[amsat-bb] FW: 25 watt Moonbounce

[Les Listwa]

Regardless if this is a record or not, the PR is great for the Ham community
in general. Also, his accomplishments and the PR hopefully will motivate
some of those working the birds to download the WJST software and slew their
modest antennas towards the moon.  Six months ago, on a whim I downloaded
the WJST software, aimed my 20 element crossed yagi 2M satellite  antenna at
the moon and heard W5UN and worked him. I was so excited and felt like a
Novice making my first contact. Since then I have made over 100 contacts (
although, I have slowly grown my antennas and power to do it). I happened to
be on the air the day Angus made the contact. I could not hear him, but I
heard the other station he was working.  He was luckily ( or smart enough)
to pick one of the few days of the month when EME conditions were close to
perfect and also picked up an additional 6 db of ground gain as he was
working the moon on his Horizon.  He also was  compensating for Faraday
rotation as he was switching between horizontal and Vertical elements
through out the QSO.  Was it a record? It does not matter. It was an
accomplishment! And hopefully it will serve as motivation for anyone with
even a modest satellite station to aim for the moon.

Les WB2SZR, Daniel W2DBL