Glen,
Actually, AO-7 was placed in the narrow-band (CW/SSB) subband back when it was launched. AS I recall a waiver was sought to do this. So AO-7 is, in fact, in the wrong frequency allocation for satellite operations. Perhaps Tom Clark or one of the other old hands that were involved when AO-7 was built/launched can better state this (I was a member of sbms that built the 2.3 GHz transponder that was never allowed activation).
As far as attracting new satellite operators, there is an even chance since the operator already is in possession of CW/SSB equipment that is required for AO-7. Basically, they would need proper antennas and learning about tracking issues (times, freq. Doppler, etc.). Also that the input is inverted so one tranmits LSB to hear USB. Most of the weak-signal group (CW/SSB) are pretty savy bunch, so it remains whether it would interest them.
73, Ed - KL7UW
Original Message: ----------------- From: Glen Zook gzook@yahoo.com Date: Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:25:11 -0700 (PDT) To: amsat-bb@amsat.org, sparkycivic@shaw.ca Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: accidental satellite ops
The primary problem is that the OSCAR VII inputs are now in the weak signal portions of the "band plans". With the proliferation of FM activity the weak signal portions have been compressed. It is unrealistic to even think of "blaming" the weak signal operators for interfering with OSCAR VII operations. Remember, OSCAR VII is 35 years old and was not expected to be in service for more than just a few years.
One should just be happy that OSCAR VII is still usable and work around the occasional situation with unintentional interference. Besides, there are not that many contests on the VHF and UHF bands and most of the time there is little activity in the weak signal portions of 2-meters and 70 cm.
As for garnering additional satellite operators that is definitely a possibility. However, I don't know how many new operators would actually be recruited.
Glen, K9STH AMSAT 239 / LM 463
Website: http://k9sth.com
--- On Wed, 9/16/09, Auke de Jong sparkycivic@shaw.ca wrote:
maybe the best one can do is to send QSL cards noting the time/freq/sat/mode to the ops. Of course this assumes that their callsign can be understood
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