K7LOL Meteor Scatter
Following a dismal scatter experience on 50 MHz, I revisited MSK144. This time I was able to try the two meter band.
After initial comparison of both six and two meter bands here, it became readily apparent that noise had been my problem on 6 meters all along. The noise level on 144 MHz was much lower.
This year's Perseids 144 MHz meteor scatter operation yielded encouraging results. Once I configured WSJTx correctly (thanks NJ6D), I made a local contact to verify my set up. I started monitoring 144.150 early am on 11 Aug.
Holy Cow ! I decoded K5TR at +06 multiple times. In fact, I decoded signals from eight stations in a few states over the two day period on 144 MHz. N0KQY at 1105 miles was the longest receive path.
POWER ! Almost a dozen stations heard my mighty transmissions. Factor in power multiplication from my massive array and I'm running almost 200 watts ERP. The antenna is a loop at 17 feet. Even so, my most distant report came from KM0T at 1087 miles in Iowa.
There were a few stations I received that also heard me. W5TRL K5TR N5WS WQ5S W9RM WM5L were on my list multiple times. My activity finished up about noon local time on the 13th.
I should note that I completed zero QSOs, but there is now a distinct possibility. The fact that I had communication both ways from a number of stations proves concept for my station. All the equation needs now is appropriate timing. And quite a bit of patience.
Scatter contact attempts should be coordinated. The likelyhood of a responce to a random cq is nil. MSK144 activity level is as much a factor of who is awake as current meteor activity. There is no sense in getting up at midnight unless scheduled.
Effective Radiated Power is king. 1000 watts ERP is considered QRP in the land of multi-element skyhooks. Transmitter, amplifier and power supply should be sized to run nearly continuously at the desired power level and temperature.
So I prepare for the Geminids. I will set up skeds with all the stations on my both paths list. The antenna will go up another ten feet to clear the surrounding dwellings. The four cup coffee pot will get replaced by a 30 cup percolator.
Utimately, I will end up with a 2 meter loop antenna at about thirty feet up. I have been told that antenna will "never get me outside of Arizona". So the gloves are off and I WILL make a 144 MHz MSK144 contact.
The overall experience was quite positive at this QTH. I learned a bit and had fun in the process. The grandkids said it was very cool and I'll consider that a score. Looking forward with great anticipation to my first meteor scatter QSO.
Success!
Early one October morning the shooting stars aligned. I hurled a lightbulb worth of energy skyward and bounced it off a faint charged trail from a tiny random space rock to make a new friend in Idaho.
Thanks Jim W7OUU for the QSO and patience.
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