5 Aug
2011
5 Aug
'11
1:08 p.m.
Further to my last email, a full quarter-wavelength antenna for 435 MHz would be about 6.5 inches long. Lou estimates that the actual antenna is only about 1.5 inches. The short length has two effects: a reduced capture area for reception, and a greater likelihood of blockage by the main body of the spacecraft. If it's blocked, it won't hear much of anything. If it isn't, it looks like it will hear the bigger AO-13/AO-40 class stations (typical EIRP about 1 kW). With my EIRP of 50 watts, I tried CW instead of SSB. I heard myself for about 2 minutes, but was only 449. We'll see if anyone else can hear me in the next few days.
73 Ray W2RS