[CCF] Chance for QSO with Arecibo's 1000' Dish

[Esa Korhonen]

QSP to 70cm ops.

73, Esa BY4/OH7WV



If you have a 70 cm rig and a small 70 cm yagi antenna, here's your
chance for an EME QSO with the Areceibo Observatory in Puerto Rico:
***************************************
In less that two weeks the Arecibo Observatory Amateur Radio Club
will again put the 1000-foot radio telescope on the air for 432 MHz
EME.  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 allotted time!

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