28 Nov
2008
28 Nov
'08
6:52 a.m.
I have worked every bird several times: AO7, AO16, AO27, AO51, FO29, VO52.
But I have never worked SO50. Tonight I had a pass DIRECTLY overhead. I tried the standard initiation call with 74.4 CTCSS, and then calling with 67 Hz. Never heard a thing. In fact, I don't think I have ever heard SO50.
I triple-checked the Doppler, turned down the squelch, turned up the RF gain. Not a peep. Even with only my Arrow yagi fixed at 30 degrees EL, I should have heard something. All I heard was the rush of static. I know this bird is lower orbit and smaller power out, but I should hear something, right?
Mark Lunday WD4ELG wd4elg@arrl.net http://wd4elg.net