Recent AO-85 Observations
For the past several days, I have observed the following:
- On ascending passes, I can activate the transponder at AOS very easily. Either polarity V or H works.
- Previously, I needed 10-15 degrees at times on ascending passes to activate the transponder. As I approached TCA, the challenge getting in always went away and I could get into the transponder easily.
- Descending passes have never been an issue for me. I could access the transponder at AOS and activate the transponder as low as 0.1 degrees elevation.
- Downlink receive polarity seems to flip almost constantly or be equal at times. I'm running a V or H antenna configuration (not RHCP or LHCP.)
- Suspected reason is the spacecraft's spin rate has changed with it now in constant sun.
- As a result I'm hearing some newer stations working AO-85 with handheld transceivers. I've worked 2 new stations in the last 2 days who emailed me directly after the pass stating they were seeing some success with an HT.
Thoughts/comments?
73 Clayton W5PFG
Clayton,
I have observed the same. Over the past couple of months, on directly overhead or ascending passes to the east, I could never get in until about TCA using about 20 watts to an Arrow antenna. On overhead descending passes or to the west, I could not get in after TCA.
Now, over the past few days, it's been much easier to work horizon to horizon, but the fading is much worse throughout the pass and I am constantly twisting to try to regain the downlink. Some times, neither polarity works.
According to DK3WN's Illum program, AO-85 will be in constant sunlight until 2/25. We'll see if it returns to it's previous patterns after that.
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 9:08 AM, Clayton W5PFG w5pfg@amsat.org wrote:
For the past several days, I have observed the following:
- On ascending passes, I can activate the transponder at AOS very easily.
Either polarity V or H works.
- Previously, I needed 10-15 degrees at times on ascending passes to
activate the transponder. As I approached TCA, the challenge getting in always went away and I could get into the transponder easily.
- Descending passes have never been an issue for me. I could access the
transponder at AOS and activate the transponder as low as 0.1 degrees elevation.
- Downlink receive polarity seems to flip almost constantly or be equal at
times. I'm running a V or H antenna configuration (not RHCP or LHCP.)
- Suspected reason is the spacecraft's spin rate has changed with it now in
constant sun.
- As a result I'm hearing some newer stations working AO-85 with handheld
transceivers. I've worked 2 new stations in the last 2 days who emailed me directly after the pass stating they were seeing some success with an HT.
Thoughts/comments?
73 Clayton W5PFG
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For what it's worth, I worked AO-85 for the first time this Saturday morning while sitting in the car using a 19" whip and Yeasu 857. I could hear the satellite almost at AOS but waited to transmit until sat was above 30 deg elevation since the 19" whip was 3/4 wavelength at the uplink freq. Got in the first time and made contact with N1JEZ. I never bothered to check SWR on this antenna and from the radio display power is down considerably. I did notice fading as well.
- Howie AB2S
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2016 09:13:40 -0500 From: n8hm@arrl.net To: w5pfg@amsat.org CC: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Recent AO-85 Observations
Clayton,
I have observed the same. Over the past couple of months, on directly overhead or ascending passes to the east, I could never get in until about TCA using about 20 watts to an Arrow antenna. On overhead descending passes or to the west, I could not get in after TCA.
Now, over the past few days, it's been much easier to work horizon to horizon, but the fading is much worse throughout the pass and I am constantly twisting to try to regain the downlink. Some times, neither polarity works.
According to DK3WN's Illum program, AO-85 will be in constant sunlight until 2/25. We'll see if it returns to it's previous patterns after that.
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 9:08 AM, Clayton W5PFG w5pfg@amsat.org wrote:
For the past several days, I have observed the following:
- On ascending passes, I can activate the transponder at AOS very easily.
Either polarity V or H works.
- Previously, I needed 10-15 degrees at times on ascending passes to
activate the transponder. As I approached TCA, the challenge getting in always went away and I could get into the transponder easily.
- Descending passes have never been an issue for me. I could access the
transponder at AOS and activate the transponder as low as 0.1 degrees elevation.
- Downlink receive polarity seems to flip almost constantly or be equal at
times. I'm running a V or H antenna configuration (not RHCP or LHCP.)
- Suspected reason is the spacecraft's spin rate has changed with it now in
constant sun.
