[50mhz] 6m update from KH8 - 8th & 9th moon pass

[Lance Collister, W7GJ]

The following is the update for Saturday July 20 and July 21 from my webpage.

http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj/AmericanSamoa2014.htm

Saturday, July 19, 2015 - 7th moon pass.  On again moonrise to moonset. Kp was 0.3, 
and the Degradation was -4.4 dB.  The moonrise seemed to be somewhat impaired and I 
wonder if it might have been trapping due to some sort of tropospheric inversions on 
this end. There seemed to be fog or mist over the ocean, and I have seen such 
trapping taking place on other stations when they were aimed on the horizon.   In 
addition, the moonsets (now during the day) suffered severely, probably due to the 
high TEC levels toward the west at mid-day.  During moonset, no signals at all were 
heard for many sequences, and the band seemed extremely erratic, with signals 
suddenly appearing once and then completely disappearing.

However, despite these less than ideal conditions, there still seemed to be a number 
of stations anxious to try to work this rare DXCC.   I completed with PA3HP, LA8AJA, 
G4FUF, W7GJ (special thanks to the "Home Team" of KB7Q, AJ7LL, K7VK and K7PX!), 
OH2BC, JR6EXN, and UZ5DZ.  Stations copied but not worked were: OK1RD, HB9Q, EA7KW, 
GM4WJA, JR1LZK, VK5PO, K4RX, W4CSW, N8OC, W5UN, K7MAC, YO9HP, OZ7OX, S51DI, PE1L, 
UR7DWW, and LZ2WO.

Monday, July 21, 2015 - 8th moon pass. As previously announced, I was only QRV from 
KH8 moonrise through JA moonrise.  Degradation was -4.8 dB and Kp = 1.0.  Again, 
extensive Es from western EU to the eastern half of NA severely interfered with 
stations beaming toward their moonset.  The only stations worked were OZ4VV and 
GM4WJA, bringing the total worked so far up to 64, far surpassing the totals from 
previous 6m EME DXpeditions ;-)  The number of stations capable of 6m EME is greatly 
increasing!  Stations copied but not worked were IK5MEN, OK1RD, HB9Q, and JR1LZK.  
Thanks to everyone for your patience and attempts under adverse conditions!  I hope 
that we can have better success during the final days of operation next weekend, 
Saturday July 26 and Sunday, July 27.  Even though it is full moon next weekend, the 
Degradation will be considerably lower, and unless the sun is abnormally active and 
there is unusually intense Es in NA and EU, there should be some good chances for 
those who still are close to making a contact.  Best of luck to you all, and rest 
assured that I will be QRV again moonrise to moonset on both Saturday and Sunday next 
weekend, looking hard for new stations!   I will be starting to dismantle the station 
after KH8 moonset on July 27, and will take down the antenna and pack it up to leave 
American Samoa on Monday July 28.

GL and VY 73, Lance

-- 
Lance Collister, W7GJ
(ex WA3GPL, WA1JXN, WA1JXN/C6A, ZF2OC/ZF8, E51SIX, 3D2LR, 5W0GJ, E6M, TX5K, KH8/W7GJ)
P.O. Box 73
Frenchtown, MT   59834-0073
USA
TEL: (406) 626-5728
QTH: DN27ub
URL: http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj
Skype: lanceW7GJ
2m DXCC #11/6m DXCC #815

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