[Moon] Murphys visit

[dl5mae at wa7v.ampr.org]

Dear OM

perhaps not everything EME related. I am writing this because Murphy
visited me several times during my last SV9-trip. But all my points I am
writing here was reality. Read yourself and enjoy (or not):

THE 10 mistakes of the expeditoneer:

1. Test your TRX much harder before going out on expedition (Murphy:
broken RX/TX relais)

2. Run a good burn-in-test with your PA before your activity (Murphy:
broken resistor in HV-part of PA)

3. be sure the spare preamp is working (Murphy: I had a selection of 3
spare preamps and the spare one I took along was defective)

4. you must be right on time if Es occurs (Murphy: I was either 1 day to
late or to early QRV/QRT, so had to work out of the car or with QRP)

5. never pack your PA too early - better miss the connecting boat and
work the good DX instead (Murphy:
heard north DLs and OZs via Es but NO GO with 30W)

6. in case of high winds you better use a groundplane
for DX (Murphy: the antenna usually turned to Middle East = almost no
activity)

7. dont trust your measurement with compass - its inaccurate for EME
(Murphy, you are right)

8. arrange a back-up sked for EME if you are not sure about the correct
pointing of your antenna or better avoid a moon-rise sked over the sea
during daylight (Murphy: you will never find the moon with your eyes)

9. never call CQ on 144.300MHz if you are not in the
center of the Es-opening (Murphy: here is always a wall of stations in
front of you)

10. better never go out to a place without public electricity and
internet connection, otherwise QSOs are very difficult and you cant tell
someone that you call him since hours or he should continue...
(Murphy: many forgot how to work without this help)

----------------------------------------------------
I REALLY HAVE TO ADMIT MY MISTAKES...BUT WHAT ARE
THE 10 MOST COMMON MISTAKES ON THE OTHER SIDE?
----------------------------------------------------

The 10 mistakes of the DX-hunters:

1. Please do not read the expeditions announcements
in advance

2. there is no need to check your TX signal (i.e. bad keying) - just go
on air

3. try to call as far off frequency. The DX-peditoneer will find you
anyway

4. please call continously in case of hearing nothing from the
DX-station

5. there is no need to improve your own operating skills. Machines will
do it for you

6. never show up when conditions are best - better let fall the DX-OP
asleep

7. everybody call exact at 04 utc and try to complete the QSO EASY in 5
minutes. If not, complain at the DXpeditioneer

8. please do not accept that conditions right north of the African coast
could be much different than i.e. in northern Scandinavia

9. never listen to a weak CW signal during an Es opening - its probably
a bloody birdie

10. avoid to improve your RX. Good expeditions usually go out with a big
truck and big PAs , so the signal will be loud enough for you


vy 73 de DL5MAE, Wolfgang