Clint Bradford wrote:
- THANK YOU to whichever AO-51 commander flipped AO-51 to V/U today.
It was scheduled to go to V/U at 00:00GMT on the 20th - which was 4:00PM on the 19th my local time. And the pass I wanted to work was just 42 minutes later. And it was ON!
You are welcome. With AO-51's pass times creeping earlier and earlier, we may have to move the mode changes to the morning passes. A 5:45PM pass is not easy to make when one has to be at work until after 5:00PM and has a 45 minute commute.
- Don't know exactly how to explain it, but the pass today at 4:42PM
Pacific Standard Time didn't exhibit the "normal" silencing, then faint voices, then stronger voices. It plainly BLASTED into discernible conversations, and we we were able to work it much sooner than "normal." We were not hidden behind foothills. It was a pretty clear shot South to AOS. It really floored me - in a most positive way. It was dramatic.
The power on the repeater downlink is a bit higher than normal at 760 mw. It shouldn't be a dramatic difference from our recent 500-600mw, but noticeable to a observant operator. The spin rate is also slowing dramatically, up to ~13 min per rev, so any fades should be nice and slow, although long.
73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT VP Operations