Hi John,
Just yesterday I was trying to find time to type out a few AO-51 updates; this will be brief, but hopefully informative to those on the list.
AO-51 is currently transmitting on 435.150 FM (LHCP) and using a 145.880 FM uplink. We expect the keep this configuration "until futher notice." The power level is just under 1 watt (about 980 mW). The last restart of the satellite was something like 18 days ago!! This stretch of uninterrupted service has been great, and really just "good luck."
Because of the failure of one cell of the six-cell battery, the bird remains in "limp mode." By that I mean we are limited to simple commanding and configurations, because a software upload/execution has proven impossible due to the lower voltages resulting from the one dead cell. At least we can set power levels manually, change uplinks/downlinks, etc. But there is no telemetry collection/storage, no BBS, etc.
There is a second cell in the battery that looks "sick." We have no idea if it will be the next cell to go (probable though), nor what the result will be (if we lose another cell, "limp mode" probably will no longer be an option, and the mission might be considered over.). It might last a few days, a few months, or who knows...a few years? (doubtful).
The current scenario of AO-51 is one reason we need to keep moving AMSAT and satellite development/building/launching moving forward!! We have learned a lot already with ARISSat-1, and FOX looks promising. AMSAT needs the support of its users now more than ever...
A little speculation--recently we have been looked upon kindly by the "battery shorting gods." It looks like AO-51's dead cell has failed closed/shorted--which is good for this bird; and it looks like maybe ARISSat-1's battery might be failing/have failed in an "open" fashion--which is good for this bird!
73!
Mark N8MH
On Thu, Aug 18, 2011 at 12:39 PM, John Geiger [email protected] wrote:
How much power is AO51 currently running? It sure sounded good on the 2200UTC pass yesterday-much more solid receive here than I was getting for AO27 or SO 50.
73s John AA5JG
----- Original Message ----- From: "Andrew Glasbrenner" < [email protected]> To: "Joe" [email protected] Cc: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, August 18, 2011 2:49 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: a051 frequencies
Currently and for the foreseeable future we are on 145.88 up and 435.150
down.
73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT-NA VP Operations
Sent from my iPhone
On Aug 18, 2011, at 9:24 AM, "Joe" [email protected] wrote:
I will be trying to work ao-51 during the ILLW this weekend (20-21Aug). I
havent operated satellites since ao40, which is a little while ago... I will be using the usual an arrow antenna and ft60r. I am having problems finding the frequencies to tx and rx on. It seems that there have been some changes made and different sites give me different frequencies I should be using. I think the Tx is 145.880. I think the Rx frequency is 435.500. Can anyone please give me a definitive answer? I have only just got the antenna and radio working as a unit in the last 24 hours. I will be operating from Cape Schanck, just south of Melbourne Australia, under the callsign VK3EMF. Thanks Joe VK3BKI ______________________________**_________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/**listinfo/amsat-bbhttp://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
______________________________**_________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/**listinfo/amsat-bbhttp://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
______________________________**_________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/**listinfo/amsat-bbhttp://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb