Hey folks,

I hope our AMSAT brethren around the world are enjoying this unique VHF/SSB up - UHF/FM down mode on AO-51 as much as I am. I haven't been as active as I hoped, but intend to be the rest of this week. I saw a post from Alan, WA4SCA, who mentioned "talking to himself" for a pass the other day. This morning on the 12:15-ish UTC pass, I worked Doug, KD8CAO, for my first contact in this mode, then spent the rest of the pass trying to work Alan.

My entire station here is manually controlled, including Doppler tuning on both frequencies and tracking the receive side with my handheld Elk log periodic. I'm transmitting through a 0-gain omni mounted on a photo tripod. One of my points is, simply, that if I can make a valid contact using this mode and given my station, I suspect anyone can!

The other point is that I generally see a good number of posts when other modes are put online, but very little so far about this one. I don't get it. Where is everyone????

If any of you decide to try a pass that includes EM84 in the footprint, I'll be easy to find. Just listen for the weak-signaled station that doesn't seem able to stay on frequency. That would be N3TL, but the operator will be having a blast trying to make it all work!!!!

73 to all,

Tim - N3TL AMSAT Member No. 36820 Athens, Ga. - EM84ha