Diary March 18th

This morning after had swapped the 2m for the 70cm antenna we had a bad surprise: When checking SWR it was consistently 1:2. Checking each individual yagi both also showed 1:2. We measured thematching boxes at the dipols - both ok. We controlled phasing lines (which could not be the reason because both yagis showed 1:2 each) - all ok. Elements were mounted in correct sequence and correct distance from one another. We did n ot find any clue for this weird behaviour. The antennas worked ok with CR2EME last year and were lying in DH7FB's cellar since then. We did not want to take the risk of killing our 250W sspa for 70 cm so swapped back to 2 m.

Bad luck for the few 70 cm guys who missed out on EA9 when Zdenek OK1DFV was QRV from here in 2017 but what else could we do? On the other side good luck for 36 2m stations which we did not work yet. Though we still feel a little like having let down the 70 cm guys.

After moon rise the usual behaviour we know from the past days: We were being copied well but we have a poor reception, beaming through the big tree in rise direction (Do trees have stronger negative effects on reception but on transmission signals?) Once we got clear of the tree the fun began. Though the high noise floor of course did not go away we sometimes had big rx signals (best was DL1DWI with -18) and worked yet another two single yagi station making it three altogether (R3PA, DL1VPL, DK5AI). At times we had S9 QRM, sounding like voice signals. This was the first time since we started here. Maybe it had to do with the military (gun?) shot noise we heard all morning, maybe there was some kind of exercise? One should not forget that Ceuta is 90% military. Anyway, we are very please with the results yesterday. Though strangely when moon is nearly on top of us we did not copy anything in neither polarisation and went QRT after 45 min NIL and moon approaching ares where he is being blocked by neighbouring houses and hills.

In the afternoon we even had some time for sightseeing:

Next moon rise (0 deg) is 1702 UTC. As the moon is rising a little more to the South every day now we might catch him earlier (at lower elevations) than before. We plan to be QRV until 21Z at the very latest because we still have to break everything down after QRT - and the taxis is collecting us at 6 am the next morning. We then need to catch the ferry back to Algeciras on Spanish mainland, collect our rental car from parking, travel to Malaga and fly home from there, taking off at 1440 UTC with LH1149 to Frankfurt.