It is recommended to use 200 watts EIRP to get into the sat.
Someone else more knowledgeable and experienced can correct and clarify this but this is how I remember the 200 watt recommendation being explained:
Before launch a connection or trace leading to the antenna broke (IIRC). The person who had the experience to resolder it wasn't available and with the little time they had left they chose to use an electrically conductive epoxy to fix it. The epoxy didn't provide the right impedence and now the antenna is essentially detuned. It makes the bird appear deaf. To overcome this you have to use more power.
With that said people can get into it using 5 watts and an Arrow. I haven't been able to on the few tries I gave it.
One trick that supposedly helps with cross polarized antennas like the Arrow is to twist the antenna 90 degrees when you transmit since the bird's antennas are linear.
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On Aug 12, 2016 6:12 PM, "R. S." rzar66@gmail.com wrote:
I will keep trying. I really need to get another Radio to work it full duplex so I guess I can get something with a little more power for transmit. Really strange since I just work SO-50 this morning at a 17 degree pass but cannot work AO-85 at a 89 degree pass. BTW my I just got my vanity call this morning. I am now W6ZAR.
Ryan W6ZAR
On Aug 12, 2016 11:06 AM, jerry.tuyls@telenet.be wrote:
Hello Ryan
That is strange, even without pl-tone i can access the sat. Also correct
the dwnlink, it sounds better(for me).
Best 73's
Jerry,ON4CJQ
----- Oorspronkelijk bericht ----- Van: "R. S." rzar66@gmail.com Aan: AMSAT-BB@amsat.org Verzonden: Vrijdag 12 augustus 2016 19:36:13 Onderwerp: [amsat-bb] AO-85
Hello all,
I am having a difficult time getting into AO-85. The equipment I am using is a Kenwood TH-F6A and an Arrow antenna. I have the PL tone set and am 's
adjusting for Doppler on the transmit side. The first 4 passes I have
tried
have been 50 deg. or more over the horizon with one being 89 and still can't get in. I can hear it very clear on the passes I have tried. Is
there
anything I am missing? I have successfully made a contact on SO-50 but AO-85 cannot hear me for whatever reason. I am a new ham and very new to satellites. Thanks for you help.
73, Ryan KM6DNG _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
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Sent via AMSAT-BB@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. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb