Hi all!
After my success with FO-29 yesterday, I decided I would try that satellite again and also try VO-52. Although I was not successful with my second attempt on FO-29, I was successful in making my first 2 QSOs on VO-52.
VO-52 had a very nice high pass, with maximum elevation of 82 degrees, at 1734-1747 UTC this morning. I was ready for that with my two FT-817ND transceivers and Arrow Antennas handheld 2m/70cm Yagi. Only 5W, and I would adjust my transmit frequency with the pinky on my hand with the microphone to keep on/around my receive frequency. I set up shop around 145.910 MHz USB, and started calling on there. Glenn AA5PK in Texas came back to me at 1740 UTC, and we had a nice chat. After that, Tom N6NUG found me at 1744 UTC near the end of the pass for another quick chat. I've worked both of them on the FM satellites in the past, and it was nice to get them on VO-52. Thanks Glenn and Tom!
I then planned to make one more attempt on FO-29 before returning to Phoenix this afternoon. I found a nice high (maximum elevation 75 degrees) pass at 1835-1851 UTC. I could hear the downlink about a minute or so into the pass, and could hear myself through FO-29 shortly after that. Around the halfway point of the pass, I lost the downlink. I was not able to hear it for the remainder of the pass.
My radios checked out OK, so now I need to take a look at my Yagi and coax. I had a coax issue crop up a few months ago, so that could be the problem. I have not read anything that would indicate a new problem on FO-29, and I'm hoping there are no problems with that satellite. I know I need to get a tripod for the Yagi, to free up a hand during the pass, and get more practice with my two- radio setup with an eye to adding computer control for both 817s in the future.
I will put Delfi (DO-64) in my tracking program, and add it as a favorite on my account at www.space-track.org, so I can try that one out as well. I will also try AO-7 again, and maybe even go back to my AOR handheld receiver in place of the second 817, to see if I can make that work.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/