Hi Art,

I always seem to be reading, rarely contributing on this list, so thought I would try to help...

I have used VO-52 for about a year and my gut sense is it is not a great satellite for FD, unless you're planning on using all the other Sat's too. The FM sats would be higher yield I think for making contacts, less dependent on beam gain and positioning and less "touchy". I personally really like VO-52, but the FM sats will yield more contacts per hour.

VO-52 info taken right out of SatPC32 is:

VO-52,145901.56,435248.02,USB,LSB,REV,0,0

It is in the form DLink, Uplink, DNMode, UPMode, Tuning Direction

Here are the reasons against depending too highly on this sat:

- Doppler is very tricky and often moves fast - Passes are generally short - Traffic is light and once you've worked the VO-52 contingent, further yield per unit time is low - Beam heading is narrow

Overall VO-52 has good signals and is fun to work as the quality of the transponder is excellent and has a great crew of people working. FO-29 is a little easier to work. I would suggest a cross or circularly polarized antenna for both, but the bigger the gain the more attention you need to pay to AZI-ELE.

I hope this helps. If someone has more experience than me to correct me on any of the above, please feel free to update my opinions

Michael K3MH

-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of kc6uqh Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2007 11:46 AM To: AMSAT-BB Subject: [amsat-bb] VO-52

I am considering using VO-52 for Field Day. Could anyone direct me to a site with operating information, not bragg tapes on this satellite. I found the Indian site but I could not find any real technical information. The AMSAT frequency guide mentions both Indain and Dutch transponders shows only one set of frequencies and no suggestion as to USB tX or RX does indicate U TX and V receive. Uses turnstile antennas, Rh or Lh Circular?

Thanks, Art, KC6UQH _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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

Hi Art,

I don't know of a site for this satellite with operating information. However, this is what used to be called a Mode B satellite -- 70 CM LSB uplink and 2 Mtrs USB downlink with a reverse transponder. Because the satellite is in a very low orbit I highly recommend a computer controlled transceiver (FT-847, IC-910, TS-2000 or etc.) and SatPC32 (you can get a free download to test with from Eric's web site: http://www.dk1tb.de/indexeng.htm ). We generally use the "one true rule," that is computer control both up and down link to stay in one spot on the transponder.

For antennas, we will be using RH circular beams and automatic tracking, but I expect you could use an Arrow type antenna with someone manually pointing in the general direction -- turnstiles, egg beaters or other omnis may work ok but I haven't tried them.

Finally, practice before Field Day to "work out the bugs" is highly recommended. :-)

73 Tom n0ntx AMSAT Area Coordinator Colorado Springs, CO

----- Original Message ----- From: "kc6uqh" [email protected] To: "AMSAT-BB" [email protected] Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2007 12:45 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] VO-52

I am considering using VO-52 for Field Day. Could anyone direct me to a site with operating information, not bragg tapes on this satellite. I found the Indian site but I could not find any real technical information. The AMSAT frequency guide mentions both Indain and Dutch transponders shows only one set of frequencies and no suggestion as to USB tX or RX does indicate U TX and V receive. Uses turnstile antennas, Rh or Lh Circular?

Thanks, Art, KC6UQH _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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

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