AI6DO Field Day Report
Unlike last year, where I participated in ARRL and AMSAT Field Day concurrently, I did them separately this year. On Saturday, I worked only satellites for AMSAT Field Day from the vicinity of my home. I never operated from my property, only from other operating positions along my block each optimized for specific pass orientations, all well within an 800 ft circle. All QSOs were made fully pedestrian-mobile, without recharging any of the batteries during the Field Day period.
Most of the FM satellites were a mess, as expected. The one daylight AO-92 L/v mode pass, 20 degrees to the west, was pretty empty, but gave me my first QSO of the day, with WD9EWK. I chose to dual-wield two antennas rather than attach the two together as I've normally done in the past. I strapped the DJ-G7T radio to the handle of the 10-element 23cm EBay yagi, where the PTT button and the VFO A knob were easily adjustable with just my left thumb; in my right hand, I held the Arrow. This worked pretty well, and I found it less fatiguing than having one heavier antenna. Also made QSOs on PO-101 and AO-85. AO-85 sounded really good, at least for that minute or so I was on. As soon as I got the QSO, I split to go work another pass. Tried LilacSat-2 twice, nothing heard.
The SSB satellites seemed to have few operators on, other than QRO CW stations. On one FO-29 pass, there were two CW stations calling CQ nearly on top of each other and on top of a SSB station calling CQ, while most of the passband was empty. Worked several linear passes, but made only one QSO, and we really had to work for that one. The far-western XW-2 passes were pretty empty.
The packet satellites were underutilized, and could have been a great source of points had more operators been on. Made several QSOs on FalconSat-3 and PSAT, although only one counts for AMSAT Field Day credit. Unfortunately, the ISS digipeater was offline.
Worked a total of 20 passes, although for five of them the satellite was inoperative. Total of 6 qualifying QSOs, half of them with WD9EWK. I had planned to do several more passes that evening and a few more before sunrise the next morning, but I decided to put this day out of its misery and conserve my energy for Sunday.
On Sunday morning, I drove to my portable operating location to operate the rest of the Field Day period for only ARRL Field Day. Since I was going to operate 2B1B for ARRL Field Day, I used the same operating category for my AMSAT Field Day contacts for consistency. For the first time, I made a full-time SO2R effort, with one radio dedicated to CW and the other dedicated to FT8. Didn't even try SSB. Also made one FM satellite contact after 1800z from that operating location for the 100 pt bonus and my sole phone contact for ARRL Field Day.
So, how'd everyone else's Field Day go?
73, Ryan AI6DO
the linears were the opposite of empty over here on the east coast... I did 10 passes, making about 40 qsos. The center of the passband on each linear pass was nuts, with 5-10 different stations all calling cq over one another. I used a borrowed 910, and my handheld arrow. It was nice to have the extra power when needed...there was one station in particular that I'm pretty sure had to be running about 300w lol. Every time they keyed up, literally every other station in the passband dropped out.
Easiest pass by far was EO-88, I worked N8HM and W4YY, and heard one other station before the transponder shut off.
It was interesting to work IO-86, there was a handful of STX and FL stations on, along with the usual south/central american ops. That was a cool opportunity, and hopefully we will have the chance to do that next year too. Thanks to AMSAT Ops for coordinating with the LAPANSAT team to make that possible!
73
- Matthew nj4y/K4LKL
On Sun, Jun 23, 2019 at 6:02 PM Ryan Noguchi via AMSAT-BB < [email protected]> wrote:
Unlike last year, where I participated in ARRL and AMSAT Field Day concurrently, I did them separately this year. On Saturday, I worked only satellites for AMSAT Field Day from the vicinity of my home. I never operated from my property, only from other operating positions along my block each optimized for specific pass orientations, all well within an 800 ft circle. All QSOs were made fully pedestrian-mobile, without recharging any of the batteries during the Field Day period.
Most of the FM satellites were a mess, as expected. The one daylight AO-92 L/v mode pass, 20 degrees to the west, was pretty empty, but gave me my first QSO of the day, with WD9EWK. I chose to dual-wield two antennas rather than attach the two together as I've normally done in the past. I strapped the DJ-G7T radio to the handle of the 10-element 23cm EBay yagi, where the PTT button and the VFO A knob were easily adjustable with just my left thumb; in my right hand, I held the Arrow. This worked pretty well, and I found it less fatiguing than having one heavier antenna. Also made QSOs on PO-101 and AO-85. AO-85 sounded really good, at least for that minute or so I was on. As soon as I got the QSO, I split to go work another pass. Tried LilacSat-2 twice, nothing heard.
The SSB satellites seemed to have few operators on, other than QRO CW stations. On one FO-29 pass, there were two CW stations calling CQ nearly on top of each other and on top of a SSB station calling CQ, while most of the passband was empty. Worked several linear passes, but made only one QSO, and we really had to work for that one. The far-western XW-2 passes were pretty empty.
The packet satellites were underutilized, and could have been a great source of points had more operators been on. Made several QSOs on FalconSat-3 and PSAT, although only one counts for AMSAT Field Day credit. Unfortunately, the ISS digipeater was offline.
Worked a total of 20 passes, although for five of them the satellite was inoperative. Total of 6 qualifying QSOs, half of them with WD9EWK. I had planned to do several more passes that evening and a few more before sunrise the next morning, but I decided to put this day out of its misery and conserve my energy for Sunday.
On Sunday morning, I drove to my portable operating location to operate the rest of the Field Day period for only ARRL Field Day. Since I was going to operate 2B1B for ARRL Field Day, I used the same operating category for my AMSAT Field Day contacts for consistency. For the first time, I made a full-time SO2R effort, with one radio dedicated to CW and the other dedicated to FT8. Didn't even try SSB. Also made one FM satellite contact after 1800z from that operating location for the 100 pt bonus and my sole phone contact for ARRL Field Day.
So, how'd everyone else's Field Day go?
73, Ryan AI6DO
Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
I worked satellites on Saturday only.?? I started off working under the call sign K5RWK, the Richardson (TX) Wireless Klub, which I am a member. I was able to get a QSO with W5RRR on AO-91.?? Having satisfied the 100- point bonus for the club.?? I switched to my own call sign for the sake of giving demos.?? While I could receive PO-101 fine, I couldn't get a signal into it, so I might need to check what I programmed into my radios.?? Of course, being Field Day, it may have just been being out- classed, power-wise, with my hand-held radios.?? I was able to get two QSOs on two separate passes of AO-85.?? AO-85 was having a lot of problems with all of the use.?? It kept cutting out are coming back after a minute or so.?? I think the drain on the batteries was too much during each pass.?? I believe that it was worse on the second pass.?? I'm concerned about the future of AO-85, considering it is fully out of eclipse.?? I couldn't even get into SO-50, due to the QRM, both unintentional and intentional.?? I believe that this was the worst conditions on the satellites for the four years I've done Field Day.?? That is sad, considering there were more FM satellites available this year than ever before (AO-85, AO-91, AO-92, PO-101, and SO-50).
73,
Mac Cody / AE5PH
On 6/23/19 5:00 PM, Ryan Noguchi via AMSAT-BB wrote:
Unlike last year, where I participated in ARRL and AMSAT Field Day concurrently, I did them separately this year.?? On Saturday, I worked only satellites for AMSAT Field Day from the vicinity of my home. I never operated from my property, only from other operating positions along my block each optimized for specific pass orientations, all well within an 800 ft circle. All QSOs were made fully pedestrian-mobile, without recharging any of the batteries during the Field Day period.
Most of the FM satellites were a mess, as expected. The one daylight AO-92 L/v mode pass, 20 degrees to the west, was pretty empty, but gave me my first QSO of the day, with WD9EWK. I chose to dual-wield two antennas rather than attach the two together as I've normally done in the past. I strapped the DJ-G7T radio to the handle of the 10-element 23cm EBay yagi, where the PTT button and the VFO A knob were easily adjustable with just my left thumb; in my right hand, I held the Arrow. This worked pretty well, and I found it less fatiguing than having one heavier antenna.?? Also made QSOs on PO-101 and AO-85. AO-85 sounded really good, at least for that minute or so I was on. As soon as I got the QSO, I split to go work another pass. Tried LilacSat-2 twice, nothing heard.
