AO-51 is extremely weak now. Normally AO-51 would produce a signal in excess of .6 uV at the receiver in the shack. This is from a 40el KLM with a 20' 9913 pigtail and 50' of 7/8" Heliax. The maximum signal strength on the 2113z 24Nov pass (38 degree elevation) was only .22uV. It is down about 7 or 8 db from just a few days ago. As a comparison, a SO-50 pass at 2151z (6 degree max) produced .25 uV. SO-50 continues to fade severely whereas AO-51 does not exhibit that fading on Left Hand Circular.
AO51 was in the sun for about 40 minutes before my AOS. The angle might not have been that great but it wasn't that close to darkness.
It's getting harder to hear AO-51 now. Many stations are heard but don't respond when called. Let's hope it stays on the air. The data buzz is now heard all the time where a week ago it only appeared a minute or two before eclipse on the morning passes and was never apparent on the afternoon passes. Even with the low power it's still a great satellite. Use it while it is still working.
73, John K8YSE
Well I sure miss the early morning passes thats for sure. I can hear it about as well as SO-50 now without the fade like you said John. Thats using a Diamond 10 element 70cm and 9913 coax for receive. Been having a little trouble goin in with 3 watts, thats what my meter says anyway. I did get a easterly Turkey Pass with WA4NVM and AJ5C today at only 4 deg. elevation before I lost it so it is working.
Not much left to talk on up there...:( Maybe Opera will buy us one?
Kevin KF7MYK
Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2011 17:23:44 -0500 To: amsat-bb@amsat.org From: john@papays.com Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-51 Signal Strength
AO-51 is extremely weak now. Normally AO-51 would produce a signal in excess of .6 uV at the receiver in the shack. This is from a 40el KLM with a 20' 9913 pigtail and 50' of 7/8" Heliax. The maximum signal strength on the 2113z 24Nov pass (38 degree elevation) was only .22uV. It is down about 7 or 8 db from just a few days ago. As a comparison, a SO-50 pass at 2151z (6 degree max) produced .25 uV. SO-50 continues to fade severely whereas AO-51 does not exhibit that fading on Left Hand Circular.
AO51 was in the sun for about 40 minutes before my AOS. The angle might not have been that great but it wasn't that close to darkness.
It's getting harder to hear AO-51 now. Many stations are heard but don't respond when called. Let's hope it stays on the air. The data buzz is now heard all the time where a week ago it only appeared a minute or two before eclipse on the morning passes and was never apparent on the afternoon passes. Even with the low power it's still a great satellite. Use it while it is still working.
73, John K8YSE
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participants (2)
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John Papay -
Kevin Deane