[Moon] ARRL EME first leg comments

[OK1DFC]

Hello EMErs,
I would like to shortly inform you about my activity in past ARRL first EME leg on 1296 MHz. I was really interesting for comments about conditions and read interestedly in past e-mails nice commentary of Peter, Gunter and Dough. I had same problems in this time. EU stations where very good readable and no problem with fading or librations. But VK,  KL7 and VE is different story. When I worked Dough VK3MU on 23cm, signal looks like linear polarized with long and very deep QSO to zero. Normally was Dough 559-569 very good copy, but in exact sinus period on time was his signal coming down and up. More problems I had with Trevor’s VK4AFL signal. Trevor was not so strong like Dough, but QSB was terrible. Same effect I have observed on JAs. But the QSB was not so deep. Opposite in W, when I worked AL7RT he must to thing that DFC is crazy. His signal was quit strong enough for easy QSO, but I was not able to completed call. Each letter was damaged to many different letters and I had really serious problem to complete his call. Trust me no alcohol during contest J here,  but it is fact. I thing that in the moment something happened with Earth electromagnetic field. Many stations closer to polls KL7, VE, VK where in deep QSBs or slashed letters. Problem of AL7RT was, that his CW cadence was exactly in cadence of slashing or fading. I am really not able to find any right word what it was. Same problem I had with “any” VE station, he left my 2nd QRZ without answer and moved to any better operator J. Anyway, thanks to all for nice contest. I was QRV thanks to cooperated WX whole the time and reached my personal record in first leg. Totally I have worked 70 stations and 34 multipliers. It was really great time. I heard and did not work only WD5AGO and WB2BYP. Worked new 11# on 1296 MHz and total number is 186# today. So more details and calls in NL report. Very highlight was operation by N9JIM. I worked Jim SSB first 57 and second night we worked again CW 599 – full S-meter on my FT1000 and again chat little bit SSB with un-expecting 59 signal. I can say, that much better like on HF, where are usually stations from CA with big tremolo J. Other SSB QSO I had with Alex RW1AW and I thing that it was probably first EME SSB QSO in Russia language on 23cm J. Alex was also very strong 58. Other full S-meter scale I got from Darrell K9SLQ. Signal 599 CW and strongest in one moment as N9JIM. So again thanks for very nice QSOs, GL and hope that WX permit to operate my dish in next leg too.
Operated: - 10m dish with new AZ and EL drivers, upgraded septum feed and LNA FHX35LGA 0,25 dB N/F. PA TH327 – around 1,5kW on the feed in second night. First night only driver 600W.
Best regards

Zdenek - OK1DFC
www.ok1dfc.com
QRV 144 - 1296 MHz EME
QRO and 10m DISH
WAC 432 - 1296 MHz