KP4/EA8DBM (FK78) Puerto Rico 19-24 November.
On Tuesday, November 19, at 2:00 PM local time, I arrive in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Based on past experience, I expect customs, border control, and car rental to take a couple of hours. After that, it’s about another hour drive to reach the site. Moonrise is around 10 PM local time, so there’s a chance I can set everything up if I’m not too exhausted by then—maybe I’ll even manage to get on the moon.
This is the final leg of my “Autumn Season” trip, and I’m hoping everything goes smoothly without any issues… but, given my track record, that seems pretty unlikely…
+++++++++++
Surprisingly, everything is going smoothly… too smoothly. It’s the kind of smooth that makes you suspicious, as if something is bound to “go off” any moment.
Check-in at the airport? No issues. No frantic shouts of, “You have an extra half kilo! You can’t just move it to the suitcase that’s 2 kilos underweight; you must pay extra here or we’ll take you off the flight!” :D
Passport control? No calls to security 30 minutes before departure asking me to open my luggage and explain why I have an umbrella wrapped in foil 0_o. Even border and customs in the States went like clockwork.
The rental car? Practically brand new, and everything fit inside without needing to play suitcase Tetris. The QTH? Not bad at all—the east is open with a gorgeous view of the ocean. The west is a little blocked, but I think I can work down to about 10 degrees elevation, and while the moon isn’t too low, there should still be a window for JA.
Of course, there’s a minor hiccup: I didn’t bring a long enough extension cord, so I had to head to the hardware shop. And since I was out anyway, I grabbed some food for the evening.
But everything was going so smoothly that it started to feel… unsettling. And then I saw it. On the neighboring house, there’s a large, shiny inverter box with “Tesla” written on it. And right to the south, no more than 500 meters away, is a towering cell mast.
In about an hour and a half, everything will become clear.
I turn on the receiver. Everything seems normal—the noise level is fine, no clicks, no QRM. With bated breath (always the case after moving to a new QTH), I turn on the transmission. And then… bam. The alarm triggers, the blue error light comes on, and the amplifier shuts down with a protection error. Of course. Everything had been too smooth. :((((
The voltage reads 22V instead of 28V, causing the amp to trip. With two hours until moonrise, I start troubleshooting. I disconnect all the cables, check them one by one—everything looks fine. I reconnect them, and power is back. Apparently, after several days of rain and the humid tropics, one of the connectors must have rusted slightly.
An hour until moonrise… let’s see how this goes.
An hour before moonrise, clouds rolled in and covered the eastern sky. I didn’t have time to align the rotator with the controller using the sun, so I had to rely on the azimuth based on the Big Guns’ signals. Naturally, I missed the mark and ended up receiving about 6 dB weaker than usual.
After completing four QSOs, the rain started. Not wanting to take any risks, I stopped transmitting and fully closed the tent. About an hour later, the clouds cleared, and the moon became visible. I quickly adjusted the azimuth, and everything started running smoothly.
By 2 a.m., it seemed like everyone who wanted to work the local area had made contact. I left the West Coast, Asia, and Australia for my moonset and finally went to bed.