The SSB satellites seemed to have few operators on, other than QRO CW stations. On one FO-29 pass, there were two CW stations calling CQ nearly on top of each other and on top of a SSB station calling CQ, while most of the passband was empty. Worked several linear passes, but made only one QSO, and we really had to work for that one. The far-western XW-2 passes were pretty empty.
The packet satellites were underutilized, and could have been a great source of points had more operators been on. Made several QSOs on FalconSat-3 and PSAT, although only one counts for AMSAT Field Day credit. Unfortunately, the ISS digipeater was offline.
Worked a total of 20 passes, although for five of them the satellite was inoperative. Total of 6 qualifying QSOs, half of them with WD9EWK. I had planned to do several more passes that evening and a few more before sunrise the next morning, but I decided to put this day out of its misery and conserve my energy for Sunday.
On Sunday morning, I drove to my portable operating location to operate the rest of the Field Day period for only ARRL Field Day. Since I was going to operate 2B1B for ARRL Field Day, I used the same operating category for my AMSAT Field Day contacts for consistency. For the first time, I made a full-time SO2R effort, with one radio dedicated to CW and the other dedicated to FT8. Didn't even try SSB.?? Also made one FM satellite contact after 1800z from that operating location for the 100 pt bonus and my sole phone contact for ARRL Field Day.
So, how'd everyone else's Field Day go?
73, Ryan AI6DO
Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Ryan,
First of all, thanks for the QSOs during the day yesterday. Especially the AO-92 L/V contact just after noon. I was getting concerned with being able to make an official Field Day QSO on that pass, after working two others who were not giving Field Day exchanges. It was also good to get you on AO-91 and FalconSat-3 later in the afternoon.
I drove to a Forest Service day-use area at Cataract Lake, west of Williams in northern Arizona. Northern Arizona had the best weather for Field Day this weekend than in the past few years, with the temperatures up there never exceeding 75F. My plans were like past years - work both HF and satellites, and have fun doing it. Even though this site is near Williams, and not far from the I-40 freeway, I had no data service on my mobile phone. The phone worked for voice calls and SMS messages, so I used SMS messages to tweet during the day. I don't have my Twitter account set up to forward tweets to my phone, so I was unable to respond until I was in Flagstaff for dinner last night.
It took about 2 1/2 hours to make the drive from Phoenix to Williams, and I knew that there was an SO-50 pass coming by a few minutes after the start of Field Day at 11am (1800 UTC). As expected, a busy pass. I heard John K8YSE operating as K8OU through his Arizona station, and that was my first Field Day QSO. I did not use an HT for this pass; I had my Icom IC-2730 dual-band mobile radio, jumpstart battery, and Elk log periodic in a clearing near my site. Five watts, and even 15W, would not work on this and the other FM satellite passes I attempted yesterday not using the 1.2 GHz band.
About an hour later, the one AO-92 pass in the L/V mode for Field Day up there. I heard Chris VE7CEW initially, but couldn't get back to him for a QSO. I worked W5SAT and N6NUG before landing a Field Day QSO with AI6DO. I used my two-radio, two-antenna L/V setup like I normally use at home. It worked well as I pointed across the lake and made QSOs, easier than last year's Field Day when I had a smaller 5-element Yagi on top of my Alinco DJ-G7T. I did not try to adjust my transmit power on my DJ-G7T to its low- power setting of 300mW on the 1.2 GHz band, keeping it at 1W for the best possible signals I could send to the satellite. And as the AO-92 pass went away, a very high AO-91 pass came over. Back to the IC-2730, and I cut the string holding the 1.2 GHz Yagi on my Elk, as the AO-91 pass started. Many thanks to Carlos W7QL for a QSO near the end of that pass!
