144 MHz EME: First QSO

I worked my first initial yesterday morning. I answered the CQ of EA8DBM, and he came back to me right away! It was a wonderful feeling getting a response from the Moon! The protocol was JT65B. The signal reports were exchanged using short hands. This means the report O is given as two tones rather than a decibel value. The reply is sent as RO, which is also a two-tone signal.

First EME QSO with EA8DBM.

Interpretation of messages:

0946 EA8DBM calls CQ
0947 OZ1BXM answers EA8DBM
0948 EA8DBM reports "OOO" to OZ1BXM
0949 OZ1BXM confirms reception (R) and reports an O: "RO"
0950 EA8DBM has received all info and sends "RRR"
0951 OZ1BXM sends "73" (this confirms that "RRR" was received)
0952 EA8DBM sends "73"

After this maiden contact followed DL8II, RX1AS, and OH4LA. I am happy for these QSO's and hopefully many more will follow!

My setup was 4 x 6-element yagi and 800 W from a homebuildt SSPA (version W6PQL).

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My homepage: oz1bxm.dk

73, OZ1BXM Lars