I am a relatively new Tech learning to work the LEOs, and have a question specific to AO-51. On AO-51's status page at AmSat.org, it lists a Mode V/U (J) "QRP" frequency with no PL tone, and a Mode V/U (J) frequency with a PL tone of 67.0 Hz.
What's considered the maximum wattage to operate on QRP? Also, since I've never operated on the "PL" frequency, is it even active? Do "non-QRPers" use it, is it available?
Thanks for the help!
Hi Terry,
AO-51 has a number of different transmitter and receivers that can be tuned or cross connected in various ways, as opposed to most of the other satellites currently operational. The QRP mode has been run in the past as a second independent repeater with the QRP restriction in response to complaints about crowding on the main repeater. Unfortunately it never saw more than occasional use when active, which has led us to run it much less often.
Up until the beginning of last year, a 67 hz PL tone was used to only gate the audio on the main repeater. In theory this is a good system to limit the satellite to repeating amateur communications. In practice we found it creates significant problems when many users try to access the satellite at once. It also masks the ever worsening problem of non-amateur users on our uplinks, as well as out of band terrestrial amateur users, populating the uplink with things like IRLP and Echolink nodes.
When we do run the QRP repeater, 10 watts to an omni or a handheld antenna was the criteria. That being said, if there isn't a lot of competition, 500mw and less can be used on the regular 435.300 repeater. Signing /QRP or /handheld will usually garner some extra attention too.
The best source of current information on the modes on AO-51 can be found at this part of the website : http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/CTNews.php
73, Drew KO4MA
----- Original Message ----- From: "Terry Dillard" tdillard@gmail.com To: AMSAT-BB@amsat.org Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2008 10:36 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Newbie Question on AO-51
I am a relatively new Tech learning to work the LEOs, and have a question specific to AO-51. On AO-51's status page at AmSat.org, it lists a Mode V/U (J) "QRP" frequency with no PL tone, and a Mode V/U (J) frequency with a PL tone of 67.0 Hz.
What's considered the maximum wattage to operate on QRP? Also, since I've never operated on the "PL" frequency, is it even active? Do "non-QRPers" use it, is it available?
Thanks for the help!
-- Terry Dillard, KI4YZI www.ki4yzi.com "Veritas Vos Liberabit" _______________________________________________ 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
/handheld almost always guarantees a pileup in my experience. Good fun.
We've had some really nice passes lately on 51. I'm enjoying it a ton - it's easy to hit, easy to hear.
I work the 'weird passes' - overnight ones mainly - and weekends. Hope to work ya, Terry!
On Jan 19, 2008 10:51 PM, Andrew Glasbrenner glasbrenner@mindspring.com wrote:
Hi Terry,
AO-51 has a number of different transmitter and receivers that can be tuned or cross connected in various ways, as opposed to most of the other satellites currently operational. The QRP mode has been run in the past as a second independent repeater with the QRP restriction in response to complaints about crowding on the main repeater. Unfortunately it never saw more than occasional use when active, which has led us to run it much less often.
Up until the beginning of last year, a 67 hz PL tone was used to only gate the audio on the main repeater. In theory this is a good system to limit the satellite to repeating amateur communications. In practice we found it creates significant problems when many users try to access the satellite at once. It also masks the ever worsening problem of non-amateur users on our uplinks, as well as out of band terrestrial amateur users, populating the uplink with things like IRLP and Echolink nodes.
When we do run the QRP repeater, 10 watts to an omni or a handheld antenna was the criteria. That being said, if there isn't a lot of competition, 500mw and less can be used on the regular 435.300 repeater. Signing /QRP or /handheld will usually garner some extra attention too.
The best source of current information on the modes on AO-51 can be found at this part of the website : http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/CTNews.php
73, Drew KO4MA
----- Original Message ----- From: "Terry Dillard" tdillard@gmail.com To: AMSAT-BB@amsat.org Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2008 10:36 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Newbie Question on AO-51
I am a relatively new Tech learning to work the LEOs, and have a question specific to AO-51. On AO-51's status page at AmSat.org, it lists a Mode V/U (J) "QRP" frequency with no PL tone, and a Mode V/U (J) frequency with a PL tone of 67.0 Hz.
What's considered the maximum wattage to operate on QRP? Also, since
I've
never operated on the "PL" frequency, is it even active? Do "non-QRPers" use it, is it available?
Thanks for the help!
-- Terry Dillard, KI4YZI www.ki4yzi.com "Veritas Vos Liberabit" _______________________________________________ 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)
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Andrew Glasbrenner -
Jonny 290 -
Terry Dillard