[Moon] VK3UM ..DUBUS 2007 432MHz CW Contest

[Doug McArthur]

DUBUS 2007 432MHz CW  Contest
I was unfortunately unable to stay for my NA window on Saturday 24th 
March due to extremely high winds (>80kph) that came with a cold front
just after I commenced operating. I had a nervous 20 minutes or so 
attempting to raise the dish to the parked (bird bath) position as 
the wind was
even two strong for the two 12 ton hydraulic rams to get it past the 
30 degree mark. The noise of the wind roaring through the mesh was 
quite alarming
but the dish survival was theoretically never in doubt as the 
construction is designed for 125 Mph, but one never wishes to prove the point!

The conditions were the worst I have experienced for a very long 
time. Polarity was changing rapidly and over a wide range, deep 
fading was evident for
the whole period as well. On top of all that Libration was most 
significant as well. It required considerable patience with the 
smaller stations to wait until
polarisation and QSB combined favorably. There always is a thresh 
hold where signals above 4 yagis and 1kW, for me, are normally easy 
to work, even under such conditions
but those below that EIRP pose a challenge with my installation. I 
learnt later from Peter SM2CEW that there was considerable Aurora 
activity .. that came as no surprise!
I did not get the opportunity to measure Sun noise but I would expect 
it to have been quite elevated.

I regretfully have to make mention about the lack of activity from NA 
(in my single window) was the worst I have seen in > 20 years. Two 
USA stations was a little disappointing.

As usual the operating procedure and patience shown by all the 
operators I worked was just exemplary. And thats what I enjoy most 
about this mode of EME, the total random
nature of all QSO's, and the technical challenge of physically making 
the QSO's under adverse conditions with no outside electronic help . 
There was only one caller I failed
to drag from the noise and that was between 1111-1135z on Sunday 
25th. Who ever it was, thanks for your persistence but my apology for 
not making it. (7 c z ?)
								

24/03/2007 ..
JA6AHB  54N/56N, UA3PTW 55N/56N, SM3AKW 55N/53N, SP6JLW 55N/55N, 
RW3PX  54N/44N, SM2A      43N/53N,
SM3BYA 53N/53N, OH2DG   55N/55N, KL6M      55N/55N,  EA3DXU 55N/44N, 
G4RGK  55N/44N, SM2CEW 55N/55N,
DL5FN    54N/55N, JA9BOH  53N/54N, G3LTF     55N/56N,  SV1BTR 
55N/54N, OZ6OL   54N/55N,  DL1YMK  54N/54N,
OZ4MM  55N/55N,  FR5DN   56N/55N,  DL9KR    57N/57N,
24/03/2007 ..
K2UYH   55N/55N,  VE6TA    55N/57N,   RW1AW  55N/55N, SM5IOT 33N/54N, 
S53J  33N/55N,  F3VS  55N/56N,
SM3JQU 54N/56N, DL4MEA  43N/O,      DL7AFB 53N/O
30 QSO's Multipliers 27	..Claimed Total Score 81,000

For info ... 2002  33 contacts(one window)  ... 2003 44 contacts ... 
2004  17 contacts (one hour only) .. 2005  44 contacts .. 2006 34 contacts.
conclusion .. still very strong support but US active stations has 
unfortunately diminished significantly.

Regards
Doug VK3UM