Tonight, I am pretty sure I saw my downlink signal. Unfortunately it was very weak using the off-center-fed dipole transmit antenna. And...there was a Doppler shift even though I was using DopplerPSK for transmit. The signal did start and stop as I started and stopped DopplerPSK transmit, so I am pretty confident I am seeing my transmission.
Maybe a true ΒΌ whip is needed for transmit...
Mark Lunday, WD4ELG Greensboro, NC FM06be wd4elg@arrl.net http://wd4elg.blogspot.com SKCC #16439 FISTS #17972
_____________________________________________ From: wd4elg@outlook.com Sent: Sunday, March 05, 2017 10:54 PM To: AMSAT BB Subject: NO-84 - the investigation continues
Making some progress....0335 UTC pass, I decoded the PSK31 beacon AND decoded W5SAT calling CQ.
However, I failed to see my signal on the downlink again. I am using 65 watts and an inverted L for 160 that tunes for 10 meters. The thing should be working, I worked several EU stations on 40 meters with just 5 watts tonight, so it's radiating SOMETHING.
I am sending PSK31 with DopplerPSK and then trying with FLDIGI, so it's not the software.
I am getting power out per the wattmeter, so it's not the transmit setup. EZNEC shows a mostly cloud-warmer type of pattern for the inverted L on 10 meters, with some small gain at lower angles.
Maybe I will try the off-center-fed dipole next. What are other folks using for antennas on the uplink?
Mark Lunday, WD4ELG Greensboro, NC FM06be wd4elg@arrl.netmailto:wd4elg@arrl.net http://wd4elg.blogspot.com SKCC #16439 FISTS #17972