Hey everyone,
I worked the AO-7 pass just after 00:00 UTC here because it had a maximum elevation for me of almost 89 degrees. I wanted to see how much, if any, my ability to work would expand when runninng a half-watt if a used CW instead of SSB.
On this pass, at least, I had a copyable signal from 30 degrees to 30 degrees, and made a partial contact at 00:15 UTC with a station whose call sign I did not fully copy - which is totally my fault. The call was WA4 (or, at least, that's what I copied), but I didn't catch the suffix. The signal faded slightly, and I didn't ask for a repeat. That's embarrassing, and I apologize to the operator for that. When he called me, AO-7 was below 35 degrees. I reported a 589 to him, and he gave me a 559, which exceeded my expectations. When we finished the QSO, AO-7 was at 28 degrees elevation to my location, and I faded into the noise.
It'll take a few more passes, at least, to say with some measure of certainty, but it appears that, for my station, I probably can expect to have workable signals at a half-watt out on AO-7 at 50 degrees elevation and above in SSB, and at 30 degrees elevation and above in CW. Given the compromises I choose to have with a fully portable station, that's not to bad for milliwatts.
73 to all,
Tim - N3TL
I can't figure out what's wrong here. I listen for AO-7 on the past your were talking about and was not able to here it at all and it went as high as 89 degrees here. I thought maybe the pass times were off but listen well before and after the times and still did not here it. However, I hear all of the other satellites at the appropriate times. Was AO-7 in A or B mode? Usually I hear AO-7 horizon to horizon (except directly overhead) with a Ringer II vertical. I'm missing something here. I enjoy working AO-7 now I seem not to be able to hear it.
Reid, W4UPD
n3tl@bellsouth.net wrote:
Hey everyone,
I worked the AO-7 pass just after 00:00 UTC here because it had a maximum elevation for me of almost 89 degrees. I wanted to see how much, if any, my ability to work would expand when runninng a half-watt if a used CW instead of SSB.
On this pass, at least, I had a copyable signal from 30 degrees to 30 degrees, and made a partial contact at 00:15 UTC with a station whose call sign I did not fully copy - which is totally my fault. The call was WA4 (or, at least, that's what I copied), but I didn't catch the suffix. The signal faded slightly, and I didn't ask for a repeat. That's embarrassing, and I apologize to the operator for that. When he called me, AO-7 was below 35 degrees. I reported a 589 to him, and he gave me a 559, which exceeded my expectations. When we finished the QSO, AO-7 was at 28 degrees elevation to my location, and I faded into the noise.
It'll take a few more passes, at least, to say with some measure of certainty, but it appears that, for my station, I probably can expect to have workable signals at a half-watt out on AO-7 at 50 degrees elevation and above in SSB, and at 30 degrees elevation and above in CW. Given the compromises I choose to have with a fully portable station, that's not to bad for milliwatts.
73 to all,
Tim - N3TL _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.52/2153 - Release Date: 06/03/09 18:00:00
Hey Reid,
AO-7 is pretty much "locked" in Mode B for the time being because of the nature of its orbit. It's not getting to a point where the system toggles between Modes A and B, but that's fine with me because Mode B is the best mode for me and my station.
I heard myself for the first time at about 00:06 UTC, and moved just below 145.940 to call CQ in CW. I didn't have any takers, so moved up to about 145.944 and started calling again, which is where the WA4??? called me. Our QSO started during the 00:15 minute and ended during the 00:16 minute.
From what I could hear, the satellite was very strong. I don't know what to say about your not hearing it. I suspect you've checked the antenna on a terrestrial repeater or simplex and know that there's no problem with it or your feedline. I hope you get it figured out.
