KA6U EME Expeditions

 KA6U Update - October 23, 2023 1100UTC October 2023 Roving Trip Complete Thanks everyone who called me during the October roving trip. 245 902 QSOs in the log from 25 states.  Total distance traveled was about 7,000 miles in 21 days. W5LUA, Al completed 902 WAS.  W7JW and ON4AOI completed 70cm WAS and hopefully on Wednesday ZS4TX will also complete 70cm WAS.  I think another 10 operators should have 25+ states confirmed by now on 902.  Please email me an updated list of the states you still need. The portable station worked well.  The 2.4M dish from Paul W2HRO worked great.  Thanks to Dan W5AFY for the loan of the 250 watt PA. A few problems with cables, connectors, relays and rotators however in most cases I was able to resolve the issues and complete activations.  By the end of the trip the setup/packing time for the 902 station took less than 10 minutes. In most cases the weather was excellent with temperatures from 29F to 80F.  Light rain at a few stops.  I was able to see the Moo

  KA6U Update - October 21, 2023 0330UTC I have arrived in Sioux City, SD after activating SD on 902EME Tomorrow I will go to Dubuque Iowa and then activate Illinois 1st and then Wisconsin from EN42RM Operating plan: IL - Saturday October 21 - 1950UTC 70cm EME no 902EME.  A future trip will do all of the remaining Midwestern states WI - Saturday October 21 - 2200 UTC (or about 30 minutes after completing IL) 902EME east of Dubuque, IA This will be my last 902EME activation for this trip. Peter KA6U

 KA6U Update - October 20, 2023 1300UTC I arrived in Casper Wyoming last night. Today I am driving toward Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I will not arrive at Sioux Falls until after 2100UTC so I will only activate SD today and will not activate MN on this trip. Operating plan: SD - Friday October 20 - 2100UTC 902 EME EN03 west of Sioux Falls, SD IL - Saturday October 21 - 1950UTC 70cm EME no 902EME this trip.  A future trip will do all of the remaining Midwestern states WI - Saturday October 21 - 2200 - 220 UTC 902EME east of Dubuque, IA Peter KA6U

  KA6U Update October 19, 2023 1600UTC Great conditions today.  Strongest signals I have seen on the trip. There was no wind today.  Very good sun noise 8db as expected. The Utah location was just across the border on the North side of I-80. The Wyoming location was 1 mile up the hill from my hotel.  Very quiet RF location. Wyoming Location DN41mg Tomorrow I will drive over to Jackpot, NV, do the activations in ID and NV, and late in the afternoon start driving East to stop in Casper, WY for the night. The  current operating plan is: ID - Thursday October 19 - 2030UTC 902EME DN22qa 30 minutes to move into NV NV - Thursday October 19 - 2200UTC 902EME DN21qx SD - Friday October 20 - 2100UTC 902 EME EN13 near Sioux Falls, SD MN - Friday October 20 - 30 minutes after SD (maybe) IL - Saturday October 21 - 1950UTC 70cm EME WI - Saturday October 21 - 2200 - 2330 UTC 902EME east of Dubuque, IA Current weather and wind forecasts at all locations look good. Thank-you everyone who has contributed

 KA6U Update October 18, 2023 0230UTC I will retry the activation tomorrow from the WY/UT border near Evanston, WY. The wind when I set up was 10+ continuous with gusts to 20mph. The folding dish does not work well in this environment. When I track sun noise, without wind the noise is 7-8db. With steady wind deforming dish 6db. When gusts hit 0db sun noise. First problem was loose connectors on the feed electronics with the dish thrashing around.  Next was the wind deforming and depointing the dish.  i am already RX limited and I did not hear well at all. I left Montana at 3 am this morning with a good wind forecast.  BUT these are the mountains and weather forecasts are guesses.  I did get to see a spectacular sunrise on the Rocky Mountains. From 3 am until sunrise I encountered 3 "herds (multiple critters) of deer" and two packs of coyotes on the road.  I actually had to stop to avoid hitting the deer that seemed to not notice the car.  Even though the speed limit was 70 I

  KA6U Update - October 17, 2023 0130UTC  Activations from ND and MT today on 902.  Difficult conditions, signals were a few db weaker than some other days.  Did not complete with everyone. Weather was 75 degrees with no wind! Updated Plan Tuesday drive to Evanston WY on WY/UT border UT and WY - Wednesday October 18, 2100UTC near Evanston, WY DN41lf ID and NV - Tuesday October 17,  2200UTC - 902EME near Jackpot, NV DN21qx Both of these activations will have a 30 intermission between states while the station is moved. Weather forecasts are excellent. After the western stops I will cross the mountains and stop in SD. I will then make stops in WI and IL before heading south to Texas for the EME contest. I may make some additional stops including OK for 70cm, I will schedule later. This is a very bad time of the month for EU but I have no choice, this is the only time this October when I can visit these states.  I plan to return to the west in the Spring with high Moon declination. I am re

 KA6U Update - October 16, 2023 1500UTC  CHANGED BACK TO TODAY, TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY Updated plan: MT and ND - Monday October 16, 1900UTC - 902EME (limited 23cm from ND) near Beach, ND ID and NV - Tuesday October 17,  2000UTC - 902EME near Jackpot, NV UT and WY - Wednesday October 18, 2200UTC near Evanston, WY After the western stops I will cross the mountains and stop in SD. I will then make stops in WI and IL before heading south to Texas for the EME contest. I may make some additional stops including OK for 70cm, I will schedule later. This is a very bad time of the month for EU but I have no choice, this is the only time this October when I can visit these states.  I plan to return to the west in the Spring with high Moon declination. Peter KA6U

KA6U Update - October 15, 2023 0300UTC  Change in plans There will be excellent weather this week in the Western US. So I am headed for the West side of the Rocky Mountains. Updated plan: MT and ND - Monday October 17, 1900UTC - 902EME (limited 23cm from ND) near Beach, ND ID and NV - Tuesday October 18,  2000UTC - 902EME near Jackpot, NV UT and WY - Wednesday October 19, 2200UTC near Evanston, WY After the western stops I will cross the mountains and stop in SD. I will then make stops in WI and IL before heading south to Texas for the EME contest. I may make some additional stops including OK for 70cm, I will schedule later. This is a very bad time of the month for EU but I have no choice, this is the only time this October when I can visit these states.  I plan to return to the west in the Spring with high Moon declination. Peter KA6U

KA6U Update October 13, 2023 2000UTC Completed 902 EME activations in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana today. I worked all callers, 10 or 11 in each state.  Total time for 3 state activation about 3 hours. I started in Ohio EN71.  After completing in Ohio I packed the station and  moved to a road on the Michigan and Indiana border.  Time from starting packing to on the air in Michigan 30 minutes. I operated on the right side of the road in Michigan then moved the station across the road into Indiana in 10 minutes. Station in Michigan Station in Indiana Next operations will be from the border of ND/SD on Monday October 16. ND - EN15 - 23cm EME - 1530 - 1600UTC - Yes this is bad for EU only day available this trip ND - EN15 - 902 EME - 1630 - 1800UTC SD - EN15 - 902 EME - 1830 - 2030UTC MN and WI will be on Tuesday October 17 time TBD. Peter KA6U

KA6U Update October 12, 2023 2230UTC FN02 In Western New York at Sunrise 37 degrees F The picture above from early this morning is one reason I enjoy roving and activating.  This is the best picture from the trip.  What you can't see is Interstate 86 in a shallow valley 300 yards in the direction the dish is pointing.  This was the quietest RF background on my trip so far!  1.5 miles North of Jamestown, New York. When I left the site the car was packed and on the road in 7 minutes.  A new record. I have arrived in Angola, Indiana this afternoon where the states of Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio meet. Tomorrow the Sun and Moon will be separated by 12 degrees.  When the separation is 10 degrees or greater I do not see Sun noise on 902 so sun noise should not be a problem. The operating plan is as follows: Ohio - EN71OQ46LX - 1500UTC October 13, 2023 Michigan - EN71OQ37GF - 30 minutes or less after Ohio completes (1 mile drive) Indiana - EN71OQ37GF - 15 minutes after Michigan completes (

 KA6U Update - 0000UTC October 12, 2023 Thank-you everyone for your help and patience while I struggled with my 902 station this morning.  We managed to complete 10 QSOs with all callers after a two-hour delay.  Paul was able to collect some interesting recordings of interference impacting both Q65-60C and JT-65C formats.  We finally completed  by going to Q65-30C to reduce the probability of a sweeping interference signal corrupting the decode. After we resolved the issues I saw the strongest signals ever from many of you.  Also received similar reports on my signal.  I was running 300W today at the feed. I have arrived in Jamestown NY FN02 after a 9 hour drive from Maine. I plan to be QRV from NY at 1200UTC October 12. On October 13 I plan to go to Camden, Michigan that is at the join of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.  If we are lucky and have good conditions we may be able to do all 3 states in one day.  I would need to do two 30 minute moves between states.  Top priority would be Mich

 KA6U Update - October 10 1400UTC Thanks everyone who called today.  10 902 QSOs logged and uploaded to LoTW. Tomorrow I will be at the Maine Visitor Center off I-95 North which is north of Kitterly, Maine.  This type of location often works well for overnight or early morning activations. It is only a 90 minute drive to Kitterly from VT.  I will drive over in the morning so I don't have to get a $200 hotel room in Maine.  After I complete operations in ME I will drive to western New York so I can do an activation in the Jamestown, NY area on Thursday morning. The weather forecast for Kitterly, ME is very light intermittent rain.  I can operate in light rain.  The forecast for Jamestown in western NY is good. Wednesday October 11 - Maine FN43PD - 1030UTC 902.080/200 Thursday October 12 - New York - FN02JC - 1130UTC 902.0880/200 Friday October 13 - IA - EN42 - 70cm - 1200UTC followed by 902 EME Friday October 13 - WI - EN42 - 902 - 30 minutes after IA activation (if possible) Octobe

  KA6U Update - October 9, 2023 - 1400UTC I have arrived in FN32 on the VT/MA border. Weather should be excellent tonight clear light wind, 40F. I went to the site and verified I will have a clear moon view from 0900UTC for as long as we need. Next operations: October 10 - 1000UTC - NH on 902 EME October 11 - 1030UTC - ME on 902EME October 12 - Time TBD - NY on 902 EME Drive to Dubuque, IA  Don't have firm plan for IA, IL, WI at this time due to weather and possible sun noise.  Probably starting again on October 16 ND/SD/MT/ID/WY/UT,NV (and other states) during Spring trip April 2024 Plans are subject to change Everyone - Please call with TX2 if you hear me to save time.  Please call with TX1 if you don't hear me.  Always announce your TX DF.  Please double check Doppler mode and TX sequence.  Wyatt the other callers from the shed are not using TX2, would you please ask them to do so? Peter KA6U

  KA6U Update - October 8, 2023 - 1930UTC I have arrived in FN32 on the VT/MA border. Weather should be excellent tonight clear light wind, 40F. I went to the site and verified I will have a clear moon view from 0900UTC for as long as we need. Next operations: October 9 - 0900 - 1200UTC - MA and VT on 902 EME October 10 - 0900 - 1200UTC - NH and ME on 902 EME October 11 - 1200 - 1400UTC - NY on 902 EME Drive to Dubuque, IA  October 12 - 1200 - 1400UTC - IL on 70cm and 902 EME October 13 - 1300 - 1400 UTC - WI on 70cm and 902 EME ND/SD/IA/OK after new Moon Plans are subject to change Everyone - Please call with TX2 if you hear me to save time.  Please call with TX1 if you don't hear me.  Always announce your TX DF.  Please double check Doppler mode and TX sequence.  Wyatt the other callers from the shed are not using TX2, would you please ask them to do so? Peter KA6U

  KA6U Update - October 7, 2023 - 1400UTC Congratulations ON4AOI and W7JW on completing 70cm WAS last night. ZS4TX has 3 states remaining and hopefully will complete 70cm by October 21 during this trip. By the time I arrive in TX on October 22 the goal will be to have activated 23 states on 902 EME. If all activations are successful W5LUA Al will have 45 states confirmed on 902 by that time. 902 operations were very successful. Propagation was ok, not great but best so far in the past week. Very strong Faraday both fast and slow fading. Completed 9 QSOs from RI in 30 minutes. Took 30 minutes to pack and cross bridge into CT. Completed 8 QSOs from CT in 24 minutes. 103 QSOs completed so far this trip, mostly on 902 EME average 8 QSOs per activation. All activations have been in the middle of the nights for the past 7 days. Saturday night will be the "first night off" during this trip. Conditions were heavy overcast with light rain. Next operations: October 9 - 0900 - 1100UTC -

