, contributors, and stations with shorter common moon windows. I also will be giving priority to those stations who have demonstrated their unselfish commitment to 6m EME by their willingness to accept schedules as requested by other DXers who still need their DXCC. NOTE TO ALL STATIONS: Remember that I am using a single yagi, and it can be elevated only to a maximum elevation of 65 degrees, and if the guy ropes are wet, the elements are shorted out causing high SWR, making operation impossible. I have a lot better success when my elevation is below 45 degrees. So....even if you figure we have plenty of common window time, PLEASE don't wait until my elevation is too high to work you - if you are horizon-only, I encourage you to try to contact me when my moon is lower than 45 degrees elevation if at all possible! There is also another reason for trying to contact me when my moon is lower - Because my antenna is only 24' above the ground, I normally do get some additional ground gain when my moon is below 45 degrees elevation. That is one reason why I have been so successful on 6m EME with only a single yagi! If you are in NA and you have a 6m EME array with elevation, PLEASE call me after moonset in Europe or Africa. I will be giving priority to Region 1 stations during their moonset. There is lots of time to work NA while we are both elevated and/or during your moonset - MNI TNX!!! On the above tentative operating schedule spreadsheet, I have indicated times when the elevation is over 65 degrees by marking the time periods with diagonal lines throughout the cells. If possible, I will try to remain QRV when the moon is higher than that but I may choose to go QRT when the moon is above 65 degrees. Please check on the ON4KST EME CHAT page for updates regarding my activity during such periods. Please also note that heavy rains can create a 1.5:1 SWR on the antenna, which is high enough to shut down the amplifier, and static crashes may make decoding difficult. So, I may have to be off the air at times. Please just keep watch on 50.190 and I will try to stick to the published schedule as well as I can. I hope you will make the effort to look for me! CONTACT INFORMATION
As explained above, I expect to be able to send out daily updates to the MAGIC BAND EME email group and revise this website daily with a list of the stations worked. Please watch the MAGIC BAND EME email list for updated information. Please also share any updates with others on the ON4KST EME CHAT page. If there is some question regarding a contact, please DO call again. However, once you have confirmed a contact with me, please do not call for a second contact - some of the common moon windows during my moonrise and moonset are extremely limited, and many stations are expected to be calling during those short windows. QSL INFORMATIONI
will be using full color photo QSL cards. I
will also submit my log to LOTW. Please QSL
DIRECT with SASE (foreign stations include
a current IRC or $2 USD for postage) direct to:
Lance Collister, W7GJ P.O.Box 73 Frenchtown, MT 59834-0073 USA If we have completed an EME contact, I am happy to QSL direct to you for free. However, I will very much appreciate receiving your card and a self addressed envelope to relieve some of the burden of looking up all your addresses! PSE make sure your correct mailing address is listed on QRZ.COM! MNI TNX! FREQUENCY AND SEQUENCE For EME, I
plan to operate on 50.190 and will always transmit
in the first sequence. I plan on using
Q65-60A mode in WSJT-X and will transmit on an
"offset" of 1500 Hz. With the "Wide Graph"
of WSJT-X, and my wide, flat bandwidth
receiver, I should be able to see callers from an
offset of about 200 to 2600 Hz. However, remember
there could be a 100 Hz doppler shift on your
signal, so please don't try to get too close to
those band edges, or I may never be able to find
you! Here is how you spread out with Q65
mode:
http://www.bigskyspaces.com/Q65%20Offset%20Guide.pdf Please check the ON4KST EME CHAT page for news from other hams in case I have to change this frequency due to receiver birdies at my end ! If you should copy me on some ionospheric mode while I am pointed at the moon and calling CQ on Q65 mode, please answer me on Q65 mode and let's make a quick contact! It is very inconvenient for me to switch modes while I am calling CQ or working EME stations on Q65 mode, so please do not call me on CW, SSB or FT8 and expect me to switch over to answer you. When I am not aimed up at the moon, I very well may be on FT8 mode trying to take advantage of any TEP. For FT8, I will be using WSJT-X on 50.313 MHz. The QTH appears to be around 20 degrees south of the geomagnetic equator, so I expect there to be some TEP or other ionospheric propagation somewhere - please spot me if you copy me on a direct path (my DT=0). If there is too much flutter on the ionospheric signals for FT8, please look for me on Q65 mode on 50.305 MHz. CONTRIBUTIONS It is extremely
expensive to haul a 6m EME station halfway around
the world - especially on solo trips like this one
involving lots of flight change and excess baggage
charges! Therefore,
any contributions toward the DXpedition are greatly
appreciated! If you would like to
contribute, please send your contribution by check
or cash to my QRZ.com mailing address, or directly
via PayPal to my email
address, which is my current PayPal
account. I am only able to do these long
distance 6m EME DXpeditions every year because of
the continued support from the 6m community and I
am extremely indebted to you for your continued
support. I have the time and equipment to go
more often than once a year to new rare DXCC, but
I just don't have the finances available.
Many thanks to those hams who recognize that
a large percentage of the costs are incurred long
before leaving, and have already very generously
contributed to this DXpedition. All
contributors for both the Austral Islands and
Marquesas operations are combined on the TX7MB
webpage. Many
many thanks for your support!
PHOTOS AND UPDATESTue Oct 12 SUMMARY OF RESULTS
|
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
