Here is my 1296 MHz EME (earth moon earth) station.  The anntenna is a 17 foot dia. TVRO dish (16FT effective usable diameter, f/d = 0.38).  With a  KB2AH feedhorn with circular polarization.  A WD5AGO preamp (0.32dB NF) and Down East Microwave 1296-144 and 144-28 transverters do all the conversion and a KB2AH  4 - Tube 500W amplifier (350W  at horn) allow me to hear my own echoes off the moon quite well.  Path loss is approximately 271dB so A LOT of gain is needed - both in transmitt and receive!

Why 1296 MHz?  After all, EME is being done on 144MHz, 432MHz and there are more people on those bands (DXCC has been acheived on 144 MHz)?  Mainly because Icicular poarization, which eliminates the FARADAY ROTATION problem, gives one consistent signals both from one's own echo and from other stations.  If you can hear them one night you can hear them the next night.  Also the size of the antenna is reasonable and used dishes are available.  One can use dishes as small as 12 ft.  I've always wanted to have a dish on ham radio and 1296 is a good band for dishes.