Hello all,

The EISCAT Svalbard Radar October operations schedule is now out on the Web - and the 32-meter antenna has been assigned to the JW/SM2BYA operation from 1800 UT, October 17 to 2400 UT, October 19 ! WE ARE REALLY GOING TO GET ON !!!

Status:
br> TX chain has been tested at 500+ watts output and is ready to go, Some minor work remains TBD on the RX chain, but could be used as it stands, One DB6NT spare preamp was delivered a few days ago, Antenna relay, sequencer, interlocks and control logic all tested and ready.

The K2RIW PA, the HV PSU and the 28/432 transverter are all built in 19" rack panel format. They will be installed in a 19 inch equipment rack in the feed cabin, only three meters from the waveguide port - so cable losses should really be negligible.

Polarisation:

I have now double-checked the specs on the 32-meter feed system. It is set up to transmit RHC and receive LHC at 470-530 MHz.

We are going to access the feed through the RX port => we will be transmitting LHC and also receiving LHC (not RHC as said earlier). The polarisation is not likely to be more than approximately circular, as the polariser is tuned for 500 MHz, but at least the handedness should remain the same at 432.

Consequences: We are not expecting ear(th)-shattering own echoes,

Stations set up for plane polarisation will lose 3 db both ways but Faraday rotation will not be an issue,

IMPORTANT: Stations able to TX/RX circular should configure their antennas for RHC and use that both for RX and TX to match our fixed LHC setting.

More info to follow later. Questions please to sm2bya@telia.com Like to see a picture of the antenna? Go to www.eiscat.com/esr Please spread the word to your terrestrial and AO-40 friends !

73 Gudmund SM2BYA