[50mhz] 6 meter WAS in EU

Fri Jul 30 12:11:32 EDT 2010

Hello John,

MNI TNX for your inquiry.  In answer to your question, the smallest station I have 
worked (on random, twice!) so far was using 3 element M2 yagi and 100w, but that was 
under optimum cndx, and he had unusually good ground gain at his QTH, low feedline 
loss, etc.  It is simply amazing to me that so many people have 6m EME capability and 
either have not tried it, or don't realize they have it.

There are a half dozen basic ingredients to making a contact on 6m:

1) Optimum time of month for good EME cndx
2) Low noise at the QTH
3) Excellent ground gain
4) Good antenna and low loss feedline
5) Power
6) JT65A mode

JT65A is a special weak signal digital mode that was especially developed for EME 
("moonbounce") communications.  JT65A can be used by any station set up for PSK31. It 
is now the standard accepted mode for EME operation on the 6m band, worldwide, and 
the extra sensitivity provided by this special mode makes it possible for single yagi 
stations to complete moonbounce contacts on the 6m band.  Now that we are in the 
bottom of the sunspot cycle, cndx are EXCELLENT for 6m EME because the geomagnetic 
field is usually very quiet :-)  JT65A is one of the weak signal modes included in 
the free WSJT package of programs available at:

http://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/wsjt.html

In addition, a list of setup tips for new JT65 users is available on my web page:

http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj/JT65.txt

I have completed 6m EME contacts with 104 DXCC so far, and most of those contacts 
were with single yagi stations using JT65A mode while the moon was near their 
horizon. The secret to success (besides using JT65A mode) is for a single yagi 
station to KEEP THE ANTENNA AIMED ON THE HORIZON!  This permits the yagi to generate 
extra GROUND GAIN that can make it perform like a 4 yagi station aimed up in the sky! 
  Ground gain is best when the terrain in front of the antenna is free of "ground 
clutter" such as houses, rooftops, cars, valleys, etc....and the VERY BEST of course 
is when the antenna can look directly out over the ocean!

I have worked a handful of 100w stations during the optimum times of the month (the 
smallest had a 3 element yagi), but most of the stations I have contacted have had at 
least 500w and a well designed 6 or 7 element beam.

A very popular amplifier among DXpeditions has been the ACOM 1000 (HF + 6m kw 
amplifier):  http://www.acom-bg.com/a1000.htm

A very popular 6m antenna that has worked very well on 6m EME DXpeditions is the 
lightweight and very portable M2 6M7JHV:

http://www.m2inc.com/products/6m/6m7jhv.html

or the new M2 6M8GJ (which I used very successfully on 6m EME from E51SIX) and which 
I am taking to 3D2 in the fall:

http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj/6M8GJMAN1.pdf

Other excellent high performance homebrew yagi designs can be found at 
http://www.yu7ef.com/ and I have worked many of these antennas.

For more information on 6m EME and to see a sampling of active 6m EME stations, I 
invite you to read this article:

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

We are coming up on the optimum time of month for 6m EME again during the week of 
August 9 ;-)  Please spread the word to any 6m operators you know who are interested 
in working me from 3D2LR...I will have manual elevation to match their moonsets, and 
will be calling CQ on 50.190 (in the first sequence JT65A mode) the first weekend of 
October.  More info on my website...  GL and VY 73, Lance

On 7/30/2010 3:34 PM, John Geiger wrote:
> Hi Lance,
>
> Thanks for the info. What is the smallest station that can work off of the moon on
> 6m?
>
> 73s John AA5JG
>
> --- On Fri, 7/30/10, Lance Collister, W7GJ<w7gj at q.com>  wrote:
>
>> From: Lance Collister, W7GJ<w7gj at q.com> Subject: Re: [50mhz] 6 meter WAS in EU
>> To: "John Geiger"<aa5jg at yahoo.com> Cc: 50mhz at mailman.qth.net Date: Friday, July
>> 30, 2010, 9:35 AM On 7/30/2010 3:10 AM, John Geiger wrote:
>>> This question comes about from a discussion I was
>> having with another 6 meter addict the other day.  Does anyone know if any
>> European stations have accomplished 6 meter worked all states?  It seems like it
>> would have been possible during F2 seasons, but pretty difficult. If any have,
>> that would sure be an accomplishment.
>>>
>>> 73s John AA5JG
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
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>>>
>> Yes, I think ON4IQ or ON4GG was first.  Most of the states were obtained on Es,
>> taking advantage of the low Kp during the extended bottom of the solar cycle to
>> work muli-hop/chordal Es over the far northern path to the western USA.  Their
>> last few states were obtained on 6m EME, working single yagi stations during
>> their moonrise. Several other stations in EU are very close, and expect to have
>> WAS soon too, as the rest of these "rare and less populated" western states
>> become activated on 6m EME by single yagi stations.
>>
>> VY 73, Lance
>>
>> -- Lance Collister, W7GJ (ex: WN3GPL, WA3GPL, WA1JXN, WA1JXN/C6A, ZF2OC/ZF8,
>> E51SIX, 3D2LR) 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
>>
>> Interested in 6m EME?  Ask me about subscribing to the MAGIC BAND EME email
>> reflector!
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>

-- 
Lance Collister, W7GJ (ex: WN3GPL, WA3GPL, WA1JXN, WA1JXN/C6A, ZF2OC/ZF8, E51SIX, 3D2LR)
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

Interested in 6m EME?  Ask me about subscribing to the MAGIC BAND EME email reflector!