V26PD – Antigua Mar 2018 – FK97db

V26PD – Antigua Mar 2018 – FK97db

QSL INFORMATION:

SASE+POSTAGE

V26PD
MyQSL Service
PO BOX 375
PAWLING, NY 12564
USA

After I lost the last EME array on CY9C, I decided to try another design of antenna for the next round of 2m EME tests. After a number of recommendations from prominent EME enthusiasts I settled on a pair of custom designed 144mhz optimized 9 element EME yagi’s from DUAL https://www.antennas-amplifiers.com/2-meter-best-portable-antenna-9-element

I had been testing these at my home QTH for a number of months with very good results. The real test was taking them to V26 for their first portable DXpediton. As you can see from the results below, the antennas performed exceptionally well! Since the short expedition was a fairly last minute plan, the luxury of planning the trip during optimum moon conditions were not an option. Unfortunately, the trip was during the WORST moon conditions possible.

Even with the extremely poor moon conditions you can see that the antennas performed above expectations. There were many comments that there would be no reason to take the EME gear as no contacts would most likely be made except for the handful of very large stations. This could not have been further from reality. As conditions worsened the array kept pulling signals from the ether, even during the 2nd moon pass the preamp failed, the array went on to make an additional ~38 contacts at the peak of the highest degradation during the month!

I am currently installing the pair of 9’s in FN65 on the coast of Maine to test a 100% remote EME station. With a new DXpedtion that is going to be announced shortly, my next portable 2M EME antenna with be another DUAL antenna. My goal is to develop a highly portable and lightweight 2m EME station that can be taken just about anywhere and can fit into the smallest vehicles and airplanes. Instead of a pair of 9 elements, I am going to test a DUAL single 16 element Yagi.

 

144mhz EME:

36 Worked first few hours of the first pass in the start of very poor EME conditions.

UA3PTW,KO93
DK5LA,JO44
PA5Y,JO21
ES6RQ,KO28
PA3CMC,JO21
PA2CHR,JO32
PA9RX,JO32
I3MEK,JN55
ZS4TX,KG30 DXCC #100
DF2ZC,JO30
OK1CU,JO80
ZS6JON,KG33vv
OK1RD,JN79
DL8YHR,JO41
UX5UL,KO50
OK1DIX,JN79
OZ1LPR,JO44
UT6UG,KO50
IK4PMB,JN54
IK1UWL,JN33
RX1AS,KO59
F6BKI,IN94
YL2GD,KO37
UT5ZN/P
S52LM,JN65
HB9Q,JN47
RZ3BA/1
ON4AOI,JO21
DK3WG,JO72
PA3FPQ,JO22
SM7GVF,JO77
YL2FZ,KO37
W2HRO,FN20
SP2FH,JO92
DL5OCD,JO42
PA1GYS,JO22
March 10: Considerably worse conditions than previous pass.
RK3FG,KO86,-14,
DK3BU,JO33,-21,
DL8FBD,JO40,-18,
UX0FF,KN45,-14,
DK4RC,JO60,-18,
PA0JMV,JO21,-19,
SV8CS,KM07,-21,
LZ2FO,KN13,-24,
F6HVK,JN27,-22,
UR3EE,KN88,-21,
G4SWX,JO02,-23,
ZS5LEE,KG50,-22,
HA8CE,KN06,-25,
HA6NQ,JN98,-23,
YO3DDZ,KN34,-21,
15 Worked
MS: DGRD -12.2
KD3UY,FM19,-21
FK8CP,RG37,-19
W5ZN,EM45,-22
Lost preamp. TX inhibit circuit running properly. No relay latch heard in preamp and SWR shows a short. Stuck relay?
Will keep going!
 K2ZJ,FN13,-19
4 Worked
March 11 MR: No Preamp.
ES3RF,KO29,-23
DF7KF,JO30,-20
DK5YA,JN49,-22
DM1CG,JO30,-23
DG8NCO,JO50,-21
DL9MS,JO54,-20
 SM5KWU,JO89,-23
 SM5CUI,JO89,-24
S51ZO,JN86, -21
 YL2GC,KO16,-18
S56P,JN76,-24
OK1UGA,JO80,-19
LZ4OC,KN33,-24
OH4LA,KP20,-21
LZ1KU,KN32,-18
IW4ARD,JN64,-25
 IK7EZN,JN90,-23
PE1DAB,JO23,-22
SM5DIC,JO89,-22
S57M,JN76,-24
HA0DU,KN07,-25
LZ1DP,KN22,-23
SK5AA,JO89,-23
I2RV,JN45,-22
HA0HO,KN07,-24
US7GY,KN66,-23
I3LDP,JN55,-23
DK2PH,JO41,-27
G4PLZ,JO02,-24
K9MRI,EN70,-20
 VE1KG,FN85,-25
DL8II,JN49,-24
I1ANP,JN44,-21
DK4TG,JO31,-23
34 Worked
MS: Last chance then pack gear.
 K1CA,FN42,-22
Now QRT on the moon. This last MS was the worst conditions experienced.

90 Total contacts in 3 passes

Please post a comment on what number DXCC V2 was for you in the comments section below. Please note that it may take a few minutes before the post shows up as I need to approve them to remove spam posts.
Satellite Contacts Friday 9th.
Just as I was finishing building the Alaskan built AO-07 was passing.
AO-07
  • K4FEG
  • NA2AA
  • KB2M

SO-50

  • WB8RJY

XW-2C

  • No Contact – Pass in Atlantic

CAS-4B

  • Nothing heard until east of me? First time on this bird, maybe I am missing something.

AO-7

  • Low pass to the west which my worst direction (sharp elevation rise and house)
  • Nothing heard too low.

XW-2F

  • KB2M
  • N3CRT
  • NA2AA
  • N6RFM

XW-2C

  • N8HM
  • HI8KW
  • KB5AAB

FO-29 (My 12 year old daughter helped with the logging)

  • N4UFO
  • KB1PVH
  • NK1K
  • AA5PK
  • KC8QDQ
  • VE4AMU
  • KG5CCI
  • WB3CSY
  • AA9LC
  • XE1MEX
  • W5PFG
  • N3CRT
  • KD2LGX
  • K8ESE

 

 

35 thoughts on “V26PD – Antigua Mar 2018 – FK97db

  1. I did not believe I could qso with you with 8.5 dB degradation, but you had an excellent signal (average here -23) and an excellent rx.
    So you gave me dxcc n° 199.
    If you go to HH it would be n° 200 !!
    Many many tnx de Gio IK1UWL

  2. Hi Lee,
    Thanks for the nice QSO, it was DXCC # 205 for me.
    Have a nice time and GL, 73’s,
    Chris, PA2CHR

  3. Tnx for very nice 2m EME QSO and DXCC 192, you had all the time very nice signal. Your RX is also very good.
    Good luck and have nice time there.

    Lins PA3CMC

  4. Hi Lee!
    Thanks for the FB QSO, it was my DXCC #144.
    Have a nice weekend and GL, 73!

    Oleg, UX5UL

  5. Hi Lee,
    Many thanks for this surprising weekend-dxpedition and new dxcc #215 !
    The QSO today was rather easy, given the worst monthly degradation we could have :-12.7 dB
    Your setup works amazingly !!
    GL in the big EU pile, after our QSO i saw at least 14 traces for u 🙂
    73, Joop

  6. Hi Lee,

    No QSO yet and I fear there won’t be. Friday got you -17 dB at 3rd ground gain lobe but you QRT before my best next ground gain lobes (I still had 10 deg of moon left). Today, Saturday, did only see traces but you QRT when moon at 15 deg elevation (out of ground gain). You would be DXCC #143 for me. Station same as yours : 2x9el H + 1,2 kW. 73

  7. Nice solid -26 signal Lee – despite -13dB dgrd!
    However I could see ~9 Eu stations in the pile-up after our QSO
    Thanks for DXCC #146
    73
    John G4SWX

  8. Hi Lee
    Thanks for the surprise activation!
    Entity #100 on 2M for me. DXCC #11 when all cards will be in.
    73!
    Bernie, ZS4TX

  9. Hi Lee!
    First decodable signals was my report….Just in time, before I had to leave…Tnx my >#179 DXCC. Hope to see You fm CY9 , if I know well You are going to there again.
    73 de Sanyi

  10. Hi Lee,

    Mny Tnx for qso & DXCC #162!

    Your signal was quite nice regarding huge dgrd(-13,6dB),from -22 to-26.

    All the Best from YO!

  11. Hi Lee,
    I hope to work my DXCC # 150.
    Tomorrow morning 11/03 I try agai at the Moonrise on advance.
    Vy 73

  12. Tnx fer DXCC # 155. Looking forward to work you from CY9 ( a full qso this time…hi. Made a half qso already, before wind took away your antennas…)

    73, Pasi
    OH4LA

  13. Hi Lee,
    Many thanks for DXCC # 193.
    The antennas here full of snow and temperature just at the freezing point. Fortunately just under 0 degC.
    0744 -19 2.3 1146 # * CQ V26PD FK97 Antigua & Barbuda
    I’m looking at a list that the first 144 MHz EME SM-V2 was: W6JKV / V2 _ SM7BAE_ 1995-02-25_ CW
    Wish you a safe trip home, 73 de Rune/SM5CUI

  14. Lee got your report : 0938 -28 3.0 380 #* DK5EW V26PD -30.
    That was strange also others reportet I was expecting “O” thought it was a false decode.

    Anyway TNX for activating GL & 73’s see you next.
    Erwin/DK5EW

  15. Hi Lee I was sick on the sofa with the flu. Got a text msg from DF2ZC that V26 was active. Thet was a real highlight. So I started up station and worked you. It was DXCC # 203
    Thanks alot
    73 Peter OZ1LPR

  16. Hallo Lee ! Mni-mni tnx fer new country on 2 m EME. It is 165th for me. Hpe cuagn in your next expedition. Greetings from Hungary Pista/HA8CE

  17. Hi Lee,
    despite your lost preamp your rig worked still amazingly good. Tnx for new DXCC, -26 here at deg -9.7. GL and 73’s, Juergen DL8II

  18. Hi Lee- I had just finished snowblowing 8″ of fresh snow when I saw that you were on. With the degradation at -12 (!) I thought the chance to work you was ZERO. But I gave it a try and – Holy Cow we made it! I was shocked! And smiling. DXCC #60 for me, inching closer to 100 !

    Thanks for your effort –

    John K2ZJ

  19. Hi Lee
    Thanks for my DXCC nr 144 on 2M.
    You were very loud with constant signal
    Looking forward to your next trip (:

  20. Hi Lee,
    Your great work allowed me to reach my DXCC # 150 on the evening of March 11th.
    Thank you so much.
    vy 73

  21. Hello Lee, you did a fine job indeed. For me it was my 119th DXCC in around 30th months operation.

  22. Hello Lee, Thanks for the nice 2 x Yagi to 2 x Yagi QSO with V26PD. You are my 2M DXCC #90 and DXCC #100 all bands. Can’t wait to see the QSL cards. 73 – Paul –
    W2HRO QSO Info – 2018-03-09 – 07:57z – 144.135 – JT65

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *