Hello This post brings up an interesting issue regarding mode A. Back in the day of RS10 & 15, mode A was quite popular. I soon discovered that my 10 meter four element quad, though a hot antenna at 28.4Mhz was lousey at 29.5. In fact it received better off the back for mode A than off the front. After thinking about it, I realized the reflector was acting as a director at 29.5Mhz, and the other two directors were out of the picture. Yes the SWR was high but it was for receiving. I even went to the effort of building a 10 meter loop, "looking" up for high elevation passes. So, for those of us who still play with mode A on AO-7, flip that beam around, you might be surprised!
73 Bob W7LRD Seattle
-- "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it"
-------------- Original message -------------- From: Bill Dzurilla billdz.geo@yahoo.com
Hi,
Today I listened for the first time for AO-7. I read all the info pages about this bird, but did not see anything about a key question: when is the bird in mode A and when in mode B? Is there a schedule, or do we have to listen on both 10m and 2m until we hear the beacon?
Anyhow, this morning there was a high pass and I heard the sat loud and clear in mode A, although it was not at all busy. Just 2 or 3 stations calling CQ on cw, no ssb at all. I was able to hear my own ssb signal on the downlink.
Was wondering what is a good antenna for receiving the 10m downlink. I have a vertical that usually performs quite well for regular HF work, but I lost the sat signal when the bird was still quite high, 25 degrees or so. This surprised me, as the vertical has a low angle of radiation.
Is there any SSB activity on this sat?
73, Bill NZ5N
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