Hi Ron,
Use a tracking program to help explain this. The altitude/height for SO-59 varies between 615-704 km above the earth because of the orbit. The range depends upon the maximum elevation that the satellite reaches on each pass. At the beginning of a pass for SO-50 the range is around 3000km and for each pass the range will decrease until it is at TCA. The range at a 90 degree pass over a QTH will be the same as the altitude. The signal will have quite a bit of path loss difference due to the large (3000 to 700 km) distances experienced during a pass. Generally the beginning and ending signal will be around 3000km and the signal at TCA depends upon the maximum elevation for that pass.
Gould ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ronald Nutter" [email protected] To: "amsat" [email protected] Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2011 9:21 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] SO-50 question
I should know the answer to this one. I am looking at the satellite data on SO-50. How many miles up in orbit is it from the ground (approx). Trying to explain to a non-ham how far away the satellite is.
Ron Ka4kyi
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