After the AO-91 pass, I set up my HF station - Elecraft K3S running on my jumpstart battery at 50W, and a Buddipole dipole. I made some QSOs on 20m SSB before another group of satellite passes came by - PO-101, ISS, and then a low AO-91 pass to my west.
PO-101 had a good crowd, but not as crazy as the earlier AO-91 pass. I was able to work Rick VE4AMU for a Field Day QSO. After that, W0IN in Missouri called me, and I made the exchange. Shortly after these QSOs, I switched to the ISS digipeater. Unfortunately, it was off, so no ISS packet this Field Day. AO-91 was coming up for the west coast, and I went on there to help anyone looking to make their Field Day satellite QSO on that satellite. AI6DO was there, and we made a quick QSO. This won't count for me, as I made my AO-91 QSO for points earlier, but I might be a QSO that gets another station their 100-point bonus, or their Field Day QSO on that satellite.
Now up to almost 2pm (2100 UTC), I started working 20m and 40m SSB, until a nice FalconSat-3 pass an hour later. I logged a couple of packet QSOs with AI6DO and Brad W5SAT in Las Vegas on that FalconSat-3 pass. This time, W5SAT was ready with a Field Day exchange in the APRS message I received from him. I had two more FalconSat-3 passes that I worked, just before 5pm (0000 UTC) and 6.30pm (0130 UTC), with a single QSO on each of those passes.
I tried FO-29 at 5.30pm (0030 UTC), but one station was overpowering the transponder really bad. After a few minutes, I gave up on this pass. I didn't bother to try other SSB passes since it was getting late, and I needed to ensure I left the site by 8pm (0300 UTC) before the gate was locked. I overlooked the NO-84 pass just after 6pm (0100 UTC), a mistake on my part, since packet QSOs using APRS messages have been good for me in past Field Days. I stayed out there to copy the ARRL's W1AW bulletin on 20m SSB just before 7pm (0200 UTC), and then I wrapped up my Field Day effort. I went to Flagstaff to get some dinner, then drove home after that.
During the afternoon, I would periodically check the 10m and 6m bands for activity. Nothing was heard on those bands most of the day, but a little before 5pm (0000 UTC) W3AO - a group that loves to put lots of transmitters on the air for Field Days - was barely coming out of the noise. After 2 or 3 minutes of back-and-forth to get information exchanged, I made a QSO with W3AO. This was my first Field Day QSO on 10m in a few years, and worth the extra effort to make the QSO. :-)
I still need to get my logs prepared for both ARRL and AMSAT Field Days, as there will be some satellite QSOs in my log that won't count for points in each event. My Field Day QSOs have already been uploaded to Logbook of the World. If anyone wants a QSL card for a QSO from yesterday, please e-mail me directly with the QSO details. I will be happy to send a card, without first receiving a card or SASE from you.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK or http://twitter.com/WD9EWK
On Sun, Jun 23, 2019 at 10:01 PM Ryan Noguchi via AMSAT-BB < [email protected]> wrote:
Unlike last year, where I participated in ARRL and AMSAT Field Day concurrently, I did them separately this year. On Saturday, I worked only satellites for AMSAT Field Day from the vicinity of my home. I never operated from my property, only from other operating positions along my block each optimized for specific pass orientations, all well within an 800 ft circle. All QSOs were made fully pedestrian-mobile, without recharging any of the batteries during the Field Day period.
<snip>
So, how'd everyone else's Field Day go?
73, Ryan AI6DO
Thanks for the QSOs yesterday, Patrick, especially that tough western AO-91 pass! Also, thanks for the reminder about W5SAT. I do have a message packet from him with his Field Day exchange on my D72 from that first FalconSat-3 pass, so I have one more QSO (and 3 more points) than I had thought.
Thanks and 73, Ryan AI6DO
On Sunday, June 23, 2019, 5:37:13 PM PDT, Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) via AMSAT-BB [email protected] wrote:
Ryan,
First of all, thanks for the QSOs during the day yesterday. Especially the AO-92 L/V contact just after noon. I was getting concerned with being able to make an official Field Day QSO on that pass, after working two others who were not giving Field Day exchanges. It was also good to get you on AO-91 and FalconSat-3 later in the afternoon.
