28 April 2014
For Immediate Release
A group of Amateur Radio operators From Atlantic Canada will operate from Pouch Cove, Newfoundland, from 4-12 July 2014 in a bid to complete a 2 meter Trans-Atlantic QSO and claim the Brendan Trophy.
The expedition will operate from Maidenhead Grid GN37os on 144.155 MHz. It will run 750 watts into a 30 meter long rope yagi with a gain of more than 23 dB over a dipole. The group will concentrate its efforts on digital modes such as FSK 441 and JT65B that offer greatly enhanced performance over more conventional modes. It will have to capability to use other modes including CW and SSB if conditions warrant however.
A special callsign - VC1T - has been issued for the attempt.
Members of the expedition include Fred Archibald, VE1FA, Roger Sturtvant, VE1SKY, Helen Archibald VA1YL, Rich Pieniaszek, VA1CHP, and Al Penney, VO1NO. The Brendan Trophy is a series of awards offered by the Irish Radio Transmitters Society to the first Amateur Radio operators to complete a 2 meter Trans-Atlantic QSO.
Details on the expedition can be found on the team’s website www.brendanquest.org. Real time information on operating modes and schedules will be posted during the expedition. Facebook users are also welcome to join the group’s page “Brendan Quest 2M Trans-Atlantic Attempt 2014”. Questions may be directed to info@brendanquest.org or to Al Penney at (902) 847-0554.
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Antenna height is 85 feet (26 meters) above sea level on a bluff on the edge of the Atlantic. There is no land between the transmit location and Europe through bearing range of 013 to 108 degrees True. The transmit location is 3040km from Irish coast, 3400 km from Poldhu, and 23km from Marconi’s 1901 reception site.
Antenna: Horizontally polarized “rope ladder” Yagi, with 43 elements consisting of 1 reflector, 1 driven element and 41 directors, suspended and aligned on 2 strands of Kevlar rope 65 cm apart. Its overall length is 30 meters. Because the ground slopes towards the ocean, the height of the antenna varies from 6 meters above ground at the reflector, to 8.5 meters at the opposite end. Its feedpoint impedance is 50 Ω, and it will employ a ferrite choke balun.
The SWR is 1.1 to 1.2. Forward gain is 23.9 dB over a dipole. The
front to back ratio is 32 db,
while the front to side ratio is greater than 25 db (270°). The takeoff angle of the main lobe is 4.5°. The beamwidth is 15.6° at the -3db points, and beam thickness is 4.7° at the -3db points. When driven with 750W, the Effective Radiated Power in the center of the major lobe should be about 150kW.Background Information2014 Transatlantic Two Meter “Brendan Quest” Objectives:
1. Complete one or more legal, confirmed, two-way QSOs between North America and Europe on the Amateur Radio 2 meter band using terrestrial propagation modes;
2. Complete such contacts using both “traditional” (CW or SSB) and “non-traditional” (FSK441 JT-65B) modes; and
3. Failing the above, to be heard in Europe.
Operators (North America): Fred Archibald VE1FA; Helen Archibald VA1YL; Al Penney VO1NO; Rich Pieniaczek VA1CHP; Roger Sturtevant VE1SKY.
Operation: 4 to 12 July 2014.
Call: VC1T (Victor Charlie One Tango)
North America QTH: Pouch Cove, Newfoundland, Canada.
Latitude 47.76942° North, Longitude 52.76384° West
Elevation: 65 feet (20 meters) above sea level.
Grid Square: GN37os.
IOTA island NA-027.
For more information:
Website:
www.brendanquest.orgPS: Ne pas voir aucune contradiction avec les calculs de Pierre mais seulement une diffusion de l'information officielle! Je n'ai pas osé faire une traduction libre mais une citation par soucis du justice des propos. Merci!