Ham Radio Station W5UN, op Dave Blaschke

Active on 2 meter eme And 10 thru 160 meters
chasing DX since 1952

W5UN's 2 meter Mighty Big Array (29k)
 

Author of
Skymoon & CWkey5
The software preferred by top eme operators, throughout the world  

buy it here

Write to w5un@wt.net for an eme schedule. . . . . . . . . . . .

Dave, W5UN 
If your 2 meter station outputs 100 watts or more to a good 16 element Yagi antenna, and your receiver front end has reasonably low noise, you may be able to work W5UN via 2 meter moonbounce. Tune to 144.041 mhz cw, and point your antenna at the horizon as the moon nears set or shortly after it rises (of course I must be able to see the moon in Texas). I call CQ there regularly whenever eme conditions are favorable. Skymoon can help you determine the best operating dates & times. Check into the 2 Meter EME Net Saturdays & Sundays on 14.345 mhz, beginning around 1700 UCT to arrange a schedule.

Last edit: Nov 4, 2000

Download the latest version of ALLCALLS.DTA. (updated October 16, 2002)

          EME Station Construction and Operating Information
for eme newcomers and oldtimers

• Download the ERP calculator. This is a DOS program that will assist you in determining your 2 meter station's Effective Radiated Power (ERP).
• Are you looking for a cheap and easy antenna for 2 meter eme work? Here are the construction dimensions for Quagi97, the newest version of W5UN's old 2 meter eme quagi antenna. Dimensions have been optimized for peak performance by Mr. Antenna Optimizer himself, VE7BQH.
• Here is a 4 quagi phasing harness , including power divider, that I used during my early 2 meter eme work. This one works, and is inexpensive to build. It will work with 4 Yagi's, as well.
• The W5UN EME Operating Primer explains what you will need to do in order to hear and work other stations via eme on the 2 meter band.
• If you need a good low noise 2 Meter Preamp, this one will do the job. It has been used here at W5UN for years.
• A Weak Signal Source is something that your will find handy for testing your eme system. This one is simple and inexpensive to build.
• The VE7BQH Antenna Gain Comparison Table lists comparisons of popular 2 meter eme antennas. The table, entitled "G/T Simulation Of A 4-Bay Array Of Yagi Antennas On 2 Meters", was compiled by VE7BQH.
• Reprint of the classic W6PO 8877 2-meter kw Amplifier construction article from Eimac Amateur Radio Newsletter AS-47, Aug. 22, 1971. This article will print out nicely using your browser print-out option.
• Need an effective Digital Readout of your antenna's position? Build this simple circuit to show Az and El position accurately to within +/- 1 degree.
• Download the updated (April 22, 2002) version of ALLCALLS.DTA. This is the callsign "cheat sheet" file used by CWKEY5. It includes over 3500 station callsigns collected from the KB8RQ "cheat sheet", the W5UN and VE7BQH logs, VHFSKED.SKD, and other sources. Once downloaded, ALLCALLS can be printed out in a nice columized format by using a word processor, such as Microsoft Word, which has text columnization capability. If you need a printout, but do not have the necessary word processor, you can download and use ALLPRINT.EXE to do this ( provided by N1BUG).
• A home designed and constructed ( fool-proof) xmit/rcve  sequencer circuit has been in operation here at W5UN for the past fifteen years. A single feedline is used for both transmitting and receiving. I have never blown a preamp using this circuit, even though many foolish things have probably occurred over these last fifteen years. If you want to see how I do it, take a look at the Sequence Circuit Diagram. It may give you some ideas about how you can do yours also.
• W5LUU moon data for the year 2001 MoonData2001 (MS Word format) . The text help for the MoonData chart is found in the Help File.
• Aluminum Brazing: An excellent method for joining aluminum to aluminum or to copper or brass is to use the modern fluxless aluminum brazing method. I have used this method successfully for brazing the copper tabs to the aluminum driven elements of the M2 antenna. These joints are found inside the connector block. As supplied on my 2M5WL antennas, the copper tab is swedged into a slit in the end of each driven element dipole half so that a regular tin-lead solder joint can be made on the copper to fasten coax connectors to the elements. The problem is that this particular joint is a candidate for corrosion and cathiodic cell development if moisture ever gets to it, and this has happened to more than one of my antennas. Aluminum brazing prevents this (you will need to remove the element from the block to do the brazing). The best way to learn how to do aluminum brazing is to watch demonstrations which are often given at various ham flea markets (especially Dayton Hamvention), and then to get some rods and practice until you have mastered the procedure. 14 Rods, a stainless steel cleansing brush, and written instructions can be obtained for $20 plus shipping, from A-16 Products, 4975 Coshocton, Waterford, Michigan 48327. Phone: (284)-682-8778 . W5UN has no affiliation with this vendor, but has used their rods with very good success. You will need a propane or mapp gas torch for this procedure, but these are readily available at most hardware stores. To view pictorial examples of the process, take a look at http://durafix.com
  

To view my photos correctly, you must be capable of displaying 256 or more colors.

Meet my family -

(click on a photo icon for larger view)

My wife: Charlotte (6k)

Our Family: Dave, Char, Mark, Carol, & Jana(10k)

Our grandson's: Michael & Christopher(9k)

Our grandaughters: Megan & Sarah (11k)

Take a look at the new W5UN 6 band quad photos.
A different view of the Mighty Big Array.