IP66 rated cabinet mounted next to VHF plus tower today... 23cm LNA to be installed soon.

Finished EME sked and this noise started.....

EME sked... and the radio shack seat is crowded!

Damn QRM on 50.230..... can be as loud as +15db at times.

Great burn from Norm VK3DUT on 50MHz MS FSK

Just completed a JT65C QSO with Andru VK4KAY... a challenge when the path looks like this!

The odd MS burst from VK4RTL at present...

 With VK4RHT more sustained... weak Es link

Oly VK3XDX on 50MHz MS this morning.

KH8 - 50 & 144MHz EME DXpedition July 12 - 28, 2014

Great news! KH8 will be activated in July 2014 on both 50 & 144MHz EME by Lance W7GJ and Bob ZL1RS.

Lance and Bob have teamed up previous to successfully activate Pacific DXCC on EME, and will no doubt deliver again from KH8.

Initial DXpedition details can be found at:

http://www.bigskyspaces.com/w7gj/AmericanSamoa2014.htm

It was an absolute pleasure to have Miika OH2BAD and his XYL Raili visit VK4CZ last weekend.

To help make Miika and Raili welcome, we were joined by (L to R) Trent VK4TS, Kevin VK4UH, Miika OH2BAD, myself VK4CZ, Graeme VK4FI, Alan VK4SN and Alan VK4WR.

Watching as the VK2's are enjoying a tropo opening on 144, 432 and 1296MHz to ZL. Grant VK2MAX just a little too far north at present... might need the help of this to make it ;)

ZL1TPH/P RF65JM worked on 144 and 432MHz this morning

... waited for a peak in the tropo QSB for a 1296MHz Q, but unsuccessful! Tomorrow's Hepburn charts look +ve!!!!

Adrian VK4OX was heard calling Nick ZL1IU on 432MHz CW... nothing heard here. So I went for a fish in our dam and landed a healthy little silver perch for my 'effort'.

All ready for the final tests of the 2.4GHz tvtr.

I had to rebuild the 8vDC reg circuit after the first regulator failed (worked fine, then let out some smoke!). Tested all voltages. 

 Ready to put the 2.4GHz tvtr on the test bench with some RF into it !

And then had a chance to assemble the VK4GHZ Thunerbolt Commander board to go with my Thunderbolt GPS.

2.4GHz tvtr almost ready for 'smoke' testing. Just PTT lines to be completed, and some internal DC protection.

Good AE condx this morning... QSYed to 1296MHz and ran SpecLab monitoring for Grant VK2MAX. Three good periods when planes were in the hot spot...

At 2203z Grant's CW was 419... very workable, but a shift to SSB and I could just hear Grant (41 on peak). QSO not competed!

ZL2WHO/B 144.271MHz beacon in.

Was great to walk into the shack this morning and see that we had tropo condx between SE VK4 and ZL.

Worked Harry ZL2ADU a few times up to RS57 on 144.1MHz. QSB was very deep.

ZL2WHO/B on 432.271MHz was also heard on one of the QSB rises up to RST419. Then I went to Brew by U to bottle the latest batch of beer, and missed out on a few more station :)

Further progress towards 2.4GHz.

Spent far too many hours last night getting the aluminium sheet fitted, and then all the boards mounted.

Now to start the coaxial lines, as well as all the wiring!

A bit more progress made today.

The Trimble Thunderbolt GPS unit with VK4GHZ controller mounted in 2U 19" rack cabinet to match the 2.4GHz tvtr.

Amazing AE impacts on 144MHz WSPR signals from VK4MIL and VK4LHD