VHFDX.COM by KR7O

STARDUST RE-ENTRY

On 15 January 2006 from 0930-1009Z (referenced to WWV/WWVH on 10.00000MHz), I recorded all signals heard on the frequencies of 144.200MHz USB (2M Amateur Radio band), 50.069MHz USB (6M Amateur Radio band) and 55.240MHz (TV CH2 video – offset). The 6M/TV video signals were monitored on an Icom IC-756pro transceiver using the “dual watch” function. On the 6M band the frequency of 50.069MHz USB was chosen with a 3KHz bandwidth, to split the difference in frequency between the K6FV (Woodside, CA) and WA7X (Fairview, UT) beacons which appeared to be probable targets, based on their locations and decent power output. The 55.240MHz TV2 video offset is free of groundwave propagated signals at my location. The full recording provides a background meteor level reference prior to re-entry. All of the “pings” prior to the re-entry period were from 55.240MHz video carriers. No signals were noted on 144.200MHz, and that recording was not published.

Starting at 0957.07Z I received the morse code letter C, presumed to be the part of the CM97 grid square locator sent from the K6FV beacon. No other 6M amateur radio beacons were noted. Starting at 0957.15Z the TV2 video carriers peaked suddenly (and quite strong). The signals slowly decayed over time and there was considerable fading and some doppler shift on the carriers. I do not have high accuracy video carrier references, so I can not identify what location these carriers originate from. Below are spectrum recordings made from the recorded audio from 0955-1001Z showing all signals propagated via the ionized trail created by the re-entry of the Stardust Capsule.

This is a baseline spectrum recording from 0955.00-0957.00Z showing various video carriers received via meteor reflection. Frequencies of note:

55.240.1857MHz (55.240.6621MHz appears to be a sideband)

55.240.2315MHz

This is a baseline spectrum recording from 0957.00-0959.00Z showing various video carriers received via reflection from Stardust. Frequencies of note:

55.240.1776MHz

55.240.2288MHz

55.240.3768MHz

55.240.6891MHz

55.240.8344MHz

55.241.1520MHz (frequencies above this appear to be sidebands of the primary video carriers)

55.241.6070MHz

55.242.0672MHz

55.242.5302MHz

This is a baseline spectrum recording from 0959.10-1001.10Z showing various video carriers received via reflection from Stardust. Frequencies of note:

55.240.2315MHz (end of steady carrier slightly after 1001z)

I did not attempt to make any 2-way contacts on 6M or 2M as I was hoping to catch a visual recording of the re-entry, but unfortunately, scattered clouds blocked my view.

I am located in rural Madera County ~20 miles north of Fresno, CA. For the 2M band, I was using a pair of 34' long M-Squared yagi antennas that I use to bounce signals off the moon and for meteor scatter operations. My antenna azimuth was 5 degrees true. For the 6M band, I was using a pair of 31' long M-Squared yagi antennas that are stacked vertically and fed in phase that I also use to bounce signals off the moon and for meteor scatter operations. My antenna azimuth was 5 degrees true and I am unable to copy the stations mentioned via ground wave at this bearing. Antenna pictures are at the bottom of this page.

1-15-06 0956-1002z Stardust re-entry 55.240MHz (5.5MB)

1-15-06 0930-1009z Stardust re-entry 55.240MHz - FULL RECORDING (35MB - DIALUP BEWARE)

GENESIS MISSION

On 8 September 2004 from 1552-1600Z I recorded all signals heard on the frequency of 144.200 MHz in the 2 Meter Amateur Radio band. Starting at ~1553z I recorded three different signals; a brief CW carrier, and voice signals from stations KC6ZWT and WA6KLK. On the edited recording you will hear the CW carrier at ~5 seconds, KC6ZWT from ~38-55 seconds, and WA6KLK at ~55 seconds very weakly under the signal of KC6ZWT. The other weak, distorted signals at periodic intervals during the recording is interference from my transmitter getting into the sound card. I did not attempt to make a two-way contact with KC6ZWT as I was hoping there would be stations much farther away to contact. KC6ZWT also copied my signals during this period. The signals received from KC6ZWT and WA6KLK were via back scatter from the ionization patch created by the re-entry of the Genesis capsule. No known forward scatter signals were noted.

KC6ZWT is located in El Dorado, CA which is 127 miles line-of-sight from me at 335 degrees true bearing
WA6KLK is located in Willits, CA which is 253 miles line-of-sight from me at 312 degrees true bearing
I am located in rural Madera County ~20 miles north of Fresno, CA. I was using the pair of 34' long M-Squared yagi antennas that I use to bounce signals off the moon. My antenna azimuth was 15 degrees true and I am unable to copy the stations mentioned via ground wave at this bearing.

