The first successful decoding of an Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) transmission using the Opera weak-signal digital mode. (Courtesy EA5DOM) |
The AMSAT News Service and the South African Radio League
both report on a new moonbounce achievement by two amateurs in Spain – the
first reception of signals off the moon using the "Opera" weak-signal
mode. EA5DOM was listening for Opera signals transmitted by EA3HMJ.
Initial
tests on 1296 MHz resulted in a visible trace that was too weak to decode. That
was followed by a successful decode on 70 MHz, the 4-meter band, which is
available to hams in many parts of Europe and Africa. EA5DOM promised more
tests but noted that "one decode was worth the effort."
You can find
out more about the Opera mode at <http://www.obriensweb.com/operaguide.html>
[Tnx Southgate AR News for the link].