G4DCV EME
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I have one of the world's smallest EME stations on 2m! Because of the small size of my English town garden I normally put up a single yagi on a temporary tripod. I have used various antennas, many of my QSOs have been made with just a 9 element Tonna which is hand steered for azimuth and elevation. I've sometimes bayed a second Tonna although this is difficult to rotate because of trees in the garden. And recently I have been using a single 11 element long yagi to try to squeeze another dB or two from my system. Living in a town means that the noise floor from neighbours' TV, satellite recievers etc is very high and the only way I can work anyone via EME is to use elevation. At low angles QSOs are impossible even with the really big EME stations. Elevating the antenna makes a big difference because the electrical noise from local houses drops away. The antenna is fed through 17 metres of Andrew LDF5-50 cable (loss 0.26dB) and I use a DEMI HEMT LNA. UK power output is restricted to 400W at the antenna feedpoint and I use a GS31B amplifier. Although I do use skeds via the JT65 EME Link and ON4KST I prefer to try to work stations at random, answering their CQ calls. There is something particularly satisfying in making a random EME contact.
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I have heard (and called) many more stations than I have worked and so there are lots more contacts possible. Several of the stations in the list below are running 4 yagis and I have had random QSOs with PA0JMV and EA3DXU who are 2 yagi stations, and W5UWB who has a single (big) yagi. If you would like a sked please email me at paulATg4dcv.co.uk (AT = @ And if you think you have a big station to work my 3 element tape measure yagi I'd be pleased to have a go! 73 Paul G4DCV |
List of EME initials worked by G4DCV (IO91OF) on 2 m.
16/02/2013 14.18 SP4K KO03HS It was great to work IK3MAC during the Dubus CW activity weekend in 2006. My
first CW EME QSO for 20 years. If you would like to hear what he sounds
like on a 9 element Tonna you can download
a wav file (The file is 1.4Mb). I recorded it on the following
evening Sunday 09/04/2006. The Wanted List! Stations copied but not (yet) worked include: RD3BD, UA9YLU, F6HVK, EI4DQ, KE7NR/P, HA5OV, F8DO, K5GMX, SM7BAE, DK1CO, YU1CF, EB5EEO, SP6GWB, F1TE, SM2ILF, HA0HO, CT1HZE, YO2LAM, EA5CJ, OH3KLJ, GM6VXB plus many others |