QRP & "ODD BAND" EME USING WSJT

Joe Taylor's WSJT program and the modes JT44 and JT65 in particular have set new standards regarding how big (or small) a station is necessary to work eme. By "ODD BAND" I am referring to bands that were previously either too difficult (50 MHz) or under used (222 MHz) to be attempted by stations with less than multiple yagi arrays and big power. Below are some screen captures of stations I have either worked or heard using JT44/JT65.

These are the first JT44 signals I copied off the moon. I was running a single M^2 2m5wl at a whopping 8' above the ground, mounted to the back of my truck in my front yard. No preamp was used and feedline loss was ~0.5db feeding an Icom IC-706mkII. If I remember correctly WA8CXI was only running 2 yagis and N1KI was running 4x M^2 2M9SSB. Both stations were running near or at legal limit.

My first EME completion was a random contact with JL1ZCG on 21/12/2002 using JT44. I was running the equipment mentioned above with ~160 watts at the feed. JL1ZCG runs 16x 9element yagis.

2003 was a pretty busy year at work so I did not have much radio time to play EME, plus the fact that I had to setup (and tear down) the antennas each time I wanted to operate led to very little activity. Highlights included copying two more 2-yagi stations (PA0JMV and EA3DXU) both audibly, near misses with DF2ZC (4x13el) and PA0JMV (2x16el) on 2 meters with the same equipment as above except with an ERP of ~1900w. I also tried out 6 meter EME with ZS6NK, ZS6WB and copied my first 6 meter EME signal. Other stations copied on 6 meters included K7AD and W7GJ (audible). Lance has a big station and I copied him so well one day I was able to get a good map of my first ground gain lobe. Interesting thing was that while I could audibly hear Lance on 6 meters I could barely copy W5UN at the same time on 2 meters.

My next excitement was on 2/8/2003 when I copmpleted a JT44 contact with S52LM (4x M^2 2m5wl) in about 30 minutes. Milos was the smallest station I had completed with. I had finally installed the 2m yagi on a permanant structure so I didn't have to install it each time, but that convenience came at the expense of 1.7db feedline loss and a resulting ~1500 watts ERP from the 90 watt amp.

Two stations (DF2ZC and PA0JMV) have been very interested in working small stations. I ran several times with them and had near misses with both, but no luck. After upgrading his array to 4x M^2 2m18xxx, Bernd and I tried again and I heard him louder than I had ever heard him before, but unfortunately he heard nothing from me (probably faraday).

Then finally on 2/12/2003 I completed a contact with PA0JMV while testing K1JT's new JT65 mode. JT65 is incredible. Fron the screen shots below you can see perfect copy on signals as weak as -27. I am the smallest station that Joop has ever completed with and needless to say he is the smallest station I have completed with on 2 meters!

Note perfect decodes at -27db!

Inspired by my success on 2 meters I decided to see if I could round up anyone for a try at 222 MHz. WA4NJP responded to my request. Ray and I have run a few times and we have both copied each other, but unfortunately have not completed. I am only running 250 watts to a M^2 222-7wl antenna with elevation. Below is a screen shot of Ray's signal. Note, both stations are fully elevated, so there is no ground gain involved.

6 meters however, is where WSJT (and in particular JT65) really shines. On I completed quickly on 6 meters with WA4NJP. I am running an Icom IC-756pro, a pair of M^2 6m7jhv antennas stacked vertically, and 600w output from a modified Heathkit SB200 amplifier.

Ray was my first 6 meter EME completion! Not bad if you look at the values of TSKY, DB and DGRD.

JT65 however has made 6m EME possible for just about anyone with at least 100 watts and a single, moderately sized yagi. The next sequence is from ZS6WB. Hal is only running 400 watts and a single M^2 6m9khw 50' long yagi!

Later in the sked Hal actually peaked at -21db in spite of a TSKY of 8869 and exceeding 10000, serious degradation and a Kp of 4! Unfortunately Hal did not copy me as well as I did him. A big undocumented bonus of JT65 is the narrow bandwith required. Because of this I cranked the digital SSB filters in the 765pro down to about 700hz (probably could have gone smaller) and dramatically increased my received signal to noise ratio. I need to do some more experimenting with this to see how narrow a bandwith can be used on the radio.

The next day 10/12/2003 I had a repeat sked with Hal, but he suggested I try with ZS6NK. I think Hal may have been psycic as Paul and I completed in about an hour and Hal only copied a little from me. I copied Paul early on and was sending OOO for what seemed like forever. Based on the screen shots of me received from Paul it is clear he was getting my OOO, but the program was not 100% confident of that fact.

Note how the reports decode even at -30db (and below)! The next few shots are my RO signal as copied on Spectran by Paul and some screen shots of Paul at my QTH.

Paul's frequency was so stable that I was able to freeze the bandwith at 10hz on top of having the digital SSB filters in the 756pro cranked down to 500hz really allowed me to dig down in the noise. Note again how theoretically poor the conditions were during this contact.

JT65 IS AMAZING!