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Arecibo on 432 MHz Moon Bounce

Discussion in 'Amateur Radio News' started by G4TUT/SK2022, Apr 6, 2010.

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  1. G4TUT/SK2022

    G4TUT/SK2022 Ham Member QRZ Page

    Arecibo on 432 MHz Moon Bounce

    The Arecibo Observatory Amateur Radio Club will be putting the 1000-foot radio telescope on the air for 432 MHz EME from April 16-18.

    It can be heard with a small hand-held yagi pointed at the moon

    The scheduled times of operation are:
    April 16: 1645 - 1930 UTC
    April 17: 1740 - 2020 UTC
    April 18: 1840 - 2125 UTC

    Callsign: KP4AO

    Tx Frequency: 432.045 MHz
    Rx Frequency: 432.050 to 432.060+
    Tx power: 400 W
    Antenna gain: 60 dBi
    System noise temp: 120 K (cold sky)
    System noise temp: 330 K (when pointed at moon)

    KP4AO can be heard with a small hand-held yagi pointed at the moon and a good receiver. A 15 dBi antenna and 100 W will be enough to work us on CW.

    Operators at KP4AO will do their best to work as many stations as possible. Each session will start with a brief announcement and CQ in SSB. SSB QSOs may continue for 30 minutes to an hour, if the QSO rate remains high.
    The mode will be shifted to CW as soon as it is judged that higher QSO rates would result.

    We will listen for calls at frequencies 5-15 kHz higher than our own, and even higher if QRM warrants. Callers who s-p-r-e-a-d o-u-t are more likely to be copied.

    If you've already worked us in any mode, please do not call again -- give others a chance.

    If we call "CQ QRP", we will listen for stations running 100 W or less to a single yagi. Please do not answer such a CQ if you are running more power or have a larger antenna.

    On April 18, if we reach a condition where most calling stations have been worked, and we judge that operating in the digital mode JT65B would produce a higher QSO rate, we will switch to JT65B.

    Note that any of these planned operating strategies may be changed as circumstances dictate.

    We are extremely fortunate to have been granted access to the world's largest radio telescope for this amateur radio good-will event. We look forward to working as many stations as possible in the alloted time!



    73 from Joe, K1JT
    on behalf of all the gang at KP4AO



    Moon-Net Email reflector
    http://list-serv.davidv.net/mailman/listinfo/moon-net_list-serv.davidv.net

    Moon Bounce information
    http://www.vhfdx.info/eme.html

    UK Ham makes EME contact with just 25 watts
    http://www.southgatearc.org/news/january2008/record_eme_contact.htm

    Earth-Moon-Earth with 20 Watts
    http://www.southgatearc.org/news/january2008/eme_with_20_watts.htm

    WSJT Software for EME
    http://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/






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  2. KV6O

    KV6O Ham Member QRZ Page

    400,000,000 Watts ERP?!? Almost half a Billion? Gee, I hope the Moon's still there when they are done! :p

    Might have to give this a try!

    Steve
    KV6O
     
  3. KC8VWM

    KC8VWM Ham Member QRZ Page

    Ok, I'm ready... :)

    [​IMG]
     
  4. AD7N

    AD7N Ham Member QRZ Page

    What that I smell? Must be burning moon dust :rolleyes:
     
  5. K8ERV

    K8ERV QRZ Member QRZ Page

    Where is the repeater located?

    TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo
     
  6. ND0Y

    ND0Y Ham Member QRZ Page

    Where can I find the Keps for the moon? :D
     
  7. K3GAU

    K3GAU Ham Member QRZ Page

    IT'S THE ANTENNA!!

    GA ALL,

    For all you fairly new to amateur radio or young folks, they use to do this type of operation from Arecibo once in awhile back in the 60's and 70's. Back then they would operate on various bands anywhere from 6 meters up though 1296 MHz (23 cm).