- As a result I'm hearing some newer stations working AO-85 with handheld
transceivers. I've worked 2 new stations in the last 2 days who emailed me directly after the pass stating they were seeing some success with an HT.
Thoughts/comments?
73 Clayton W5PFG
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
I am experiencing the same.
I work the satellite strictly QRP and in the past couple of days I've been able to get in pretty much from AOS to LOS with only 4 watts. Yesterday, I worked 4 stations on a 7° descending pass to the east. Signal was weak at the end but that is expected with low power.
The fading is noticeable on the downlink, but I don't need to twist the Arrow antenna a complete 90 degrees to hear my own voice.
73
Fernando, NP4JV
On Feb 17, 2016 7:13 AM, "Paul Stoetzer" n8hm@arrl.net wrote:
Clayton,
I have observed the same. Over the past couple of months, on directly overhead or ascending passes to the east, I could never get in until about TCA using about 20 watts to an Arrow antenna. On overhead descending passes or to the west, I could not get in after TCA.
Now, over the past few days, it's been much easier to work horizon to horizon, but the fading is much worse throughout the pass and I am constantly twisting to try to regain the downlink. Some times, neither polarity works.
According to DK3WN's Illum program, AO-85 will be in constant sunlight until 2/25. We'll see if it returns to it's previous patterns after that.
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 9:08 AM, Clayton W5PFG w5pfg@amsat.org wrote:
For the past several days, I have observed the following:
- On ascending passes, I can activate the transponder at AOS very easily.
Either polarity V or H works.
- Previously, I needed 10-15 degrees at times on ascending passes to
activate the transponder. As I approached TCA, the challenge getting in always went away and I could get into the transponder easily.
- Descending passes have never been an issue for me. I could access the
transponder at AOS and activate the transponder as low as 0.1 degrees elevation.
- Downlink receive polarity seems to flip almost constantly or be equal
at
times. I'm running a V or H antenna configuration (not RHCP or LHCP.)
- Suspected reason is the spacecraft's spin rate has changed with it now
in
constant sun.
- As a result I'm hearing some newer stations working AO-85 with handheld
transceivers. I've worked 2 new stations in the last 2 days who emailed
me
directly after the pass stating they were seeing some success with an HT.
Thoughts/comments?
73 Clayton W5PFG
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
Opinions
expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
program!
Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Hi I agree about the spin rate , but the RX sensibility still are the same for me , I mean , only wit more than 20W to get a good return. The sat has just passed over here and the spin rate is about 5-7 seconds more or less. 73
2016-02-17 12:13 GMT-02:00 Paul Stoetzer n8hm@arrl.net:
Clayton,
I have observed the same. Over the past couple of months, on directly overhead or ascending passes to the east, I could never get in until about TCA using about 20 watts to an Arrow antenna. On overhead descending passes or to the west, I could not get in after TCA.
Now, over the past few days, it's been much easier to work horizon to horizon, but the fading is much worse throughout the pass and I am constantly twisting to try to regain the downlink. Some times, neither polarity works.
According to DK3WN's Illum program, AO-85 will be in constant sunlight until 2/25. We'll see if it returns to it's previous patterns after that.
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Wed, Feb 17, 2016 at 9:08 AM, Clayton W5PFG w5pfg@amsat.org wrote:
For the past several days, I have observed the following:
- On ascending passes, I can activate the transponder at AOS very easily.
Either polarity V or H works.
- Previously, I needed 10-15 degrees at times on ascending passes to
activate the transponder. As I approached TCA, the challenge getting in always went away and I could get into the transponder easily.
- Descending passes have never been an issue for me. I could access the
transponder at AOS and activate the transponder as low as 0.1 degrees elevation.
- Downlink receive polarity seems to flip almost constantly or be equal
at
times. I'm running a V or H antenna configuration (not RHCP or LHCP.)
- Suspected reason is the spacecraft's spin rate has changed with it now
in
constant sun.
- As a result I'm hearing some newer stations working AO-85 with handheld
transceivers. I've worked 2 new stations in the last 2 days who emailed
me
directly after the pass stating they were seeing some success with an HT.
Thoughts/comments?
73 Clayton W5PFG
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
Opinions
expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
program!
Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (5)
-
Clayton W5PFG -
Fernando Ramirez -
Howie DeFelice -
Paul Stoetzer -
PY5LF