Best I can do here is...

02/01/2003 DC8TS JO30 to KB2M FM29 = 6315km

73 Jeff kb2m

----- Original Message ----- From: "SV1BSX" [email protected] To: [email protected] Cc: "Amsat-BULL" [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, January 30, 2007 5:40 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Is. No2: AO-7 Distance record?

Hello folks,

according to last updates, the "longest distance" QSOs via AO-7 are:

1) GOLD MEDALs --------------------- Date:17/10/ 2004 Calls: PH7AT<->WB4LHD SMode: AO-7/ Mode-B Report/Mode:--- locators: JO21WA<->EM55DB Distance ~7408 km.

2) SILVER MEDALs ----------------------- Date: unknown Calls:PH7PCF<->KO4MA SMode: AO-7/ Mode-B RPT/Mode:--- locators: JO22JP <-> EL88PG Distance ~7385 km.

3) BRONZE MEDALs ------------------------ Date: 08/06/1976 Calls:i8CVS<->VA3AC Smode:--- RPT/Mode: SSB locators:JN70ES<->EN96LK Distance ~7237 km

========================================

4) Date:26/08/2006 12:33 Calls: ES1RF<->AJ9K Smode:--- RPT/Mode: 559/559 CW locators:KO29IF<>EN53FA Distance ~7155 km

5) Date: unknown Calls: YL2LW<-> K8DID Smode:AO-7/Mode-B RPT/Mode:--- locators: KO26CW<->EN63SX Distance ~7078 km.

6) Date: 28/1/2007 Calls: LA2QAA<->AJ9K Smode: --- RPT/Mode:--- locators:JP33WB <->EN53FA Distance ~5469 km

====================================

.......to be continued !

73, Mak SV1BSX

ps: please send me your "longest distance QSO" via AO-7, in order to complete this list.

[email protected] http://www.qsl.net/sv1bsx

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Quoting EB3JT - Jordi [email protected]:

AO-07

My longest distance:

Date:21/11/2006 Calls: EB3JT<->AJ9K SMode: AO-7/ Mode-B locators: JN01UI<->EN53EB Distance ~7114 km.

73 de Jordi EB3JT

I'm very much enjoying this thread and wonder if we could expand the discussion to include the simplicity or complexity of the antennas used.

What's your best LEO DX distance using a) fixed elevation and an azimuth rotator b) omnidirectional antennas?

I request this because I've noticed that a number of beginners to the satellite aspect of our hobby arrive with the conclusion that a full az/el setup is required. No wonder: the ARRL Handbook stipulates this. I was fortunate enough to follow the wisdom of this list, which recommends a fixed elevation, low-gain beam setup, and have had a good deal of DX fun on AO-7 and, especially, FO-29 using that, much simpler, system.

I'm attempting to upgrade to longer beams and az/el rotation (principally in preparation for HEO operations), but I'm finding that the increased winter wind-loads and strain on the mast make engineering this affair much more difficult (and costly). Put it another way, my trusty old wooden mast broke when I tried hoisting the new setup, and my new 9 ft. long 2m beam keeps being rotated in elevation by the darn wind. (Living just at the end of the Bay of Fundy, the winds can be pretty serious and sustained.) I'm enjoying the challenge of it all, mind you, but only because I know I can down-grade to the fixed-elevation setup when I wish. I also discovered that my wife's training in the Canadian Naval Reserves comes in very handy when a mast needs to be temporarily lashed up.

With the ground frozen solid until, probably, April, I won't be putting up a new mast any time soon, so my mind turns to experimentation with omnidirectional antennas, especially the Lindenblads described by Tony, AA2TX, in the 2006 Symposium collection. These I could get up on the end of just about any long piece of wood, and they wouldn't bounce around in the wind. Fantastic for Field Day, too, I'd think.

So overall, I think it would promote the KISS principle if we highlighted our exploits with modest equipment, at least on one end of the link.

73, Bruce VE9QRP