LOGISTICSBecause of the
lengthy plane flights, in addition to lengthy
layovers, a few 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 am going to the Austral Islands before the TX7MB DXpedition in the Marquesas. Please work me from both DXCC! Info on the FO/W7GJ DXpedition to the Austral Islands 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.
The moon position from
TX7MB during the operating schedule
is shown here.
As shown in the planned schedule,
operation is not planned when the
moon is below 20 degrees elevation
on moonset, or when the moon is
greater than 75 degrees elevation.
This
schedule
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.
If you copy me, please spot me on the DX Cluster so people will know the correct grid locator, as well as the frequency and my status. I will diligently try to be QRV during all my moonrises and moonsets as published on the operating schedule. The antenna will be installed at a height of 217' above the ocean, and it will soon become clear after a few moonsets and moonrises which elevations are best for my ground gain lobes and what effects, if any, local trees and bushes have on my ability to aim in certain azimuths/elevations). 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! With the ground sloping so rapidly to the east and the high horizon to the west of the antenna, I am sure my usual ground gain lobes will not be there, and any ground lobe elevations will only be realized after the first few days. 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 the lowest Degradation periods 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
submit my TX7MB log to LOTW. If we have made
a non-EME contact and you want a QSL card, 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 near 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. Too
many times, we hear DXpedition stations say they
can't take a 6m beam and/or amp because "they are
already overweight and cannot afford the excess
baggage fees". If you want to do a good job
and are committed to going halfway around the
world to succeed, this unfortunately is a large
part of the necessary expense. Although I always
keep my costs as low as possible, my travel,
excess baggage, flight change expenses and lodging
costs alone to activate a rare DXCC far exceed any
contributions. 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 the following hams who recognize
that a large percentage of the costs are incurred
before leaving, and have already very generously
contributed to this and the Austral Island
DXpedition:
AC0RA, AG6EE, DK2PH, DK8NE, DL8YHR, EA8DBM, F5LNU, F6BKI, FK8CP, G4BWP, G8BCG, G8VR, GD0TEP, GM3POI, HA0DU, HB9Q, I0KIB, I4YRW, IW5DHN, JA7QVI, JA9SJI, JE3GRQ, JG1TSG, JG2BRI, JO1PSX, JR3DVL, JS2CQA, K0DAS, K2ZD, K4PI, K4RX, K5DU, K5NA, K5QE, K5XI, K6EME, K6QXY, K7CW, K7KX, K7RWT, K8CX, K8MOM, K8OM, K9CT, K9RX, KA1R, KA9CFD, KB7Q, KC0SKM, KG7H, KJ9I, KL7HBK, KY7M, LY2IJ, LZ2CC, N0TB, N1DG, N3XX, N6BBS, N7IP, N7NR, N7NW, N8DX, N8GTI, N8RR, NJ6P, NV9L, OH1LEU, OH2BC, OH6MW, OH7KM, ON4GG, ON4IQ, OZ4VV, PA5Y, PA7MM, RW5C, S51DI, S57RR, SP3RNZ, SP4MPB, SP7VC, UA4CC, UR0MC, UT7QF, UT7UJ, UW7LL, VE1JF, VK2XN, VK5PJ, W3UUM, W5ADD, W5TRL, W5WP, W6BBS, W6UC, W6XU, W7IV, W7JW, W7KNT, W8IW, W8OI, W7KNT, W8IW, W8PAT, W9GA, W9JN, WB8CQV, WB9Z, YL2AO, ZL3NW, ZS4TX, ZS6NK PHOTOS AND UPDATESTue Oct 26 Wed Oct 27 Thu Oct 28 Fri Oct 29 Sat Oct 30 Sun Oct 31 Mon Nov 1 Tue Nov 2 Wed Nov 3 Thu Nov 4 Fri Nov 5 Sat Nov 6 Sun Nov 7 Mon Nov 8 Tue Nov 9
SUMMARY OF RESULTS
Here is a list of the
total stations contacted via 6m EME:
Moonpass 1 - October 28 1. EA8DBM 1005 -32 2.9 2022 : TX7MB EA8DBM RRR q3 2. ON4GG 1023 -32 2.6 1485 : TX7MB ON4GG RRR q3 3. G8BCG 1053 -32 2.9 1705 : TX7MB G8BCG RRR q3 4. KJ9I 1105 -23 3.4 989 : TX7MB KJ9I RRR q3 5. ON4IQ 1111 -25 2.9 1476 : TX7MB ON4IQ RRR q3 6. N0TB 1149 -24 3.0 2366 : TX7MB N0TB RRR q3 7. KG7H 1153 -29 2.9 2034 : TX7MB KG7H RRR q2 8. ES6RQ 1209 -22 2.9 2187 : TX7MB ES6RQ RR73 q3 9. K9RX 1221 -26 2.9 628 : TX7MB K9RX RRR q3 10. OH7KM 1221 -26 2.9 300 : TX7MB OH7KM RRR q0 11. N8RR 1239 -25 2.9 2315 : TX7MB N8RR RRR q0 12. DK2PH 1301 -29 2.9 1205 : TX7MB DK2PH RRR q3 13. N3XX 1309 -27 2.9 544 : TX7MB N3XX RRR q3 14. PA5Y 1313 -24 2.9 1805 : TX7MB PA5Y RRR q0 15. GM3POI 1321 -27 2.9 1708 : TX7MB GM3POI 73 q3 16. K4PI 1337 -32 2.9 2421 : TX7MB K4PI 73 q3 17. K2ZD 1407 -26 2.9 1480 : TX7MB K2ZD RRR q3 18. ZL1RS 1421 -32 2.9 870 : TX7MB ZL1RS RRR q4 19. W7JW 1507 -29 2.9 2071 : TX7MB W7JW RRR q3 20. JG2BRI RRR received per chat 21. W8PAT 1727 -29 3.0 1015 : TX7MB W8PAT RR73 q3 22. JA9SJI 1823 -24 2.9 896 : TX7MB JA9SJI RRR q3 Moonpass 2 - October 29 23. UR0MC 1051 -30 3.3 1468 : TX7MB UR0MC RR73 q3 24. NJ6P 1117 -24 2.9 1223 : TX7MB NJ6P 73 q0 25. OH2BC 1135 -32 3.3 1028 : TX7MB OH2BC RR73 q3 26. F6BKI 1137 -27 3.1 930 : TX7MB F6BKI RRR q3 27. HA0DU 1155 -28 3.3 1743 : TX7MB HA0DU RRR q4 28. DL8YHR 1245 -32 3.1 2126 : TX7MB DL8YHR RRR q3 29. S57RR 1303 -32 3.2 808 : TX7MB S57RR RRR q3 30. HB9Q 1321 -24 2.9 1316 : TX7MB HB9Q RR73 q3 31. K5XI 1343 -29 3.2 1747 : TX7MB K5XI 73 q4 32. WA5VGI 1503 -32 3.2 1128 : TX7MB WA5VGI 73 q3 33. JR3DVL 1513 -32 3.0 975 : TX7MB JR3DVL 73 q3 34. JS2CQA 1521 -27 3.2 1290 : TX7MB JS2CQA RRR q3 35. W7IV 1521 -27 3.2 1290 : TX7MB JS2CQA RRR q3 36. JE3GRQ 1537 -23 3.1 968 : TX7MB JE3GRQ RRR q3 37. N7NW 1549 -32 3.1 1703 : TX7MB N7NW 73 q3 38. K6ND 1605 -25 3.3 1094 : TX7MB K6ND RRR q3 39. W6UC 1633 -28 3.2 1079 : TX7MB W6UC 73 q3 40. JA7QVI 1657 -29 3.0 2051 : TX7MB JA7QVI RRR q3 41. N1DG 1709 -25 3.1 2072 : TX7MB N1DG RRR q3 42. N8GTI 1739 -28 3.3 679 : TX7MB N8GTI RR73 q3 43. N9IW 1751 -25 3.2 2038 : TX7MB N9IW RRR 44. JG1TSG 1753 -28 3.1 2430 : TX7MB JG1TSG 73 q3 45. K0DAS 1853 -32 3.2 1617 : TX7MB K0DAS RRR q0 46. K8OM 1859 -32 3.1 1616 : TX7MB K8OM RRR q3 47. W6BBS 1915 -30 3.1 306 : TX7MB W6BBS 73 q3 48. K5NA 1919 -30 3.0 1783 : TX7MB K5NA RRR q3 49. K5DU 1943 -30 3.2 1778 : TX7MB K5DU RRR q3 50. JO1PSX 2017 -24 2.9 1273 : TX7MB JO1PSX RRR q3 Moonpass 3 - October 30 51. IW5DHN 1115 -16 3.0 2042 : TX7MB IW5DHN 73 q3 52. UT7QF 1131 -27 3.2 1472 : TX7MB UT7QF 73 q3 53. SP4MPB 1137 -25 3.1 1245 : TX7MB SP4MPB RR73 q3 54. UA4CC 1139 -22 3.2 1723 : TX7MB UA4CC RR73 q3 55. I4YRW 1231 -28 3.0 1440 : TX7MB I4YRW RRR q3 56. OH1LEU 1235 -25 2.6 2257 : TX7MB OH1LEU RRR q3 57. S59A 1333 -22 2.5 1897 : TX7MB S59A RR73 q3 58. OZ4VV 1347 -24 2.9 2234 : TX7MB OZ4VV 73 q3 59. GD0TEP 1401 -26 3.0 1708 : TX7MB GD0TEP RRR q3 60. N6BBS 1431 -32 2.7 466 : TX7MB N6BBS RRR q3 61. K6QXY 1433 -30 2.8 1818 : TX7MB K6QXY RRR q0 62. G4BWP 1445 -30 2.7 1088 : TX7MB G4BWP RRR q3 63. W6XU RRR confirmed on chat 64. N7NR 1527 -29 2.9 2074 : TX7MB N7NR RRR q3 65. K7KX 1549 -23 2.8 1040 : TX7MB K7KX 73 q3 66. W7GJ 1623 -24 2.8 1483 : TX7MB W7GJ 73 q3 67. AJ7LL 1635 -25 2.8 1479 : TX7MB AJ7LL 73 q3 68. W8OI 1639 -32 2.7 2263 : TX7MB W8OI RRR q3 69. K6EME RRR confirmed on chat 70. W7KNT 1655 -18 2.8 1476 : TX7MB W7KNT 73 q3 71. N8DX 1703 -29 2.8 2254 : TX7MB N8DX RRR q3 72. KB7Q 1713 -16 2.8 1473 : TX7MB KB7Q RRR q3 73. KY7M 1747 -23 3.2 1801 : TX7MB KY7M RRR q3 74. W9GA 1749 -25 2.8 440 : TX7MB W9GA RR73 q3 75. AA7A 1829 -26 2.9 1482 : TX7MB AA7A 73 q0 76. K6MYC 1843 -25 2.9 336 : TX7MB K6MYC RRR q3 77. W9JN 1859 -32 2.8 415 : TX7MB W9JN RR73 q4 78. K9TVG 1909 -27 2.8 410 : TX7MB K9TVG RRR q3 79. N9GEP 1923 -24 2.8 410 : TX7MB N9GEP RRR q3 80. AC0RA 1933 -22 2.9 1483 : TX7MB AC0RA RRR q3 4th Moon Pass October 31, 2021 81. RW5C 1149 -26 3.2 1834 : TX7MB RW5C 73 q3 82. UW7LL 1201 -18 3.1 1427 : TX7MB UW7LL RR73 q3 83. US0LW 1211 -25 3.2 1427 : TX7MB US0LW RR73 q3 84. PA9RX 1251 -27 2.7 1545 : TX7MB PA9RX RRR q3 85. SP3RNZ 1253 -26 2.9 2043 : TX7MB SP3RNZ RRR q3 86. YL2AO 1315 -26 3.0 2537 : TX7MB YL2AO RRR q0 87. SP7VC 1337 -32 2.9 2040 : TX7MB SP7VC RRR q4 88. N2RVU 1553 -27 2.9 1506 : TX7MB N2RVU RRR q3 89. WA9LFO 1611 -32 2.9 811 : TX7MB WA9LFO RRR q3 90. VK2XN 1825 -32 2.9 1156 : TX7MB VK2XN RRR q4 91. KC0SKM 1929 -22 2.8 1937 : TX7MB KC0SKM RRR q3 92. NR0X 1941 -25 2.8 1931 : TX7MB NR0X RRR q3 93. W0GN 1959 -21 2.9 1927 : TX7MB W0GN RRR q3 94. KL7UW RRR confirmed on chat 5th Moon Pass November 1, 2021 95. ZS4TX 1229 -19 2.6 1630 : TX7MB ZS4TX RRR q3 96. OH6MW 1319 -31 2.9 1853 : TX7MB OH6MW RRR q3 97. LY2IJ 1335 -27 2.7 745 : TX7MB LY2IJ RRR q2 98. KC8ENN 1927 -23 2.9 451 : TX7MB KC8ENN 73 q3 99. KA9CFD RRR confirmed on chat 100. XE2OR 2133 -26 2.7 1778 : TX7MB XE2OR RR73 q3 6th Moon Pass November 2, 2021 101. ZS6NK 1315 -21 2.7 828 : TX7MB ZS6NK RRR q3 102. N8JX RRR confirmed on chat 103. G4FUF 1511 -23 2.9 2135 : TX7MB G4FUF RRR q0 104. F5LNU 1527 -32 3.0 1327 : TX7MB F5LNU RR73 q3 105. KL7HBK 1609 -27 2.9 2099 : TX7MB KL7HBK RRR q4 106. W8IW 1633 -22 3.0 2330 : TX7MB W8IW 73 q2 107. VK3ZL 2201 -30 3.7 1093 : TX7MB VK3ZL RRR q4 108. VK5PJ 2325 -32 2.7 1477 : TX7MB VK5PJ RRR q4 7th Moon Pass November 3, 2021 109. NU0P 1409 -27 2.3 897 : TX7MB 4O6AH JN92 q3 110. WB8CQV 1459 -24 2.6 2083 : TX7MB WB8CQV RRR q3 8th Moon Pass November 4, 2021 111. PA7MM 1509 -26 2.5 645 : TX7MB PA7MM RRR q3 112. ZL3NW RRR confirmed on chat 1846 -32 2.6 1589 : ZL3NW TX7MB RRR q4 113. NN7J 2013 -28 2.6 605 : TX7MB NN7J RRR q3 114. WB9Z RRR confirmed by email 9th Moon Pass November 5, 2021 115. DK8NE 1603 -30 2.6 1029 : TX7MB DK8NE RRR q3 116. W5ADD 2005 -25 3.2 608 : TX7MB W5ADD 73 q3 117. N4BAA RRR Confirmed on chat 118. NV9L 2301 -27 2.6 1728 : TX7MB NV9L 73 q3 119. YB2MDU RRR Confirmed on chat 10th Moon Pass November 6, 2021 - MOONRISE ONLY NO MORE CONTACTS MADE
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