ON0EME 1296 MHz Moonbounce Beacon

This is possibly the first amateur radio beacon to beam signals off the Moon. It's aim is to encourage people to try and receive EME signals.

According to a report in 432 and Above EME News the idea started in Orebro, Sweden during the EME meeting in May 2011. After about 11 months of intensive work by ON7UN, HB9BBD and ON4BCB the beacon ON0EME started transmitting on 1296.000 MHz in the direction of the Moon.

ON0EME’s total EIRP is about half a megawatt. The antenna is a solid 3.7 m dish and it is active when the Moon is >10° at its location.

The system is completely automatic. The beacon starts when the moon is on the east side +10 degrees, by turning the antenna from the point where it stopped the last Moon pass (Moonset at +10°).

The frequency is GPS locked at 1296.000 MHz with an accuracy of 3 x 10-11. The timing is also GPS controlled. The beacon will start transmitting at the minute. The amplitude of the signal is constant within ± 0.2 dB. Antenna pointing is updated every 0.4°. There is complete remote monitoring and control of the beacon with indication of voltages, power and temperatures.

Reports have been received from some small stations receiving the beacon. Please post reports on "moon" or the "moon-net" reflectors.

The beacon is located in the north of Belgium and has good Moon visibility at both high and low declination for the complete Moon pass.

Users can check the operational status and beacon parameters at the ON0EME Status Page http://www.on0eme.org/

Source: 432 and Above EME News May 2012
http://www.nitehawk.com/rasmit/eme12_04.txt