WD9EWK and AO-51 V/S, Saturday (2 Sep) morning
Hi!
I took a short drive to a nearby park that straddles 112 degrees West longitude (the DM33/DM43 boundary), and set up for a low western pass for AO-51 around 1808-1818 UTC. Maximum elevation was only 10 degrees, but I wanted to give it a try with my portable V/S setup I've started using. No contacts, but I know I could hear the S-band downlink from about 4 or 5 degrees elevation from that location. I had a lot of time to talk to myself. :-) An impressive thing, the AO-51 S-band downlink. Very easy to hear even at low elevation, and I'm hoping to try at least one pass tonight and one Sunday morning before the mode change.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK - Phoenix, Arizona USA http://www.wd9ewk.net/
Patrick,
Indeed. Unfortunately, there have only been a small number of stations on. Of those, half were either not hearing the downlink, the correct downlink, or were a Mexican cab company, complete with phone patch. Perhaps it might be time to start using the PL on days with mode V uplink, since that would not be the limiting factor for equipment. I had been wondering why it seemed I was blocked at time on with southern passes in the past, even though I had a good RX signal.
On the earlier pass, there were finally only two of us wondering where everybody else was. It is a great mode, with deep but quick and infrequent QSB.
Alan WA4SCA
Hi again, Alan!
Indeed. Unfortunately, there have only been a small number of stations on. Of those, half were either not hearing the downlink, the correct downlink, or were a Mexican cab company, complete with phone patch. Perhaps it might be time to start using the PL on days with mode V uplink, since that would not be the limiting factor for equipment. I had been wondering why it seemed I was blocked at time on with southern passes in the past, even though I had a good RX signal.
Usually the problems with the 2m pirates south of the US has been on the 145.850 MHz uplink for SO-50 and especially AO-27 when it was operational. SO-50 would usually have nothing coming through with its PL, but AO-27 would happily pass the conversations through to us hams. Oh well... I do think that it shouldn't be a problem to require the PL on the 2m uplink when using 145.920 MHz on AO-51, since that is already required for the standard V/U repeater.
I've only heard 3 stations on each of the 2 passes I worked Friday (UTC), and I had figured there wouldn't be the crowd like there could be for the V/U repeater, but at least I've been able to get on and see what I can do.
On the earlier pass, there were finally only two of us wondering where everybody else was. It is a great mode, with deep but quick and infrequent QSB.
I saw some of the QSB, and could deal with some of it by a twist of my downconverter/antenna. The lower pass made it easier to deal with the Doppler, with constant tuning instead of the quick tuning at the peak of higher passes like I saw yesterday.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/
What good is the PL on S band other than to hide the illegals that are preventing you from getting in? If you can hear them, you know you can turn the power up to overcome it. If you can't hear them, you don't know.
I think on a mode that is requiring 2 2m radios for most of us, the lack of PL is a benefit. Since AO-51 cannot PTT the S band downlink with the PL, in my opinion it serves no other real use in this mode.
I'm open to other ideas though...
73, Drew KO4MA
----- Original Message ----- From: "Alan P. Biddle" APBIDDLE@mailaps.org To: amsat-bb@wd9ewk.net; "'amsat-bb'" amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Saturday, September 02, 2006 4:50 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: WD9EWK and AO-51 V/S, Saturday (2 Sep) morning
Patrick,
Indeed. Unfortunately, there have only been a small number of stations on. Of those, half were either not hearing the downlink, the correct downlink, or were a Mexican cab company, complete with phone patch. Perhaps it might be time to start using the PL on days with mode V uplink, since that would not be the limiting factor for equipment. I had been wondering why it seemed I was blocked at time on with southern passes in the past, even though I had a good RX signal.
On the earlier pass, there were finally only two of us wondering where everybody else was. It is a great mode, with deep but quick and infrequent QSB.
Alan WA4SCA
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
Drew,
Keeping pirates from being repeated has at least a small benefit, possibly a legal one. Been a long time since I was a control operator for a terrestrial repeater, though.
Alan WA4SCA
My Idea- Personally, I'd love to have RX squelch of some sort on the V/S mode.
It appears to me that it makes it more difficult for some to know when they are hearing the bird without the quieting effect of PL access. But is good to hear the carriers/illegals. Maybe its a tossup. How about a little of both ways?
73 Ernie W8EH
Andrew Glasbrenner wrote:
What good is the PL on S band other than to hide the illegals that are preventing you from getting in? If you can hear them, you know you can turn the power up to overcome it. If you can't hear them, you don't know.
I think on a mode that is requiring 2 2m radios for most of us, the lack of PL is a benefit. Since AO-51 cannot PTT the S band downlink with the PL, in my opinion it serves no other real use in this mode.
I'm open to other ideas though...
73, Drew KO4MA
Fair enough Ernie, I can see the benefit of the carrier for finding the satellite, especially on the less busy S-band downlink. It is a bit of a toss up and a tough call as to which is more important. Thanks for the input.
73, Drew KO4MA
My Idea- Personally, I'd love to have RX squelch of some sort on the V/S mode.
It appears to me that it makes it more difficult for some to know when they are hearing the bird without the quieting effect of PL access. But is good to hear the carriers/illegals. Maybe its a tossup. How about a little of both ways?
73 Ernie W8EH
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participants (5)
-
Alan P. Biddle -
Andrew Glasbrenner -
Ernie Howard -
Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) -
Tyler Harpster