Mark,
If you're referring to the 5:45-ish UTC pass early this morning (local time), I heard you just fine and actually called you 2-3 times. I was experimenting with a different whip antenna on my HT, and heard you (and SO-50) quite well. I'm sorry we didn't get to make a contact.
I read other responses in the thread before writing my own, and I agree with W9VNE's comments about it - even though all the tracking I do here is manual. I find SO-50 to be the most challenging of the FM satellites because of its nominal configuration. It transmits a quarter-watt into a 0-gain quarter-wave antenna mounted on one corner of the satellite. It is a fun satellite to work, and it generally is not nearly as crowded as other satellites, for whatever the reason.
73 to all,
Tim - N3TL AMSAT Member No. 36820 QRP-ARCI Member No. 5547 ARRL Member No. 7027180 Athens, Ga. - EM84ha
-------------- Original message from "Mark Lunday, WD4ELG" mlunday@nc.rr.com: --------------
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
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