Portable VHF 2 x 2 x 7 Element yagi antenna group

Great looking antennas. Whether justified in terms of additional contacts for SOTA is something you will need to assess in due course.

If you look at the EME path loss etc and calculate your required antenna gain and transmit power, you find there is a lot needed. There is a calculator on the website of VK3UM (SK) which helps you calculate gain and tx power, also the tolerable feedline loss and mast head preamp noise figure. CW requires a lot of power AND a lot of antenna. JT65 type modes require less.

I was one of the ops at VK9NA at Norfolk Island 9 years ago, we had a 300w amp and a 19 element yagi, on JT65. To give you an idea. Our reports received were generally between -15 and -25, meaning S:N of -25 db. A very few of the stronger stations I thought I would be able to copy as CW signals, they were at about -10 to -15 as indicated by WSJT. We never made any CW contacts - the main aim was to work as many as possible. In about 14 days we made about 120 contacts, on 2m EME. We made other contacts on other vhf and uhf bands to Australia and New Zealand.

EME is an addiction much more serious than SOTA! And is expensive!

Good luck!

73 Andrew VK1DA/VK2UH