[NLRS] 1.2 ghx eme

[Jon Platt]

Hi Kirk.  
I may be two pages ahead of you in the "1296 EME book".   A few summers ago I acquired four used and beat up 12' loopers with their H frame, I refinished them, rebuilt the phasing lines, and have mounted them on my rover rack that I can wheel in and out of my garage on a small cart.  My goal was to see what (if) I could actually hear any 1296 EME signals.  My setup is these 4 loopers, a power divider, DB6NT preamp, Yaesu Az/El rotator driven by an EA4TX USB interface box that is in turn connect to the PC running F1EHN moon tracking software, a DEMI 1296 transverter, my FT897 on 2m using a SignaLink USB for the digital interface.  Most of this stuff I already had ... I did purchase the EA4TX interface box.  A few weeks ago I was successful in seeing the ON0EME beacon that is on 1296.000.  On occasional peaks I could hear CW tones, but they were much to weak for me to copy.  A few days later I was successful in decoding SM5DGX who was calling CQ and was running 400 watts into a 8m dish ... a big gun station.  I was copying him at -16 and again I could occasionally hear his tones.  
So my first goal was to see if I could actually hear stations with four loopers ... the answer is yes you can, albeit its the big gun stations.   
Now I am continuing onward to get my transmit power going.  Just 50 watts.  I have to surgically operate on my 1296 transverter to split the RF side and I have to do some system designing for sequencing and to control my latching RF relay, so this is a work in progress with my goal to be ready for the October EME contest and to work a station or two.  Again, I have done all of this using stuff that I already have, with some exceptions.  
Because circular polarization is used on 1296, a linear polarized antenna system like my loopers surrenders 3 dB (theoretically).  An advantage of going with a dish is that you can build/buy a circular feed.  If I was starting from scratch like you may be I would go with a dish, not loopers.  Also, you need to be able to see the moon without trees .... not through trees.  My lot has lots of trees which is one reason I have my four loopers on a small cart; I can move it around on my driveway to maximize my view to the moon.  I do have a fair treeless EU window that is usable when the moon has high declination.  So check to see if you have a treeless shot .... that is where the antenna needs to go.
Starting out from scratch, you need a dish, circular feed, dish mount with tracking capability, to be able to see the moon, a good preamp, sequencing, 1296 xmt/rcv, and a digital interface.  Also, some power .... right now I have just 50 watts which is marginal.  Also, the HB9Q logger seems to be the place to see active stations and real time activity, and the Moon-Net reflector for help and discussions.  
Barry, VE4MA, has been helping me along on my journey and is on this reflector.   
73, JonW0ZQ

-----Original Message-----
From: Kirk P <inservice2him at hotmail.com>
To: NLRS <NLRS at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wed, Sep 2, 2020 8:40 pm
Subject: [NLRS] 1.2 ghx eme

Good evening,
I think Id like to try 1.2 EME
Looking for equipment Id need.
Antennas...loopers?
Demi..I run IC-9100 with SDR modification for RX?
1.2 unit for 9100?
Any other input. Appreciated
Kirk, N0KK


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