I experience this drastic polarity changing here ever since the change, and like SO-50, have to keep one finger on the polarity switch.........maybe my aging ears arent as good as my aging KLM's? Will be glad when they can reverse what they did afew weeks back. Also I notice the signal is not as strong now, as instead of picking up the bird at 1-2 degs above horizon, it is now 6-8 degrees.
John W6ZKH on the Left Coast of the Sierras
----- Original Message ----- From: "Clint Bradford" clintbrad4d@earthlink.net To: "Glenn AA5PK" aa5pk@suddenlink.net Cc: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Sunday, December 6, 2009 7:15:19 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 - After the Change
... I think the handheld ops have less trouble with the polarity
switching because tend to compensate more quickly with a twist of the wrist ...
That phenomenon is not evident now - nor has it ever been - for me on AO-51.
I know the engineers say I am supposed to be increasing or decreasing my signal strength by 22 or 23db by merely twisting my Yagi 90 degrees. But I have hundreds of witnesses during dozens of demonstrations who will tell you that when the Yagi is turned 90 degrees, there's no discernible change in the signal.
This is not a scientific approach to the subject, of course. Just what my aging ears can hear.
I have heard fellow AMSAT members describe AO-51's "signal fading due to the satellite tumbling in space," too. I am not using elaborate equipment, but have no idea what they are talking about.
Just my firsthand observations. Guess I could be wrong ... we are a little different - I am told - out hre on the West Coast of the US.
Clint Bradford, K6LCS
_______________________________________________ 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