[50mhz] 6M8GJ antenna going to E51SIX Sunday

[Lance Collister]

Howdy!

Just a reminder that things are falling into place for the EME DXpedition in rainy 
Rarotonga, and we are starting to pack up to head out this weekend.  I am still 
hoping to be QRV by my moonrise on March 26, weather permitting.  Mike K6MYC has 
very graciously loaned me his water cooled solid state amp, and it seems to be 
working FB as of late this afternoon :-)

I hope to be able to provide some updates from time to time at a local internet 
cafe.  Please watch for updates on these web pages:

http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj/E51SIX.htm
http://www.mmmonvhf.de/latest.php
http://www.on4kst.info/chat/login.php?band=1

Mike also has graciously loaned me his new 8 element yagi, especially designed for 
portable 6m operation.  It is everything I have been dreaming about for a 6M 
DXpedition antenna ;-)  However, its 12.17 dBD free space gain is something that 
is probably of interest to people even if they are not needing a magic 6m antenna 
to take in a travel bag on an airplane.  I probably can't attach a document via 
email, so I have put the brand new M2 specification sheet for the antenna up on my 
webpage:

http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj/6M8GJMAN1_BW.pdf

Below, I am forwarding the introduction that Mike just sent out regarding the 
above data sheet.  I hope many of you will listen on JT65A for me during your 
moonsets between March 26 and April 4! Let's take advantage of these great times 
for EME!  I am looking forward to providing a new DXCC for many 6m stations :-) 
Please spread the word - MNI TNX!

GL and VY 73, Lance

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Subject: 6M8GJ Spec Sheet

I KNOW SOME OF YOU ALREADY HAVE GOOD 6M YAGIS BUT I AM SENDING THIS ALONG FOR TWO 
REASONS

LANCE ,W7GJ, WILL BE USING THIS ANTENNA FROM E51 (OLD ZK1) STARTING MARCH 26 OR 27 
FOR 6M EME ON 50.190.  HE ALSO HAS MY SOLID STATE WATER COOLED KW AMP AND WE HOPE 
ALL GOES WELL WITH HIS EME OPERATION.
LANCE JUST CALLED ME AND SAID HE HAS A COOL 800W OUT OF THE AMP WITH JUST 16W 
DRIVE SO HE IS READY TO PACK IT UP.
HE WILL HAVE COMMON MOONTIME WITH EUROPE FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR ON HIS MOON RISES. HE 
HAS ALSO BUILT ELEVATION CAPABILITY INTO THE SINGLE YAGI SO WE WILL ALL SEE HOW 
MANY OF US HE CAN WORK WITH THE YAGI AND NO GROUND / WATER GAIN.

THE OTHER REASON I AM SENDING IT ALONG IS TO PROMOTE SALES OF THIS ANTENNA AND ALL 
OF YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO AT LEAST PASS THIS INFORMATION ALONG TO OTHER 
POTENTIAL USER / BUYERS.

I AM PERSONALLY VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS ANTENNA AND I FEEL THAT SEVERAL WILL SHOW 
UP IN 4 BAY ARRAYS BEFORE TOO LONG.  I WILL PUT UP AT LEAST FOUR AT MY HOME QTH 
AND I THINK I CAN MUSTER AN 8 BAY ARRAY.

LOOKING AT THE CYCLE 24 SUNSPOT ACTIVITY, IT IS QUESTIONABLE IF WE WILL GET ENOUGH 
F2 TO WORK MORE THAN JUST ROUTINE DX.  WITH A 4 BAY YOU CAN GO RIGHT ON COLLECTING 
COUNTRIES NO MATTER WHAT MR. SOL DECIDES TO DO.

THERE IS ONE MINOR CORRECTION TO THE "FEATURES" PART OF THE SPEC SHEET. SINCE THE 
FINAL "CARRY BAG" WE WILL BE OFFERING AS AN OPTION IS SLIGHTLY LONGER THAN THE 
ORIGINAL BOGEN CAMERAL STAND BAG I HAVE BEEN USING FOR YEARS, WE CAN LENGTHEN THE 
MAST SECTIONS BY A COUPLE INCHES EACH AND MAKE THE MAST TALL ENOUGH TO PUT THE 
ANTENNA AT EXACTLY 20 FEET AS SHOWN IN THE SOLID WORKS DRAWING ABOVE.

THE DRAWING BY THE WAY IS EXACTLY TO SCALE IN EVERY WAY RIGHT DOWN TO THE NUT AND 
BOLT LENGTHS USED.  IT ALSO FEATURES AND SHOWS EXACTLY WHAT OUR NEW 3KW 1:1 BALUN 
LOOKS LIKE AND THE CLEAN HAIRPIN MATCHING SYSTEM USED ON THE ANTENNA. THE BALUN IS 
CAREFULLY FABRICATED FROM A 10 INCH SECTION OF LMR400 FLEX TERMINATED IN A FEMALE 
'N' TYPE CONNECTOR. EACH BALUN IS ELECTRICALLY IDENTICAL SO PHASING OF MULTIPLE 
ANTENNAS IS SIMPLE AND STRAIGHTFORWARD.

THANKS FOR READING!
73, MIKE, K6MYC

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-- 
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
2m DXCC #11, 6m DXCC #815