    The key to success is the ANTENNA. The 60 dB of gain the antenna has (on 70 cm) works for both TX and RX. It makes their signal stronger to us and our pip sqeak reflected signal stronger to them! As any good QRP operator can tell you, the key to success is a good antenna!

    I've always wanted to try moonbounce. May dust off the 70 cm yagi and see if I can find a volunteer to point the thing!

    BTW, if you want to know what the Arecibo antenna looks like, go find a copy of James Bond's Golden Eye. Part of it was shot down there.

    GL to all.

    Dave K3GAU
     
  8. W7CI

    W7CI Ham Member QRZ Page

    I'LL BE THERE FOR THE SCHEDULE TIMES

    TNX FOR PUTTING ARECIBO ON 432. I will be on for the prescribed schedule times.

    CU Steve
     
  9. KE4FSL

    KE4FSL Ham Member QRZ Page

    April:
    Satellite: Moon
    Catalog number: 000000
    Epoch time: 10074.43066632769
    Element set: 357
    Inclination: 24.8955 deg
    RA of node: 348.8584 deg
    Eccentricity: 0.0500
    Arg of perigee: 149.0499 deg
    Mean anomaly: 214.2222 deg
    Mean motion: 0.036600996000 rev/day
    Decay rate: 0
    Epoch rev: 0
    Checksum: 000


    May:
    Satellite: Moon
    Catalog number: 000000
    Epoch time: 10101.70977732396
    Element set: 357
    Inclination: 24.7577 deg
    RA of node: 348.6640 deg
    Eccentricity: 0.0454
    Arg of perigee: 151.9510 deg
    Mean anomaly: 210.6235 deg
    Mean motion: 0.036600996000 rev/day
    Decay rate: 0
    Epoch rev: 0
    Checksum: 000
     
  10. N9PSE

    N9PSE Ham Member QRZ Page

    Nice to know that after more than 64 years, the first earth-orbiting satellite used for communications is still working... ;)

    Thanks to the Arecibo folks for this opportunity -- will be making a "cheap yagi" for 432 and acquiring a 100w amp for my TS-811a to give this a try!
     
  11. AI3V

    AI3V Ham Member QRZ Page

    These guys are limited by the "KTB" noise of the moon!

    Their antenna has so much gain (and therefore such narrow beamwidth), that 100% of the antenna beam is aimed at the moon.

    This causes the noise temperature of the Earth station to be equal to the physical temperature of the moon.

    This means a bigger RX antenna would have no additional improvement!!!, Or, There RX S+N/N is completely dependent on your TX EIRP.

    If you ever wanted to try 70CM EME, this will be your "best chance"

    [​IMG]

    http://www.naic.edu/public/the_telescope.htm

    The reflector is 1000' in diameter, and is not parabolic, but spherical, This allows multiple feedpoints on the dish at the same time. Note the cars in the picture for scale.:eek:

    Rege
     
  12. K2WH

    K2WH Platinum Subscriber Platinum Subscriber Life Member QRZ Page

    Nice but not knowing much about the position of the moon on those days, can someone put it in plain English for the east coast of the USA? How about a UTC schedule?

    K2WH
     
  13. K8ERV

    K8ERV QRZ Member QRZ Page

    Just look outside. It's that big round thingy way out there.,

    TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo
     
  14. KB3X

    KB3X Guest

    Our tax dollars being used as a multimillion dollar toy?
     
  15. KG4KKN

    KG4KKN Ham Member QRZ Page

    Subtract 4 hours from UTC to get Eastern time.

    April 16: 1245 - 1530 EDT Friday
    April 17: 1340 - 1620 EDT Saturday
    April 18: 1440 - 1725 EDT Sunday

    Does that help?

    These sessions are taking place during the day and the moon will be new on April 14 so there will not be much of a moon target to aim at or see.

    Consult a moon position guide to get aiming info for your area. For me, it is south-southeast, rather high off the horizon. Need to make a yagi, fast.

     
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