 KA6U Update - October 6, 2023 - 1300UTC Overcast conditions last night in PA.  Strong Faraday.  Cable failure to TX relay on 902 feed delayed operations on 902. Paul W2HRO updated feed on 902 dish and SWR is now excellent on both polarities. After TX relay issue fixed, all 10 callers on 902 completed QSOs. Completed 70cm QSO with ON4AOI for state #49.  Hope to complete 70cm WAS from RI tomorrow morning UTC. ZS4TX has now completed 47 states on 70cm.  Hope to complete 70cm WAS by October 19. This is the operating plan for the rest of the Northeast US October trip.  Light rain is forecast for October 7 operations from RI.  I expect to be able to operate.  There are two "extra" days available if needed before new Moon. No additional 222 activations are planned on this part of the trip. Operating plan:  October 7 0600 UTC - RI - 70cm with low power from Westerly, RI October 7 0730 UTC - RI -  902 from Westerly, RI October 8 0800 UTC - CT - 902 across river from Westerly, RI in C

  KA6U Update - October Roving Trip - 2000UTC October 4, 2023 UPDATE: Only 902 EME activation from DE tonight Excellent conditions this morning on 902EME. I was able to see a good echo off the Moon. Worked 8 callers, 6 of the callers were worked on first call with no retransmissions.  Signals were good with minimal QSB and no cross polarization on my end. 222 operations were not successful.  The PA kept faulting even though the antenna SWR was excellent.  Tonight I will test the 222 PA into the dummy load and if the PA faults there will be no 222 operation tonight. Operating plan: October 5 (UTC) - 0400 - 0700UTC (or until complete) - 902EME from Augustine Beach, DE in FM29FM If 222 PA issue is resolved I will try 222EME after 902EME operations are complete.  I plan to test the 222 PA at about 0300UTC and will send an email to the 222 Activity Group with results Note that PA activation has been moved up and others delayed by one day: October 6 UTC - PA - 70cm, 902 October 7 UTC - CT -

  KA6U Update - October Roving Trip - 1500UTC October 3, 2023 Updates for remainder of this trip at bottom  Logs for VA and WV uploaded to LoTW. I will be in MD Tuesday night local time. I will operate on 902 and 222 EME.  I will not be on 70cm tonight. Operating plan: October 4 UTC - MD - 902 and 222 EME starting at 0400UTC Peter KA6U

  KA6U Update - October Roving Trip - 1900UTC October 2, 2023 Updates for remainder of this trip at bottom  Logs for NC, SC and WV uploaded to LoTW. I believe I accidentally deleted the last few NC 902EME QSOs from the log. If your QSO is missing, please send me an email with the QSO information. Conditions at the beginning of the operation early this morning were good and I worked several 902 stations immediately.  Conditions became challenging and I was unable to complete with W2HRO and W6TCP.  Strong Faraday.  Most of the QSOs on my end required cross polarization. It is difficult to accurately aim and maintain pointing at very high elevations.  Signals were not as strong. I am revising the plan for tonight which will be October 3 UTC.  I will be doing all operations in the early windows starting at 0130UTC October 3rd for the rest of this trip This is the plan: I will operate from the WV/VA border tonight from FM19BE05BG Here is a picture of the location you can see the border line

  KA6U Update - October Roving Trip - 0000UTC October 2, 2023 I arrived this evening in West Virginia.  The six hour drive took 9 hours due to traffic. I am staying in Charles Town for the next three days to do WV, MD and VA activations.  My location in WV is 8 miles from both MD and VA.  The activation sites in the 3 states are all within a 20 minute drive from my hotel. Tonight I will activate FM19BH79 in WV on 902 EME.  I plan to be QRV at about 0830UTC October 2nd, 4:30 am location time.  I don't expect high noise on 902. I will have a good Internet connection. When I announce calling, if you hear me please respond with TX2.  If you don't hear me please call with TX1.  Please announce your TX DF so that others can avoid calling on top of you and I will know where to look if signals are weak. Weather should be perfect next 3 days with temperatures in the 50's during the activations, no wind and clear sky.  With the high Moon elevation it will make it easy to align accura

  KA6U Update - October Roving Trip - 1300UTC October 1, 2023 UPDATE   Based on the operation last night I am changing my plans.   I will be in West Virginia at the next stop. I will only do a single activation, I can't do a Moonrise then a late activation and I can't stay up all night either :-). Sorry but this will inconvenience some operators. October 2nd (UTC) - West Virginia 900Mhz EME only - 0900UTC Peter KA6U