2024-11-20,01:57:30,2024-11-20,01:59:59,OK1DFC,JN79,1296.100999,Q65,-19,-18,,,,
2024-11-20,02:01:00,2024-11-20,02:03:59,OK1KIR,JN79,1296.100999,Q65,-18,-19,,,,
2024-11-20,02:03:30,2024-11-20,02:05:00,UA3PTW,,1296.100999,Q65,-18,-19,,,,
2024-11-20,02:05:30,2024-11-20,02:07:00,PA3DZL,,1296.100999,Q65,-16,-21,,,,
2024-11-20,02:08:00,2024-11-20,02:10:59,PA3FXB,JO33,1296.100999,Q65,-22,-23,,,,
2024-11-20,03:16:00,2024-11-20,03:16:00,DF3RU,JN59,1296.100999,Q65,-17,-20,,,,
2024-11-20,03:16:00,2024-11-20,03:18:00,ON4AOI,JO21,1296.100999,Q65,-14,-18,,,,
2024-11-20,03:18:00,2024-11-20,03:20:00,G4CCH,,1296.100999,Q65,-14,-16,,,,
2024-11-20,03:20:00,2024-11-20,03:22:00,IK2DDR,,1296.100999,Q65,-17,-21,,,,
2024-11-20,03:22:00,2024-11-20,03:24:00,SP7EXY,,1296.100999,Q65,-16,-20,,,,
2024-11-20,03:24:00,2024-11-20,03:26:00,PA9RX,,1296.100999,Q65,-15,-20,,,,
2024-11-20,03:28:00,2024-11-20,03:28:00,NC1I,,1296.100999,Q65,-09,-13,,,,
2024-11-20,03:28:00,2024-11-20,03:30:00,IK3COJ,JN65,1296.100999,Q65,-20,-18,,,,
2024-11-20,03:30:30,2024-11-20,03:32:00,G0LBK,,1296.100999,Q65,-19,-18,,,,
2024-11-20,03:33:00,2024-11-20,03:34:59,SP5GDM,KO02,1296.100999,Q65,-16,-22,,,,
2024-11-20,03:35:00,2024-11-20,03:37:00,PY2BS,GG66,1296.100999,Q65,-16,-17,,,,
2024-11-20,03:37:30,2024-11-20,03:40:00,G4YTL,IO92,1296.100999,Q65,-22,-21,,,,
2024-11-20,03:57:28,2024-11-20,03:57:28,CT1WO,,1296.100999,Q65,-23,-21,,,,
2024-11-20,04:09:00,2024-11-20,04:12:00,UA9FAD,LO88,1296.100999,Q65,-25,-27,,,,
2024-11-20,04:15:00,2024-11-20,04:18:00,ZS4TX,KG30,1296.100999,Q65,-21,-24,,,,
2024-11-20,04:24:00,2024-11-20,04:24:00,DK3WG,JO72,1296.100999,Q65,-23,-28,,,,
2024-11-20,04:24:00,2024-11-20,04:28:00,ZS6JON,KG33,1296.100999,Q65,-21,-23,,,,
2024-11-20,04:32:00,2024-11-20,04:32:00,YL2GD,,1296.100999,Q65,-16,-21,,,,
2024-11-20,04:33:00,2024-11-20,04:38:00,K5DN,EL19,1296.100999,Q65,-17,-21,,,,
2024-11-20,04:42:00,2024-11-20,04:46:00,DL7UDA,JO62,1296.100999,Q65,-21,-24,,,,
2024-11-20,04:48:00,2024-11-20,04:52:00,N5TM,EL29,1296.100999,Q65,-19,-22,,,,
2024-11-20,04:53:00,2024-11-20,04:57:56,W2HRO,FN20,1296.100999,Q65,-19,-26,,,,
2024-11-20,05:00:00,2024-11-20,05:04:00,DG0FE,,1296.100999,Q65,-19,-22,,,,
2024-11-20,05:07:00,2024-11-20,05:11:56,VE6TA,DO33,1296.100999,Q65,-15,-20,,,,
2024-11-20,05:13:00,2024-11-20,05:17:56,YO2LAM,KN05,1296.100999,Q65,-13,-20,,,,
2024-11-20,05:19:00,2024-11-20,05:22:02,K5DOG,,1296.100999,Q65,-19,-25,,,,
2024-11-20,12:24:00,2024-11-20,12:28:00,KB2SA,DM13,1296.100999,Q65,-18,-22,,,,
2024-11-20,12:30:00,2024-11-20,12:36:00,JJ3JHP,PM75,1296.100999,Q65,-19,-24,,,,
2024-11-20,12:36:00,2024-11-20,12:39:56,JQ3JWF,PM75,1296.100999,Q65,-18,-22,,,,
2024-11-20,13:28:00,2024-11-20,13:36:03,VK4CDI,QG63,1296.100999,Q65,-25,-26,,,,
2024-11-20,13:36:00,2024-11-20,13:42:00,JA6AHB,PM53,1296.100999,Q65,-21,-21,,,,
total: 36 QSO in log.
In the morning, I noticed a crackling noise coming from the west. It’s unclear whether it was caused by a distant thunderstorm, industrial QRN, or possibly interference from the nearby cell tower. After moonset, I checked the antenna alignment using the sun—it’s working perfectly, with a 9 dB cold sky/sun ratio.
The second moon pass went flawlessly! Clear skies, no rain, and everything worked smoothly.
Both TX and RX were solid, and aside from a few minor rotator issues, it was as close to perfect as it gets.
On top of that, I got my hands on a brand-new 600-watt amplifier and coupler from the almighty AG6EE—Petr. I’m itching to get back home and put them to the test!
2024-11-21,03:21:00,2024-11-21,03:22:59,DG5CST,JO60,1296.100999,Q65,-08,-14,,,,
2024-11-21,03:23:00,2024-11-21,03:24:59,HB9Q,JN47,1296.100999,Q65,-05,-14,,,,
2024-11-21,03:25:30,2024-11-21,03:27:00,DL4DTU,,1296.100999,Q65,-18,-23,,,,
2024-11-21,03:27:30,2024-11-21,03:30:59,PA3EXV,JO32,1296.100999,Q65,-19,-23,,,,
2024-11-21,03:33:30,2024-11-21,03:35:00,DK4RC,,1296.100999,Q65,-08,-11,,,,
2024-11-21,03:50:00,2024-11-21,03:50:00,PA0BAT,,1296.100999,Q65,-17,-23,,,,
2024-11-21,03:51:33,2024-11-21,03:51:33,DL8FBD,JO40,1296.100999,Q65,-17,-23,,,,
2024-11-21,03:51:30,2024-11-21,03:53:59,OK1IL,JN69,1296.100999,Q65,-18,-29,,,,
2024-11-21,03:57:00,2024-11-21,03:59:59,DL1AT,JO61,1296.100999,Q65,-24,-22,,,,
2024-11-21,04:01:30,2024-11-21,04:05:00,DF2VJ,JN39,1296.100999,Q65,-25,-25,,,,
2024-11-21,04:11:00,2024-11-21,04:14:00,DL1SUZ,JO53,1296.100999,Q65,-20,-28,,,,
2024-11-21,04:26:00,2024-11-21,04:34:00,ES3RF,KO29,1296.100999,Q65,-24,-26,,,,
2024-11-21,04:35:00,2024-11-21,04:39:56,PA0TBR,JO21,1296.100999,Q65,-16,-23,,,,
2024-11-21,04:44:00,2024-11-21,04:48:56,RN6MA,LN06,1296.100999,Q65,-25,-24,,,,
2024-11-21,05:33:00,2024-11-21,05:37:56,DM2CFH,JO61,1296.100999,Q65,-10,-12,,,,
2024-11-21,05:38:00,2024-11-21,05:41:56,OK1VUM,JN79,1296.100999,Q65,-15,-19,,,,
2024-11-21,05:43:00,2024-11-21,05:47:56,DK0ZAB,JO61,1296.100999,Q65,-10,-11,,,,
2024-11-21,05:48:00,2024-11-21,05:51:56,IK7EZN,JN90,1296.100999,Q65,-23,-21,,,,
2024-11-21,05:52:00,2024-11-21,05:56:00,SM6CKU,,1296.100999,Q65,-09,-16,,,,
2024-11-21,05:57:00,2024-11-21,06:03:56,IQ2DB,JN45,1296.100999,Q65,-18,-25,,,,
2024-11-21,06:06:00,2024-11-21,06:11:56,9H1BN,JM75,1296.100999,Q65,-25,-23,,,,
2024-11-21,06:13:00,2024-11-21,06:17:56,N1AV,DM43,1296.100999,Q65,-19,-26,,,,
2024-11-21,11:52:00,2024-11-21,11:55:56,AA6I,DM06,1296.100999,Q65,-24,-21,,,,
2024-11-21,12:11:56,2024-11-21,12:11:56,EA8DBM,IL18OH,1296.100999,Q65,-19,-23,,,,
24 QSO (total: 60 QSO)
+++++++
2024-11-22,04:37:00,2024-11-22,04:38:59,PA7JB,JO22,1296.100999,Q65,-19,-22,,,,
2024-11-22,04:48:00,2024-11-22,04:49:59,RW6HM,LN14,1296.100999,Q65,-17,-16,,,,
2024-11-22,04:51:00,2024-11-22,04:52:59,OK2DL,JN79,1296.100999,Q65,-08,-14,,,,
2024-11-22,10:52:00,2024-11-22,10:56:00,PA3DZL,,1296.100999,Q65,-12,-21,,,,
2024-11-22,11:00:00,2024-11-22,11:05:56,CT1FFU,IM59,1296.100999,Q65,-23,-23,,,,
2024-11-22,11:56:00,2024-11-22,12:01:56,PA1PS,JO21,1296.100999,Q65,-24,-25,,,,
6 QSO (total: 65 inits)
Activity was low, so after working everyone, I decided to try something different—listening for and measuring my reflected echo. With the old version of the antenna, before I covered it with aluminum tape, there wasn’t even a hint of an echo.
It wasn’t the best day for this experiment—degradation was already around 1-1.5 dB, and the nearby cell tower occasionally added some crackling. So you can imagine my surprise when a clear splash appeared on the monitor. I could hear my echo at a level of -26 to -27 dB with a Q indicator of 2. For me, that’s a very impressive result!
++++++++
2024-11-23,06:16:00,2024-11-23,06:19:56,OK1UGA,JO80,1296.100999,Q65,-11,-15,,,,
2024-11-23,06:21:00,2024-11-23,06:25:56,DJ2DY,JN39,1296.100999,Q65,-23,-22,,,,
2024-11-23,07:09:00,2024-11-23,07:13:56,LZ4FR,KN13,1296.100999,Q65,-21,-22,,,,
2024-11-23,08:39:49,2024-11-23,08:49:49,LA3EQ,JO28,1296.100999,Q65,-24,-24,,,,
2024-11-23,08:50:00,2024-11-23,08:54:00,LZ4OC,KN33,1296.100999,Q65,-23,-22,,,,
11 QSO , 5 inits (total: 70 inits)
+++++++++
I probably worked everyone who wanted to work and could. But I won’t pack up until Sunday, just incase I missed someone ;)
2024-11-24,09:44:00,2024-11-24,09:47:56,PA3JRK,JO33,1296.100999,Q65,-21,-23,,,,
2024-11-24,09:57:00,2024-11-24,10:02:00,IK5VLS,JN53,1296.100999,Q65,-18,-18,,,,
2 QSO in last day
Total QSO : 72 inits
Huge thank you to my supporters:
Franc NC1I
Jurg DK3WG
Toshio JA6AHB
Lothar DF2VJ
Jay N1AV
Jan PA3FXB
Dwayne AB6A
Petr AG6EE
Dietmar DL7UDA