For some reason, I cannot seem to find info which indicates the mode for the pass...mode A or B. I usually figure it out after listening on 145 downlink and not hearing anything then going to the 29 MHz downlink. Once, I even heard my downlink on 29.45 MHz at the start of the pass only to hear it stop. Was not sure what happened until I started tuning around and discovered the bird had SWITCHED from mode A to mode B in the middle of the pass! So my question is...other than trial and error or listening for the beacons (which won't help if the bird switches during the pass), is there any pattern or location of information for the prediction of the mode? Thanks, as I am thrilled each time I can get through this oldie-but-goodie with 5 watts on CW. What a blast!
An additional question since the batteries have long ceased to function on AO-7, it only works during sunlight passes. Somebody mentioned that this will happen less and less as we get close to winter solstice. Is this because AO7 is in a northerly LEO orbit? If it passes in the southern hemisphere, would it not have MORE available online time? I see http://planetemily.com/ao7/Eclipse.php but it's not a predictor for November 2008 (and I am not sure I understand it anyway). Should I just set Orbitron/HRD for AO7 "in sunlight/illumination" only option?
Mark Lunday WD4ELG [email protected] http://wd4elg.net