Earth-Moon-Earth

Photograph Gallery

1st ever JA-JA on 10GHz
JA6CZD <-> JA4BLC
29 July 2012 1300z on 10.450GHz
1st ever JA-OK on 24GHz
JA6CZD <-> OK1KIR
27 May 2012 1045z on 24.048GHz
Congratulations!!



10GHz 24GHz TX RX ANT SYSTEMS
JA6CZDJA4BLC
2.4m Offset dish
3m CASSEGRAIN DISH WITH 10GHz HORN
@10GHz feed configuration. SSPA and Power
supply are attched under bottom pillar.
10GHz HORN and 30cm dia. SUBREFLECTOR
Antenna farm
(right:5m dia. mesh dish).
10GHz TRANSVERTER
(TX 10450, RX 10368 & 10450)
24GHz feed configuration. Horn,
LNA,WG-SW,30W SSPA & TRV with FAN.
POWER SUPPLY and STAND-BY CONTROLLER
Checking the performance
of the dish with JA4BLC(right).
25W SSPA CIRCUIT DETAIL

24GHz QSL from OK1KIR
25W SSPA at OPERATING POSITION
JA6CZDJA4BLC
New Offset Dish Antenna for EME
JA6CZD
One day, Mr. Shimanaga, JH4JLV gave me a great news that two 2.4m offset dishes for 14GHz were stored in garage several years not unused and soon would be scrapped. At that moment, I was seeking for new solid dish antenna for microwave EME especially on 24GHz. I asked the pioneers on 24GHz EME, Al W5LUA, Barry VE4MA and Sergei RW3BP how about the dishes were useful on 24GHz EME ? They replied very quickly and they all said "You must salvage them !" On 27th Dec. 2010, Ken JR4AEP and Yoshiro JA4BLC helped me to carry one of them to my garrden in snowy weather. I started the tower construction from the beginning of 2011. In May 2011, the dish was installed with automatic tracking system (OE5JFL/HB9DRI) at the top of my tower 5 meter above the ground. At the same time, I also applied the radio authority for a radio license for 24GHz 30W. And in July, I have got a final permission, this was the second licence on 24GHz EME after JA4BLC. I have my new dish system improved to be able to easily access to change its feed standing on the roof of my storage shed and to be able to adjust its focus length remotely during the tracking operation. Feed position adjustment was another problem. Yoshiro JA4BLC suggested to use the 12GHz TV broadcast satellite (11.996GHz) as a signal source. It was useful as the satellite is not move though the sun and the moon are always moving and also useful to calibrate the position indicators. I have to appreciate JA4BLC for his contributions! The advantage of the offset dish is that there is no obstacle between the feed and target in space. With this new offset dish antenna, on May 27th 2012, I have finally succeeded to make a contact with OK1KIR in Prague on 24.048GHz. This was the first ever contact between Asia and Europe on 24GHz. A month later on July 29th, I made a first QSO with JA4BLC on 10.450GHz, which was the first ever contact accomplished between JAs on 10GHz EME. We exchanged the report 559/549 without any problems. My receiving performance on 10GHz is Sun/CS:16db, Moon/CS:2.15db and JA4BLC employs a 3m Cassegrain dish which is well tuned Sun/CS:14.5db, Moon/CS:1.53db on 10GHz. I satisfy our hard efforts always result in great impressions! Explanation of the pictures: *1 It passed through a 90 degrees twist from Wave Guide switch, and feeding Horn for F/D ratio 0.7 was connected. LNA input of the Wave Guide is connected to a cascade and to a converter. *2 Dish Size 2.4m x 2.7m, 10GHz SSPA, a control box, and a power supply are attached under bottom Pillar.
by JA6CZD Shichirou Mori
10G EME
JA4BLC
Two years before, my friend gave me a solid prime focus dish of which reflector has an f/D 0.25. It seemed too deep for familiar horns and I deciced to use it as an Cassegrain feed system. The sub-refrector is designed 30cm diameter corresponding 10 wavelength on 10GHz. I spent two years to finish the dish and it's pedestal operatonal on 5.7GHz and 10GHz EME and finally got reasonable echo on both bands. On 10GHz, my horn, LNA, WG-SW are located at the focal point and the transverter, SSPA and power supply/STBY controller are located behind the dish. TX feeder on 10GHz is an 70cm long WR90 waveguide. On May 28 2012, I worked OK1KIR on 10368/10450 crossband reporting 559/549 very easy. On July 29, JA6CZD was ready on 10GHz setup and we did a trial and finished JA-JA QSO (559/549) very easy. On 5.7GHz operation, I put another 60cm dia.sub-reflector in front of 30cm sub-ref., which is corresponding 10 wavelength on 5760. 60cm sub-reflector is not ideal shape but far effective than 30cm sub-ref on 5760 and I get good echo with it. It is made by thin aluminum sheets integrated three layers without any expense.
by Yoshiro Mataka JA4BLC