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 was driving at 40mph because I know there will be critters on the road!  This was open range land with no fences.  Added an hour to my trip but at least I made it.

The forecast for tomorrow is for acceptable winds from the West that should be ok.
I plan to be on in UT first then move to WY.
  • 1830UTC - Wednesday October 18 - 902 EME UT
  • After completing UT 30 minute break to move station then WY 02 EME
Thursday morning I will drive to Jackpot, Nevada on the Idaho/Nevada border to do it again.
The forecast for Thursday is excellent.

 Peter KA6U

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

 KA6U Update - January 16, 2024 - 1900UTC EM42 Activation postponed until January 17.  Extreme power line noise at site.  Too cold to tear down, move and set up again today. 2M EME Operations Planned I am planning 2M EME operations from 4 grids in the US Southeast over the next two weeks.  Current plan is: EM42 - Wednesday January 17 - 1730UTC  EM52 - Thursday January 18 - 1830UTC  I will activate EM62 and EM72 during the week starting Monday January 29 I should be at locations where I can start operations at Moonrise. I plan to run JT65B.  I will have internet access and will use the normal EME chat page. Weather forecasts look ok at this time. QSL cards please send to W6TCP Peter KA6U
Read more
KA6U Update - January 31, 2024 - 0000UTC Cancelled - 2M EME Activations Jan 31 EM72 I will reschedule the activation for EM72 later this Spring. I am feeling ill today and do not want to be out in the cold from midnight until 4 am :-) 73 Peter KA6U
Read more
  KA6U Update - July 18, 2023 -  1130UTC Updated plan for Saturday July 22nd: Saturday July 22nd - MS EM43KH - 1700 - 1900UTC - 23cm and 70cm  Saturday July 22nd - AR EM43JG - 2000 - 2200UTC - 23cm and 70cm  There is a possibility that I may move the AR activation to Sunday July 23rd starting at 1800UTC. I will operate first on the east side of the Mississippi River in Mississippi and then cross the river into Arkansas.  I need 45 - 60 minutes to move the 70cm and 23cm stations. Current weather forecast is good. Peter KA6U
Read more