[TransAtlantic] K4MHZ/b status Report

[k4mhz at aol.com]

Team
The first week of December 2009 I turned the K4MHZ/b  (144.300 MHz) 12 element M2 Yagi on the azimuth peaking on southern Florida.
My observations over the past several years is the odds of a Transatlantic path after October is minimal. Therefore the antenna azimuth change to southern Florida for more correlation of the Hepburn reports vs. reports of reception.
In 3 weeks we have observed many reports out to 660 miles with numberous 599 in southern florida and a few off the side lobes out to 400 miles well correlated with Hepburn. After the January VHF contest I will turn the antenna to KP4/Puerto Rico where I have seen decent Hepburn reports for a good path from December to April from K4MHZ/b at 1000 miles to KP4.  It would be great to get the first KP4 report... I will move the antenna back to the CT1HZE heading in April.  

K4MHZ/b 50.0625 MHz Transatlantic Beacon is off the air for maintenance. The 50 MHz, 100 Watt output amplifier has been tested and performs well. Addition of a blower for continuous duty will be added as well as modifying the existing beacon transmitter from 30 watts out to 6 watts as a driver. it will return to service in April with 100 Watts to the M2 Omni antenna at 50 feet elevation.
73
Mark
K4MHZ