Yes, CP antennas definitely help, both on the up and down links. In my experience it doesn't matter much which direction (left or right hand), just that they're circular. Both of mine are, and I found the satellite's signal to be really consistant across the pass.
Greg. KO6TH
On May 5, 2014 12:25:54 PM PDT, Chris Thompson chrisethompson@gmail.com wrote:
I've also heard a very strong downlink of my signal on a couple of occasions, but not had any replies. I am on the East Coast of the US in Brooklyn.
That said, I get very deep fades with AO-73. I think the antennae are in the x-y plane and are dipoles. They are therefore rotating as the satellite rotates about Z. If you are using an arrow antenna, or similar, then you get a deep null periodically and you can completely loose your signal if you are not careful. Does a CP antenna help with this? Can anyone using CP confirm?
I understand AO-73 rotates about once a minute, or once every two minutes. So you should have a null every 30 seconds or so but it _seems_ worse than that and it's enough to throw you off, especially if you have struggled to find your signal in the narrow downlink in the first place.
Then of course it goes into sunlight and your signal pops out of existence....
All in all, a tricky sat to work. I'm looking forward to my first contact through it.
73 Chris ac2cz
On Mon, May 5, 2014 at 2:18 PM, Paul Stoetzer n8hm@arrl.net wrote:
Agree. It isn't quite as loud or as easy to get a signal into as VO-52, but it's very close.
I had a 70+ degree pass yesterday and my return signal was S8 with
500
mW to an Elk antenna. Unfortunately, all I heard were people trying
to
find their signals until the end of the pass.
Looking forward to the FUNcube-2 payload on UKube-1 and the FUNcube-3 payload on QB50p2, apparently both launching June 19th, but I see conflicting information about the DNEPR launch for QB50p1 and QB50p2 (with a FM transponder from AMSAT-F). Can anyone confirm that date?
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Mon, May 5, 2014 at 12:52 PM, D. Craig Fox DFox@rwglaw.com
wrote:
I was on AO73 last night from southern Cal (DM13) at around 0555z,
calling many CQs. I kept my downlink at about 145.955. My sigs peaked
at S9
(no preamp), 5 el fixed at 30 deg.
AO73 was very loud. I had no replies and heard no one but myself.
It
does take a little more work to keep up with the Doppler, but this is
a
great sat and I encourage you to take advantage when the transponder
is
turned on.
NOTICE: This communication may contain privileged or other
confidential
information. If you are not the intended recipient of this
communication,
or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this communication
to
the intended recipient, please advise the sender by reply email and immediately delete the message and any attachments without copying or disclosing the contents. Thank you.
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the
author.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
program!
Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the
author.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
program!
Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
-- Chris E. Thompson chrisethompson@gmail.com g0kla@arrl.net _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb