Thanks for this Drew. I have just seen that designation on the AO-51 information page (the one linked to the status page on the AMSAT site) for the first time, although I've made countless visits to that page over the past year.
For those who will operating Field Day from remote/portable sites and using antennas like the Elk or Arrow, you may wish to check out this PDF, which I found on the Cushcraft Web site:
http://www.cushcraft.com/comm/support/pdf/Antenna-Polarization-14B32.pdf
After reading it, I believe that AO-51 could prove to be more challenging to work than usual this weekend, given a TX output in the SO-50 neighborhood and the antenna mismatch many of us will be dealing with (i.e., linear polarized antenna at the ground station vs. circularly polarized at the satellite).
If I misread the document and have drawn inaccurate conclusions, I hope someone will post a correction. However, it seems to me like this provides all the more reason for us to focus on AO-7, FO-29 and VO-52 if we can.
Thanks to all,
Tim - N3TL -------------- Original message from "Andrew Glasbrenner" glasbrenner@mindspring.com: --------------
TXa refers to the 435.150 downlink, and TXb to 435.300, regardless of the uplink or configuration. The power levels should be roughly the same for Field Day.
73, Drew KO4MA
----- Original Message ----- From: To: "Gould Smith" ; Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 10:40 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 adjustments
Thanks for the information Gould.
Will you clarify, please, that TXA is the normal U/V configuration - and also that these are the power levels we can expect for Field Day? That's what I understand from your comments.
Thank you, and thanks for all your efforts to keep AO-51 functioning as best as it can given the issues you have to address.
73 to all,
Tim - N3TL -------------- Original message from "Gould Smith" : --------------
I am working with the satellite to get the Field Day configuration operational
long term.. I turned TXB back on during the 1300Z pass. During this pass I adjusted the TX levels to TXA 240 mW and TXB 290 mW. These are lower power levels than I have ever used before, but necessary to get the satellite through the 16+ minute eclipses each orbit. The SQRX receiver uses about 110 mA that must be subtracted from the total TX power used. I think I am close and expect to get the correct settings over the next 24 hours. It is also necessary to change the L/U analog operation to digital over the eastern US in order to download the telemetry to see how the satellite is performing over multiple orbits.
73, Gould, WA4SXM AO-51 Command Station _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. 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-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. 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-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. 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-bb