My (2m) (70cm) 23cm EME history

After many years on 2m EME and first 70cm EME qsos in 2006, I knew that 23cm EME will be next step. It was really interesting from technical point of view as I was totally new to dishes, feeds etc. Also it is the band with the biggest CW activity now, so I wanted to be there!


First 23cm EME qso! Thanks for Franta OK1CA!

I already had 3m dish and RAS rotor, so the first task was to assemble it on a mini tower. Antenna and Septum Feed were ready in the spring 2007 and I was doing my best to prepare for RX tests. After hard work, I was able to make my first SWL during Dubus Contest 2007!


First 23cm EME qsl card received - Joe K5SO, Sven SM5LE as the smallest station worked

This success encouraged me a lot and I was going to make TX operational as soon as possible. Thanks to Edward SP9WY, who built also my transverter, I was ready to mount 150W SSPA at dish during the summer. As I wanted also to improve RX side, I started to make experiments with RA3AQ feed that occured to be a good choice for my f/D.


First SP-SV on 23cm EME (left), very nice card from Estonia (right)

Whole system was ready before Italian EME Contest 2007 and I was very happy to work Franta OK1CA for my first ever qso on this band on 8 Sep 2007! Shortly after that I added Peter SM2CEW, Joe K1RQG, Howard G4CCH and Joe K5SO and heard a lot of other smaller stations.


Card and photos from my friend Paul WA6PY - experienced multiband EME operator

From that moment I started my regualar CW operation on this band. I am still amazed how big random activity is and how huge signals are. Great qso with Sven SM5LE, who has only small 2.2m dish, shows that real QRP contacts are possible and no one should hesitate to try!

See You via the moon. Chris