Hello Folks, As we all know (or assumed), AO-7's battery system has been down the tube for a couple of decades. However, this morning I got quite a surprise.
I always monitor the old girl before actually *bellowing* into the microphone. As is my want, I was watching both InstantTRACK and NOVA on seperate computers (and before you comment, my keps are! correct and up to date). The satellite came up over Northern Russia at 09:58 UTC on the 45926 orbit and was in complete darkness at that time but just for a laugh I sent a few CQ's on CW (432.150 up 145.941 down) and to my surprise I copied LA2QAA calling CQ - (that's me folks).
Thinks ... "This can't be, the batteries are knackered".
This instigated careful checks of time (Atomtime Pro), keps & doppler - no doubt - (both InstantTRACK and Nova agreed) - AO-7 was in darkness but I was able to copy my downlink at S3. A few minutes later, when the old girl came into sunlight my signal shot up to S8.
Careful checks of my hearing and senility confirmed that both are! functioning correctly.
So ... how come I could hear myself when AO-7 was in darkness?. As can be imagined, I will keep tabs on this tomorrow morning.
Sensible explanations please written on the back of a clean $100 bill wrapped round a wallbrick and chucked through my window - or - an e-mail to la2qaa@amsat.org at a pinch, will suffice
73 John.