Hello again,
Just a few minutes ago FO-29 was in my range for 2nd time this night (orbit #58964) and it was active again, strong and healthy ! I heard it clear from 5 degr @ 23:18 Z, over Scandinavia. At 22:23Z came on a new Eclipse again... however it's obvious that, as I observed very carefully this time, the Satellite has not any problem also into Eclipse! I did not notice any decreasing of Downlink power this time, nothing at all. I sent several times CQ on CW and SSB, too. No problem ! Always BOOOMing ! Loud & Clear signal !
I lost the signal at 23:29 (5 degr). It is absolutely normal from my location that.
After my 2nd observation, it's obvious that (my opinion) now the batteries can maintain the Satellite "ON", even if goes through Eclipses. I don't know how is possible to re-born old-batteries on Space, however... Congratulations to JARL for that ! Well done !
My compliments Gentlemen... I vail . -
73, Mak SV1BSX ----- Original Message ----- From: SV1BSX To: eu-amsat@yahoogroups.com Cc: amsat-bb@amsat.org ; i8cvs Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2008 2:05 AM Subject: [eu-amsat] FO-29 is back again !
Hello all,
after Robert-G8ATE's report on Amsat-BB, this evening I tried together with my friend Dimitris, SW1JGW, a test on FO-29.
Well, yes indeed, the Satellite is active again ! Just after the AOS we heard clear the Beacon, and then I had a nice QSO with SW1JGW (21:36Z) ! After that I changed my frequency a bit lower and I had a 2nd QSO with DL6HP (21:38 Z).
Both, Dimitris and I, we were QRP ! 5 Watts for Uplink were enough for excellent return signals on Downlink. By using QRP we tried to avoid any overloading of the bird.
The Satellite was really Booming, always 55 - 59 with "crystal audio". However, at 21:38 my return-signal rapidly decreased, but even much lower it was easily readable. After that I interrupted my TX and I return onto Beacon frequency. Q5 now, but still "clear" !
Later I noticed that on my tracking software, precisely at this time the Satellite came on a new Eclipse ! So, probably the old-Batteries are not strong enough in order to support the same Downlink-power in eclipse, like that on Sunlight. Also I observed some FMing at this point and I lost the signal before the LOS, but on this direction I have not "clear horizon" (but High buildings), so I can't say with accuracy if the Satellite was still "ON" or not. Sorry !
Anyway, the FO-29 is back again ! Great news !
CU on FO-29 !
73 de Mak, SV1BSX
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