On 10/12/23 06:17, Matei Conovici via AMSAT-BB wrote:
I was listening on 29.500 USB during an AO-7 pass this morning hoping to maybe catch some telemetry (no VHF/UHF equipment here). Instead, I got this unkeyed carrier which lasted while the satellite was higher than 20 degrees or so, and it appears to have some Doppler. Could this be coming from AO-7? Is telemetry dead? This is the first time I'm trying to get at satellites, so bear with me please if I ask silly questions :)
Hello Matei,
I have never heard telemetry from AO-7, which I attribute to it no longer having code loaded/running on its IHU. I don't think it has been actively commanded for some years now -- it just came back to life a while back when one of the shorted batteries went open-circuit and allowed the satellite to power up on its solar panels.
I have worked stations through AO-7, however. It is currently in a state where it alternates between mode A and mode B every 24-ish hours or so. I've only worked mode B (UHF/VHF), not mode A (VHF/HF).
If you visit https://amsat.org/status you'll see reports from stations which have heard it (or not).
Note that a RTL-SDR dongle can be used to receive UHF/VHF, if you're looking for a quick/cheap/dirty method to listen on the higher bands.
Good luck and hope to work you on AO-7 some day!
73,
--- Zach N0ZGO