C'Mon guys,
Yes puters do make it easyier, but not tottally absolutely necessary.
in the old days we tracked the birds using something called math,
Made little paper things with clear plastic overlays to simulate the birds path across the sky,
Doppler? uhhhh, we tristed the vfo to keep it in tune,
geeech,
Joe WB9SBD
Anthony Monteiro wrote:
At 08:46 PM 7/17/2008, Auke de Jong wrote:
I can only offer my own reason for being absent from VO-52 and AO-7: I find keeping-up with the doppler-tuning of these LEO-orbits to be frustrating. It doesn't help that my rig is awkward in this mode, and my PC-control option has a problem I've yet to solve. Add, to this, my manual rotator-controller, and it adds-up to several uncompleted contacts. VO-52 is, of course, harder than ao-7 because of it's height/speed.
Considering just this reason by itself, HEO is much more inviting, because the doppler-effect is so greatly reduced. I think this reason might be shared by several other HAM's on the BB, even if they don't mention it. I even feel a little embarassed to admit that I haven't been able to cope with the different rates of doppler-shift for uplink and downlink. I might have to put my old transciever (FT-726R) back on the air, just because it was a lot easier to control both VFO's mid-QSO to keep centered. I don't even think I've completed one, since I've gotten my relatively modern "satellite rig" FT-847, despite several attempts to do-so.
Dear Auke,
It is very easy to get automatic doppler tuning working and I highly recommend it. Load up InstantTrack on any PC, even a DOS '386! and download InstantTune for free from the AMSAT web site here:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ftp/software/PC/radio-control/itune110.zip
Follow the instructions in the readme.txt file. It is very straightforward.
There is no reason to work linear satellites without automatic doppler tuning. You need the PC anyway to track the satellite - just hookup the COM cable it makes satellite QSOs simple.
VO-52 is very easy to work and is actually much easier than AO-07 since the downlink is so strong. You do not need to track the antennas - you can easily work it with omni-directional antennas. I have worked it with just an FT-817 running 5 watts into nothing more than a full wave loop a few feet above ground and another full wave loop for receiving. With an FT-847, it is a breeze.
I do not know why you are having trouble with your FT-847 auto-tuning but if you need help, send me an email.
73 (and don't give up on VO-52!) Tony AA2TX
I think that the FM birds are more populated due to their twofold advantage... very few tuning-steps to stay locked on RX and in some cases, no uplink tuning at all; and FM gear is smaller and cheaper than anything available to work linear, especially portable/mobile.
This would make an excellent poll, if we were on a messageboard-forum such as the one on www.narc.net, or maybe as a mail-back card sent to all members.
I've been skipping/deleting all the other chatter regarding complaints for lack of a functioning HEO, etc etc. I feel so much better for not having been infected by the negativity of others. I hope the storm dies-sown soon so that we can get back to what we do best... whatever it is! 73's Auke
----- Original Message ----- From: "John Price" n4qwf1@gmail.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2008 2:16 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] where all the users
I have been reading about the need for HEO satellites and the reasons we don't have them. I wonder why the folks that wont the HEO's so bad never show up on AO-07 or VO-52. Most passes it is joe K3SZH and maybe two others at most on AO-07 and I hardly ever hear anyone on VO-52. The birds that have all the users are the FM sats. I would love to see a HEO built but if we are not going to use what we have what is the point.
73's << John
-- N4QWF Amateur Radio Operator AO-7,AO-27,SO-50,AO-51,VO-52,ISS Internet N4QWF@AMSAT.ORG Echolink nodes #110903 -L #388463 Formerly KC4AHW VK3FEZ Amsat Member #27845 DXCC #33,478 VUCC SAT #135 WAS SAT #296 51 on AO-51 #13 LON -79.256 LAT 37.459 Grid FM07il
From the Foothills of the Blueridge
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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