1st contact VO100QO Newfoundland Canada

 Happy with my first SSB QSO via QO-100 Satellite with VO100QO.

 Grid was GN37pl south of St.John's Newfoundland Canada. (Abt 11400 Km from St Helena Bay South Africa grid JF87XF)

link here: https://www.qrz.com/db/VO100QO

154 DXCC on QO-100 SAT

 

                                FINALLY I GOT IT ! Award # 9 for150 Countries on QO-100 SAT

154 DXCC January 2024

HamSat-SA ZS QO-100

HamSat-SA ZS QO-100 QSO Party

The South African Radio League - Die Suid-Afrikaanse Radioliga

 
2023 SARL Contest

The HamSat-SA ZS QO-100 QSO Party
1. Aim:
This is a fun activity to promote contacts between radio amateurs from South Africa and the
world using the QO-100 satellite. The aim for stations from ZS to as many different countries
as possible.
2. Date and Time:
From 14:00 to 15:00 UTC on Sunday 12 February 2023

Duration too short, but happy, I received the certificate to the 1st place.

Total countries today

LNA repair from surplus

 

For an EME on a Noise and Signal Meter
(inspired by F6ETI - Noise (and not only) Meter 144 MHz - November 2020)
But centered on 1296 Mhz.

2 x LNA MMIC recovered in addition burnt and out of service. Must have been ERA-3 ?!

(Round boxes with almost illegible number 3)

 Replacement and testing with some SMD Monolithic InGaP HBT MMIC Amplifier Gali-5 05 SOT89 that I had in stock.

 And of course checks/measurements of the other components around!!
Specifications:
 Gali-5-05
Gain 1 Ghz = 19 dB
Gain 1.3 Ghz = 18 dB
Gain 2 Ghz = 17.5 dB
Noise figure 3.5dB Roughly similar in performance to ERA-3

 ERA-3
Gain 1 Ghz = 21dB
Gain 1.3 Ghz = 20 dB
Gain 2Ghz 18.7 Db
Noise figure = 3.5dB

Well, a little too much NF but I'm trying the drop! On the frequency that interests me, 1296 Mhz.

 1st LNA, I see 2 attenuators of 6dB. The 1st has the input and the 2nd between the 2 MMICs. Without removing the attenuators, I place 2 Gali-5-05. Measurements by injecting a 1296 Mhz signal at 0dB with an HP 8648B. 

Results: output = +24 dB 1nd LNA 1st attenuator of 6 dB has the input removed.
 Installation of 2 Gali-5-05 on the 2nd LNA (2 attenuators removed) Measurements by injecting a 1296 Mhz signal at 0dB.
Result: output = +30 dB.

 These 2 LNAs will be used for: an noise signal meter for the EME.

Archive CW 9Q1EK QSO

          A CW QSO archive recorded by JA0RUG in 2009 on 28 Mhz with my call 9Q1EK

                                        '' Click on the link below''

                                             9Q1EK CW QSO 

 

                                                               Kinshasa RD Congo 2006