I was an active Satellite operator back in the AO-10, AO-13 and Radio Sputnik days (as AA6TT) and am just getting back on the birds after a near 15-year absence and am getting used to today's LEO sats. I completely missed AO-40. VERY surprised to learn AO-7 is QRV!
I presently have an Arrow antenna on a tripod located indoors. Rig is a FT-847 with MacDoppler tracking software. I successfully heard the 70cm CW beacon from HO-68 earlier today so it's nice to know everything works. Will be attempting QSOs on future passes on this and other LEO birds.
I will be building a more robust outdoor antenna system in a few months and want to make sure I am prepared for the satellites which may be launched in the next few years.
Here is what I am thinking (overkill for LEO birds but I want to be ready to MEO & HEO sats):
10m Dipole V M2 2M-CP14 or Gulf Alpha 2M-8ELSat and SSB Electronic mast-mounted preamp U M2 436CP-30 or Gulf Alpha 70CM-16ELSat and SSB Electronic mast-mounted preamp
Questions:
(1) RHCP for the V and U Yagis? Any reason to have switchable polarity?
(2) Anyone who has used both M2 and Gulf Alpha satellite antennas please comment on their relative merit.? I find M2 on-air performance to be very good however I have had problems with M2 feed-point failures.
(3) Will next gen ham satellites have S-Band downlinks?
(4) Will next gen ham satellites have L-Band uplinks and/or downlinks?
(5) Other bands to be prepared for?
(6) Are these the satellites currently available for 2-way QSOs? AO-7, AO-27, AO-51, SO-67 & HO-68. Did I miss any?
(7) Any pattern to when AO-7 is in Mode A and Mode B?
73, Bill
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William Hein, AA4XT
mobile: +1 (615) 967-1226 email: [email protected] Loc: EM65PS Web: AA4XT.com
6752 Owen Hill Road College Grove TN 37046-9122 USA