Arecibo on 432 MHz Moon Bounce

The Arecibo Observatory Amateur Radio Club will be putting the 1000-foot radio telescope on the air for 432 MHz EME from April 16-18.

The scheduled times of operation are:

April 16: 1645 - 1930 UTC

April 17: 1740 - 2020 UTC

April 18: 1840 - 2125 UTC

Callsign: KP4AO

Tx Frequency: 432.045 MHz

Rx Frequency: 432.050 to 432.060+

Tx power: 400 W

Antenna gain: 60 dBi

System noise temp: 120 K (cold sky)

System noise temp: 330 K (when pointed at moon)

KP4AO can be heard with a small hand-held yagi pointed at the moon and a good receiver. A 15 dBi linearly polarized antenna and 100 W will be enough to work us on CW.  KP4AO will be circularly polarized, so polarization lockout will not be a problem.

Operators at KP4AO will do their best to work as many stations as possible. Each session will start with a brief announcement and CQ in SSB. SSB QSOs may continue for 30 minutes to an hour, if the QSO rate remains high.  The mode will be shifted to CW as soon as it is judged that higher QSO rates would result.

We will listen for calls at frequencies 5-15 kHz higher than our own, and even higher if QRM warrants. Callers who s-p-r-e-a-d o-u-t are more likely to be copied.

If you've already worked us in any mode, please do not call again -- give others a chance.

If we call "CQ QRP", we will listen for stations running 100 W or less to a single yagi. Please do not answer such a CQ if you are running more power or have a larger antenna.

On April 18, if we reach a condition where most calling stations have been worked, and we judge that operating in the digital mode JT65B would produce a higher QSO rate, we will switch to JT65B.

Note that any of these planned operating strategies may be changed as circumstances dictate.

We are extremely fortunate to have been granted access to the world's largest radio telescope for this amateur radio good-will event. We look forward to working as many stations as possible in the alloted time!  Please QSL via KP4AO QSL manager Joseph Arcure, W3HNK, 115 Buck Run Rd, Lincoln University, PA 19352.  Include a self-addressed return envelope and sufficient postage.

73 from Joe, K1JT, on behalf of all the gang at KP4AO