[50mhz] Re: [Moon-net] eme weekends

[Lance Collister, W7GJ (DN27ub)]

Rex Moncur wrote:

> Hi Johan
> 
> The following site gives conditions for weekends
> 
> http://www.vhfdx.net/w5luu.html
> 
> It basically says no good EME conditions until May. 
> 
> 73 Rex
> VK7MO 


Hmmm, I find many relatively good times when I run printouts on my end.  Basically, 
I look for times with a low "degredation" figure.  This figure is a comparison 
calculation combining the effects of distance to the moon (compared to the ideal 
situation at perigee) and background sky noise (compared to an ideal "quiet sky" 
background). An estimate of this is given in my TRACKER printouts for any band and 
day.  I certainly trust better the degredation figures shown on K1JT's JT65 screen 
when it comes time to actually run on a particular day.  There is no point becoming 
frustrated or frustrating others by trying to run when conditions are simply 
impossible, or basing your EME experience on tests done under bad conditions!

For 6m EME (much more so than higher frequency bands), it is important to try to 
optimize conditions and spend your time running skeds when as much as possible is 
going right for you.  That makes increases everyone's success rate and happiness 
quotient :-)  That is why I carefully watch for the periods with the lowest 
degredation (even when the moon is around apogee), and try to avoid periods of high 
geomagnetic activity (either with a high Kp or A index). That having been said, the 
weak signal JT65 modes are a TREMENDOUS equalizer in being able to make contacts 
even when cndx are NOT OPTIMUM!

Some of my most prized DXCC contacts on 6m EME were made with JT65 when the 
degredation was up around 6 dB!  So now, although I TARGET the lowest degredation 
days, I don't completely rule out 6m EME on other days - especially when the Kp 
index is down  below 2 :-)  I recall that my second digital 6m EME contact (a second 
sked with ZS6WB, just to make sure that the first contact made a week earlier was 
not a fluke) had a degredation of over 5 dB!  Take a look at days when the 
degredation is lower than 6 dB, and I think you will be amazed at the HUGE 
percentage of days available for EME!

GL and have fun!  VY 73, Lance

-- 
Lance Collister, W7GJ (ex: WN3GPL, WA3GPL, WA1JXN, WA1JXN/C6A, ZF2OC/ZF8)
P.O. Box 73
Frenchtown, MT  59834  USA
QTH: DN27UB
TEL: (406) 626-5728
URL: http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj