Most likely, it's simply destructive interference from too many people (especially those who can't hear themselves on the downlink) trying to access it at once... all of the out-of-phase signals cancel each other out, but someone with a strong enough signal can capture it.
----- Original Message ----- From: n3tl@bellsouth.net To: "Tim Goodrich" tim@timgoodrich.net; amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Saturday, December 06, 2008 3:51 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: LOTW Satellite name for ISS ?
I have a different view of the choppy nature of things - and I hope others will jump in with information about it.
I believe it has to do with the relative position of the antenna(s) on the ISS and all the "stuff" connected to the station that run in different directions. I can see how the antennas might be blocked from out "line of sight" as this module or that solar array "gets in the way" on a given pass.
Any other thoughts about it out there?