KL7UW

  QRP Station:

  The 432-MHz satellite antenna is the M2 436CP42 x-yagi.  It was tested last year for
  QRP EME. Good signals were heard from HB9Q in linear polarity.  Switchable circular 
  polarity is to be implemented when the antenna is re-installed in spring of 2009. 

  Only JT65 operation will be used due to the small size of the antenna and coresponding 
  low EIRP.  There are no plans to expand to a full-sized EME station.

  Update - 2009:
  
  With the construction of the 4.9m dish, 432-EME will likely be implemented by adding 
  a H/V polarity 432-MHz feed for the dish.  A 100w sspa will be fabricated and fed via the
  1/2-inch transmit feedline currently run for 1296 Tx.

  A Mirage D3010 and the KJ6KO 1296 PA ahve been installed at the dish in a Hoffman box.
  Temporarily the 432 preamp and coax TR relay were moved from the satellite tower to the
  4.9m dish for use during the Arecibo 432 test.  A two-element quad feed antenna was 
  built for this and attached to the side of the 1296 septum feed.  The 432 preamp and Tx
  amplifier use the Tx and Rx coax lines run to the dish for 1296.  

  KP4AO (Arecibo) was received well in SSB at about 4-5 dB SNR, and JT-65B at about 6-8 dB
  SNR.  No contact was made with KP4AO.  

  Here are some photos:


Dish pointing at Moon at az=90, el=28
views of dual-quad feed
Photo of the amplifier enclosure behind dish



















Views of the back of dish and 28-volt & 12-volt power supplies
Current views of the ham shack
The DVD player used to monitor the dish



















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