ARRL EME Contest - September 2026

In mid-August, I added a MODBUS RTU relay module to the Kuhne MKU 10 G5 breakout board, allowing the receive frequency to be switched between 10368 MHz and 10450 MHz from the 10 GHz controller in the shack. I used the Kuhne Suite software and its plug-in for the transverter, together with a USB-to-TTL interface connected to the transverter’s serial port, to test and verify the configuration. I also carried out tests using a MAX2870 signal source to confirm that signals at both 10368 MHz and 10450 MHz were being correctly converted down to the 144 MHz IF.

With the new 10450 MHz receive option now in place, I can receive signals from Q0100 around 10489 MHz on both the IC-705 and RSP1a SDR.

On 4 Sep 2026, the day before the contest, I took some sun noise measurements using Bob, KA1GT’s new EMETest software with the IC-705. I also made a measurement using the RSP1a and SDR Console, giving two independent measurements to compare with the predictions from EMECalc and SimpleCalc. The two measured values are in very close agreement, differing by only 0.10 dB. They also agree well with the predicted values. The measured results are within 0.55 dB of the two predictions, with an overall range of 0.69 dB across all four results.

On 5 Sep 2026, at moonrise, there wasn’t much activity and I heard nothing from JA, so I decided to get a few hours’ sleep. I returned to the band around 04:15 UTC and, although there was a good level of activity, progress was slow as there were only a handful of stations I hadn’t worked during the first weekend. For the second moon pass, I arranged a test with JA8ERE via the HB9Q logger, but unfortunately nothing was received at either end. Once again, it was slow going, but I was pleased to add another 10 QSOs, including 5 new initials, bringing the total to 44 QSOs on 10 GHz over both weekends.

The highlight for me came the following day, 7 Sep 2026, when I successfully completed with Terry, BA7NQ for a new DXCC. We had arranged a sked for 03:00 UTC and whilst I could copy him at -20, he could not see my signal. David, G4YTL, worked him shortly afterwards, and once my dish had cleared the 2m array and tree behind it, I was able to complete the QSO without difficulty.

5 Sep 2026: IT9EQO (#70), DL3WDG (#71), UN6PD (dupe), DL5CN, ON4CDU, G4YTL, IT9CJC (#72)

6 Sep 2026: S57NML, IK3GHY (dupe), ON7FI (#73), W3TI, W5LUA

7 Sep 2026: BA7NQ (#74) (DXCC #27), UN6PD

All QSOs were completed using digital modes with a 1.2 m offset dish, 20 W PA and DU3T LNA.

References

• EMETest, Bob Atkins, KA1GT
• SimpleCalc, Carsten Groen, OZ9AAR