73,
Tim -------------- Original message from w4upd updwrb@bristor-assoc.com: --------------
I can't figure out what's wrong here. I listen for AO-7 on the past your were talking about and was not able to here it at all and it went as high as 89 degrees here. I thought maybe the pass times were off but listen well before and after the times and still did not here it. However, I hear all of the other satellites at the appropriate times. Was AO-7 in A or B mode? Usually I hear AO-7 horizon to horizon (except directly overhead) with a Ringer II vertical. I'm missing something here. I enjoy working AO-7 now I seem not to be able to hear it.
Reid, W4UPD
n3tl@bellsouth.net wrote:
Hey everyone,
I worked the AO-7 pass just after 00:00 UTC here because it had a maximum elevation for me of almost 89 degrees. I wanted to see how much, if any, my ability to work would expand when runninng a half-watt if a used CW instead of
SSB.
On this pass, at least, I had a copyable signal from 30 degrees to 30 degrees,
and made a partial contact at 00:15 UTC with a station whose call sign I did not fully copy - which is totally my fault. The call was WA4 (or, at least, that's what I copied), but I didn't catch the suffix. The signal faded slightly, and I didn't ask for a repeat. That's embarrassing, and I apologize to the operator for that. When he called me, AO-7 was below 35 degrees. I reported a 589 to him, and he gave me a 559, which exceeded my expectations. When we finished the QSO, AO-7 was at 28 degrees elevation to my location, and I faded into the noise.
It'll take a few more passes, at least, to say with some measure of certainty,
but it appears that, for my station, I probably can expect to have workable signals at a half-watt out on AO-7 at 50 degrees elevation and above in SSB, and at 30 degrees elevation and above in CW. Given the compromises I choose to have with a fully portable station, that's not to bad for milliwatts.
73 to all,
Tim - N3TL _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.52/2153 - Release Date: 06/03/09
18:00:00
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
I have a 12 degree pass here at 01:55 that I am going to try. Not sure whether there will be enough sun on the bird but will try. Don't know why I'm not hearing it, since I hear the others fine. Will try VO-52 as well which comesinto view shortly as well to make sure I hear it.
Reid, W4UPD
n3tl@bellsouth.net wrote:
Hey Reid,
AO-7 is pretty much "locked" in Mode B for the time being because of the nature of its orbit. It's not getting to a point where the system toggles between Modes A and B, but that's fine with me because Mode B is the best mode for me and my station.
I heard myself for the first time at about 00:06 UTC, and moved just below 145.940 to call CQ in CW. I didn't have any takers, so moved up to about 145.944 and started calling again, which is where the WA4??? called me. Our QSO started during the 00:15 minute and ended during the 00:16 minute.
From what I could hear, the satellite was very strong. I don't know what to say about your not hearing it. I suspect you've checked the antenna on a terrestrial repeater or simplex and know that there's no problem with it or your feedline. I hope you get it figured out.
73,
Tim
-------------- Original message from w4upd <updwrb@bristor-assoc.com>: -------------- > I can't figure out what's wrong here. I listen for AO-7 on the past your > were talking about and was not able to here it at all and it went as > high as 89 degrees here. I thought maybe the pass times were off but > listen well before and after the times and still did not here it. > However, I hear all of the other satellites at the appropriate times. > Was AO-7 in A or B mode? Usually I hear AO-7 horizon to horizon (except > directly overhead) with a Ringer II vertical. I'm missing something > here. I enjoy working AO-7 now I seem not to be able to hear it. > > Reid, W4UPD > > > > n3tl@bellsouth.net wrote: > > Hey everyone, > > > I worked the AO-7 pass just after 00:00 UTC here because it had a maximum elevation for me of almost 89 degrees. I wanted to see how much, if any, my ability to work would expand when runninng a half-watt if a used CW instead of > SSB. > > > On this pass, at least, I had a copyable signal from 30 degrees to 30 degrees, > and made a partial contact at 00:15 UTC with a station whose call sign I did not > fully copy - which is totally my fault. The call was WA4 (or, at least, that's > what I copied), but I didn't catch the suffix. The signal faded slightly, and I > didn't ask for a repeat. That's embarrassing, and I apologize to the operator > for that. When he called me, AO-7 was below 35 degrees. I reported a 589 to him, > and he gave me a 559, which exceeded my expectations. When we finished the QSO, > AO-7 was at 28 degrees elevation to my location, and I faded into the noise. > > > > It'll take a few more passes, at least, to say with some measure of certainty, > but it appears that, for my station, I probably can expect to have workable > signals at a half-watt out on AO-7 at 50 degrees elevation and above in SSB, and > at 30 degrees elevation and above in CW. Given the compromises I choose to have > with a fully portable station, that's not to bad for milliwatts. > > > > 73 to all, > > > > Tim - N3TL > > _______________________________________________ > > Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > > Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.52/2153 - Release Date: 06/03/09 > 18:00:00 > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.52/2153 - Release Date: 06/03/09 18:00:00
Maybe time to get that tape recorder back out??
Roger WA1KAT ----- Original Message ----- From: n3tl@bellsouth.net To: AMSAT-BB@amsat.org Sent: Wednesday, June 03, 2009 9:18 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-7 milliwatt CW
Hey everyone,
I worked the AO-7 pass just after 00:00 UTC here because it had a maximum
elevation for me of almost 89 degrees. I wanted to see how much, if any, my ability to work would expand when runninng a half-watt if a used CW instead of SSB.
On this pass, at least, I had a copyable signal from 30 degrees to 30
degrees, and made a partial contact at 00:15 UTC with a station whose call sign I did not fully copy - which is totally my fault. The call was WA4 (or, at least, that's what I copied), but I didn't catch the suffix. The signal faded slightly, and I didn't ask for a repeat. That's embarrassing, and I apologize to the operator for that. When he called me, AO-7 was below 35 degrees. I reported a 589 to him, and he gave me a 559, which exceeded my expectations. When we finished the QSO, AO-7 was at 28 degrees elevation to my location, and I faded into the noise.
It'll take a few more passes, at least, to say with some measure of
certainty, but it appears that, for my station, I probably can expect to have workable signals at a half-watt out on AO-7 at 50 degrees elevation and above in SSB, and at 30 degrees elevation and above in CW. Given the compromises I choose to have with a fully portable station, that's not to bad for milliwatts.
73 to all,
Tim - N3TL _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
No doubt. I've gotten lazy with the ability to work from a shack, such as it is, and write down contacts. That didn't serve me well this evening. -------------- Original message from "Roger Kolakowski" rogerkola@aol.com: --------------
Maybe time to get that tape recorder back out??
Roger WA1KAT ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Wednesday, June 03, 2009 9:18 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-7 milliwatt CW
Hey everyone,
I worked the AO-7 pass just after 00:00 UTC here because it had a maximum
elevation for me of almost 89 degrees. I wanted to see how much, if any, my ability to work would expand when runninng a half-watt if a used CW instead of SSB.
On this pass, at least, I had a copyable signal from 30 degrees to 30
degrees, and made a partial contact at 00:15 UTC with a station whose call sign I did not fully copy - which is totally my fault. The call was WA4 (or, at least, that's what I copied), but I didn't catch the suffix. The signal faded slightly, and I didn't ask for a repeat. That's embarrassing, and I apologize to the operator for that. When he called me, AO-7 was below 35 degrees. I reported a 589 to him, and he gave me a 559, which exceeded my expectations. When we finished the QSO, AO-7 was at 28 degrees elevation to my location, and I faded into the noise.
It'll take a few more passes, at least, to say with some measure of
certainty, but it appears that, for my station, I probably can expect to have workable signals at a half-watt out on AO-7 at 50 degrees elevation and above in SSB, and at 30 degrees elevation and above in CW. Given the compromises I choose to have with a fully portable station, that's not to bad for milliwatts.
73 to all,
Tim - N3TL _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (3)
-
n3tl＠bellsouth.net -
Roger Kolakowski -
w4upd