Hi again!
Another day, another chance (or two) to make more V/S QSOs via AO-51 before the mode change. I woke up a little early this morning, so I decided to combine a quick shopping trip with a trip to a nearby city park that sits on the DM33/DM43 boundary. I was on the AO-51 pass around 1550-1600 UTC from the park with my portable V/S setup, and made 7 QSOs. The most activity I've heard in the 5 AO-51 passes I've tried since Friday. I worked W0LMD (CO), KU7Z (UT), N8BBQ (OH), W2NBJ (MD), KB0JQO (IA), WA4SCA (TN), and AI7W (OR).
On the next pass, around 1730 UTC, I was back home and worked W0LMD and KU7Z again - the only ones on there with me. I was in the driveway in front of my house, using the car as my base of operations again. For much of the pass, I left the 2m Yagi laying on the car's roof and took the downconverter in one hand to point and twist it. AO-51's 145.920 MHz receiver is very sensitive, even when my Yagi was pointing parallel to the ground and the satellite was up at 20-30 degrees elevation.
Assuming the mode change happens tonight (early Monday, UTC time), this will be the last chance to try V/S for a little while. I made 14 contacts on 5 different passes. I worked two stations on each of 3 passes (W0LMD, KU7Z), and those stations were in 10 different states. When I grow up :-) I would like to set up a proper satellite station at home. Until then, I am happy to be able to set up portable stations and do this stuff. Fun stuff, even if it is 95F/35C outside at the moment.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK - Phoenix, Arizona USA http://www.wd9ewk.net/