Miki OM7CM is another one who managed to get off on the right foot EME – the first connection with RN6BN. Congratulations!!!
EME connection (Earth-Moon-Earth) is a specialized method of radio communication in which radio amateurs use the moon as a passive reflector of radio waves. The signal is sent towards the moon, bounces off its surface and returns to Earth, where it is picked up by another station.
Basic characteristics of EME:
Technical difficulty:
- Requires high power (hundreds of watts to kilowatts)
- Directional antenna systems with high gain
- Precise adjustment of antennas according to the position of the moon
- Sensitive receivers with low noise
Challenges:
- Huge signal attenuations (round trip is approximately 768,000 km)
- Doppler frequency shift
- Signal delay of approximately 2.5 seconds
- Signal polarization changes (Faraday rotation)
Bands: The most commonly used bands are 144 MHz, 432 MHz, 1296 MHz and above. The higher the frequency, the smaller the attenuation, but the more difficult the adjustment.
Meaning: EME represents the pinnacle of technical prowess in amateur radio and enables global communication without the use of satellites or ionospheric reflections. It is a discipline for true enthusiasts with technical know-how and quality equipment.