I certainly don't expect a perfectly performing satellite that I didn't pay anything for. It's a hobby, not a commercial service.

I'm grateful to all satellite builders, Including Chinese builders. They have sent up more amateur sats in the past few years than any other country AFAICT. Certainly a lot for one country. And the previous ones have been and still are a pleasure to work.

It is a little ridiculous to dismiss them when many amateur sats, including American ones, have issues.

73, John Brier KG4AKV


On Sat, Jan 1, 2022, 13:30 Nigel A. Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF <nigel@ngunn.net> wrote:
What do you expect?
Chinese electronics, it sort of works, most of the time, for most people, but doesn't do anything properly.


> On 01/01/2022 11:54 Michael Walker <va3mw@portcredit.net> wrote:
>
>
> I just watched the pass a few minutes ago.
>
> Downlink signals were really weak. Maybe the antenna isn't deployed.
>
> The beacon was booming. As I was using a Flex 6600, I was able to watch the beacon in 1 receiver and the 2 QSO's in the other receiver.
>
> I was able to see my uplink it is was about where I would expect it.
>
> Mike va3mw
>
>
>
> On Sat, Jan 1, 2022 at 11:25 AM William Herbert Sims <herb.sims@mchsi.com> wrote:
> > Here are some more observations:
> >  1) The passband is 30KHz wide but it is not symmetrical (more like -10 to +20KHz)
> >  2) You can hear the noise fall off from the transmitter around these band edges.
> >  3) Almost overhead pass and I was using 50W and still did not have a strong signal
> > 
> >  Herb
> > 
> >  On 1/1/22, 9:13 AM, "John Brier" <johnbrier@gmail.com> wrote:
> > 
> >  I did have success on the 02:16z pass last night. I contacted N2ACQ. I
> >  also heard VA3ECO very weakly at the end of the pass but couldn't make
> >  contact. It was 25 degree pass over the Atlantic. I had to use 70+
> >  watts with my Arrow II to hear myself. One other person on Twitter
> >  said they had to use 75 watts to hear themselves as well. Not sure of
> >  their antenna/feedline, though.
> > 
> >  73, John Brier KG4AKV
> > 
> >  On Fri, Dec 31, 2021 at 8:28 PM John Brier <johnbrier@gmail.com> wrote:
> >  >
> >  > Thanks, Craig, and Herb. This is exactly the kind of info I was looking for.
> >  >
> >  > 73
> >  >
> >  > On Fri, Dec 31, 2021 at 8:26 PM William Herbert Sims
> >  > <herb.sims@mchsi.com> wrote:
> >  > >
> >  > > Not to mention the coherence between uplink and downlink. One high pass I was showing a 3.5KHz offset between uplink and downlink frequencies. The next pass (15'ish degs) the downlink was drifting severly (yes, my Doppler was accounted for)....I think they have some thermal issues to work out. It's a new spacecraft so some issues is a given.
> >  > >
> >  > > Herb
> >  > >
> >  > > On 12/31/21, 6:41 PM, "D. Craig Fox" <DCFox@rwglaw.com> wrote:
> >  > >
> >  > > John, I was on a 12 deg CAS-3 pass earlier today. I really did not hear myself until max elevation and even then my downlink was marginal with TS2Kx, 5el up, 11 el down, no preamps. I have been on several evening passes including my first QSO on it with Christy, KB6LTY. Very few stations heard. While I lack the technical skills of John K8YSE to provide any graphical analysis, speaking entirely subjectively, I can confirm that the downlink is not particularly strong compared to, say, XW-2F or CAS4B, especially on the earlier 12 deg pass, and the transponder's passband noise is quite noticeable and definitely would cover weaker stations. The noise reminds me of the noise in JO-97's passband. When I worked Christy it was a much higher pass and the downlink was sufficiently strong until I lost it somewhere around the 15 deg point when descending. My Doppler file is set up right at .180 for the downlink and that is where I have hovered, except to move up or down to avoid the nois
 e.
> >  > >
> >  > > I believe my first uplink calibration was around 900 hz, so it was already pretty close and did not require much searching for my downlink. Of course, YMMV
> >  > >
> >  > > I am sure others would appreciate a summary of operation suggestions.
> >  > >
> >  > > HNY satops!
> >  > >
> >  > > 73, Craig
> >  > > N6RSX DM 13
> >  > >
> >  > > -----Original Message-----
> >  > > From: John Brier <johnbrier@gmail.com>
> >  > > Sent: Friday, December 31, 2021 3:44 PM
> >  > > To: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@amsat.org>
> >  > > Subject: [AMSAT-BB] XW-3 issues and tips for success?
> >  > >
> >  > > So, I tried XW-3/CAS-9 on the first orbit and once later but didn't have any luck finding myself on the downlink. I want to try again but it seems the bird has issues and I'd like to understand more about those issues so I can have better luck next time I try.
> >  > >
> >  > > On Twitter I've heard others say the sat is weak, has high SWR, not a sensitive receiver, noisy at TCA, fluctuating AGC, etc. It's also possible that the RX sensitivity issue is only bad at the edges of the passband, forcing people to work in the center. Has anyone confirmed that? What's up with the AGC?
> >  > >
> >  > > What kind of uplink power/ERP is required/recommended?
> >  > >
> >  > > Maybe we can come up with some general tips to make successful contacts on this bird more likely.
> >  > >
> >  > > 73, John Brier KG4AKV
> >  > >
> >  > > https://twitter.com/k8yse/status/1476022600593809411
> >  > > https://twitter.com/k8yse/status/1476047464796987400
> >  > > https://twitter.com/dk3wn/status/1476276565285687312
> >  > >
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> ----------------------------------------------------------- Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Acceptable Use and Privacy Policies available at https://www.amsat.org/about-amsat/ View archives of this mailing list at https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/list/amsat-bb@amsat.org To unsubscribe send an email to amsat-bb-leave(a)amsat.org Manage all of your AMSAT-NA mailing list preferences at https://mailman.amsat.org

Nigel A. Gunn, ///shoulders.outwards.resolutions tel +1-937-971-0366
Amateur Radio G8IFF W8IFF and GMRS WRBV701, e-mail nigel@ngunn.net www http://www.ngunn.net

-----------------------------------------------------------

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