[HIham] Successful 2.3 GHz EME at 02:39Z, 23-APR-2007

[Ron Hashiro]

Bruce Clark, K0YW, operating KH7X at KH6YY made the
first successful EME contact from Hawaii on 2304 MHz
at 2:39Z, 23-APR-2007 (Sunday afternoon, 4:39 pm).
This is the first time EME from Hawaii has been worked on
this band.

Contact was with Al, W5LUA, running 200 watts into a 12 foot
TVRO dish.  Equipment included an SSB Electronics
transverter, a preamp and a Kenwood TS-2000 on 144 Mhz.

A number of hams helped Bruce with his attempt.
They included KH6YY, KH6ND, KH7U, WH6GS, AH6NF
and AH6RH.

2.3 GHz is the near the same frequency band as Wi-Fi wireless
PC networking, and residential microwave ovens.
Typical Wi-Fi devices are less than 200 milliwatts, and
household microwave ovens are 1,000 watts or less.

Operations was in a tent pitched next to the TVRO dish
to reduce feedline losses.  The TX feedline
was 7/8-inch heliax, and RX feedline included LMR-400
and LMR-600.  Noise caused by rain falling on the
tent can overwhelm the audio and disrupt QSOs.

The CW signal was just above the noise level, and sounded
"watery" as if the speaker was being held underwater.
The warbling tone was much worse than arctic flutter.
The sound was typical due to the RF signal reflecting
off the irregular surface of the moon.  Doppler was on the
order of 3 kHz shift due to the relative motion of the
earth and moon, multiplied by the frequency.  CW speed
was about 10 WPM, with much of the QSO sent
twice in short phrases due to the signals being just
above the noise level.

Bruce will continue to operate 2.3 GHz for a couple more
days before dismantling the station and returning home.

See Jim Yuen's website for photos of the setup of
the station.

http://www.aditl.com/ham/kh7x-eme-2007/index.html

Ron H, AH6RH