E44CM - DX news and calendar

Added/updated

March 19, 2017

Callsign(s)

E44CM

Start-end dates

November 15, 2016 - November 24, 2016

Utilities

Tracking & stats

Recent spots

DX Atlas

Propagation calculator

DXCC

E4 - Palestine

CQ zone

Grid square

KM71RU

WEB page

http://www.pa2chr.nl/News.html

Planned modes

Digital, EME

Planned bands

2 m, 70 cm

Source

MMMonVHF

Information

Update Mar,19: The ARRL DXCC Desk has approved this operation for DXCC credit

Update Nov,26: We are safe and back home again after the very nice trip to Palestine.
E44CM made 336 initial EME QSO’s on 2 mtr. and 40 QSO’s on 70cm. It was great fun for us to work so many stations.

Yesterday evening we arrived at Schiphol airport in the Netherlands, but 3 of our suitcases where lost !
They contain about 90% of our radio-equipment so we hope they will be found soon…… airline companies are looking what has happened.

The QTH in Jericho was great, a good and safe place for the antenna was found on the roof; it was easy to put our tripod, fixed with 6 concrete blocks.
Some QRM, about 6 dB unfortunately particular during moonrise, so it was difficult to hear the weak ZL stations. Moonrise was completely free looking over the Dead Sea about 10km. away, but moonset was blocked by mountains up to 13 degrees.
Due to the fact that Jericho is located 250 mtr’s BSL (below sea level) the lowest city in the world, we were not able to complete Tropo and M.S. QSO’s, very sorry for this……. but if you don’t try you will never know if it is possible or not, hi. We did receive a few very short reflections and stations in LZ and YO heard some of us.
When the moon was below the horizon we did some sightseeing and visited: Hishams’ palace with ancient buildings, Mount of Temptation with a nice old monastery; the Dead sea for some swimming and the old town of Jerusalem with the Western Wall.

We like to say many thanks to all who contact us and all who helped us with making this trip a success.
QSL info and some pictures can be found on www.QRZ.com

Hope to CU in future from another nice DX-location, best 73’s, the E44CM – team:
Jos, PA3FYC
Chris, PA2CHR

Update Nov,23: Log is updated at MMMonVHF

Update Nov,18: Bad MS results from E44CM. Unfortunatly we did not complete any MS QSO so far. We did receive only one short burst and a few pings from LZ / YO stations. Reason for this: probably we are too low, -250 mtr. ASL Signals are not comming into this valley.
Very sorry. Via EME we worked stations with a single yagi and 800 W.
Sometimes QRM and sometime very clear frequency, a chance for more stations with single antennas.
Best 73's from Jericho: "the lowest city in the world".

Update Nov,17: Log is published at MMMonVHF

Update Nov,15: They are QRV and reported with good signals in the N0UK EME chat.
Special for USA they have limited moonset due Montains.
AZ 250 EL 10
AZ 260 EL 12
AZ 270 EL 15
AZ 280 EL 17
AZ 290 EL 20

Update Nov,14: The team is travelling to their destination in Palestine

Update Nov,2 from PA2CHR: We did the last test on our equipment and antennas to make sure everything is really in good condition before we are going to use it. The antennas and the equipment are packed into golfbags and suitcases, all together there is a lot of stuff to travel with. We expect to start at Nov. 15 between 18-19 UTC. We will thank already a few radio amateurs for sponsoring us.

Update Oct,9: Activity timetable also in PA2CHR's WEB site

Update Oct,2: Activity timetable is available

We are happy to announce our upcoming DX-pedition to Jericho city in
Palestine between:
15 and 24 November 2016.
The flights and the hotel are booked and license is paid.
Our rig will be:
144 MHz: FT857 / 2 x 20el. X-pol. ant: 16.0 dbd / Italab PA.
432 MHz: FT857 / 27el. DK7ZB ant: 17.7 dBd with mechanical polarization
control. / 400 Watt.
(we have spare transceivers/ PA’s/ preamps etc….)

We arrive on Monday 14th of November and start to build up the station next
day.
We expect to run on 2 mtr. from Nov. 15 until 24 (not full moonpasses on
some days)
Activity on 70cm will be during one complete moonpass starting:
Saturday 19th of November at 20:15 UTC.
A detailed timetable will be announced soon, we try to put actual
information every day if necessary on MMM.

Because we are QRV also during the ARRL EME Contest we kindly ask all
station who worked us before the contest NOT to call again and make a dupe
QSO unless you see there is NO pile-up !
The reason for planning this trip during the contest is only to make use of
the maximum of activity and to give as much stations a change to work us.

Vy 73’s,

Jos, PA3FYC
Chris, PA2CHR

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