I drove to a Forest Service day-use area at Cataract Lake, west of Williams in northern Arizona. Northern Arizona had the best weather for Field Day this weekend than in the past few years, with the temperatures up there never exceeding 75F. My plans were like past years - work both HF and satellites, and have fun doing it. Even though this site is near Williams, and not far from the I-40 freeway, I had no data service on my mobile phone. The phone worked for voice calls and SMS messages, so I used SMS messages to tweet during the day. I don't have my Twitter account set up to forward tweets to my phone, so I was unable to respond until I was in Flagstaff for dinner last night.
It took about 2 1/2 hours to make the drive from Phoenix to Williams, and I knew that there was an SO-50 pass coming by a few minutes after the start of Field Day at 11am (1800 UTC). As expected, a busy pass. I heard John K8YSE operating as K8OU through his Arizona station, and that was my first Field Day QSO. I did not use an HT for this pass; I had my Icom IC-2730 dual-band mobile radio, jumpstart battery, and Elk log periodic in a clearing near my site. Five watts, and even 15W, would not work on this and the other FM satellite passes I attempted yesterday not using the 1.2 GHz band.
About an hour later, the one AO-92 pass in the L/V mode for Field Day up there. I heard Chris VE7CEW initially, but couldn't get back to him for a QSO. I worked W5SAT and N6NUG before landing a Field Day QSO with AI6DO. I used my two-radio, two-antenna L/V setup like I normally use at home. It worked well as I pointed across the lake and made QSOs, easier than last year's Field Day when I had a smaller 5-element Yagi on top of my Alinco DJ-G7T. I did not try to adjust my transmit power on my DJ-G7T to its low- power setting of 300mW on the 1.2 GHz band, keeping it at 1W for the best possible signals I could send to the satellite. And as the AO-92 pass went away, a very high AO-91 pass came over. Back to the IC-2730, and I cut the string holding the 1.2 GHz Yagi on my Elk, as the AO-91 pass started. Many thanks to Carlos W7QL for a QSO near the end of that pass!
After the AO-91 pass, I set up my HF station - Elecraft K3S running on my jumpstart battery at 50W, and a Buddipole dipole. I made some QSOs on 20m SSB before another group of satellite passes came by - PO-101, ISS, and then a low AO-91 pass to my west.
PO-101 had a good crowd, but not as crazy as the earlier AO-91 pass. I was able to work Rick VE4AMU for a Field Day QSO. After that, W0IN in Missouri called me, and I made the exchange. Shortly after these QSOs, I switched to the ISS digipeater. Unfortunately, it was off, so no ISS packet this Field Day. AO-91 was coming up for the west coast, and I went on there to help anyone looking to make their Field Day satellite QSO on that satellite. AI6DO was there, and we made a quick QSO. This won't count for me, as I made my AO-91 QSO for points earlier, but I might be a QSO that gets another station their 100-point bonus, or their Field Day QSO on that satellite.
Now up to almost 2pm (2100 UTC), I started working 20m and 40m SSB, until a nice FalconSat-3 pass an hour later. I logged a couple of packet QSOs with AI6DO and Brad W5SAT in Las Vegas on that FalconSat-3 pass. This time, W5SAT was ready with a Field Day exchange in the APRS message I received from him. I had two more FalconSat-3 passes that I worked, just before 5pm (0000 UTC) and 6.30pm (0130 UTC), with a single QSO on each of those passes.
I tried FO-29 at 5.30pm (0030 UTC), but one station was overpowering the transponder really bad. After a few minutes, I gave up on this pass. I didn't bother to try other SSB passes since it was getting late, and I needed to ensure I left the site by 8pm (0300 UTC) before the gate was locked. I overlooked the NO-84 pass just after 6pm (0100 UTC), a mistake on my part, since packet QSOs using APRS messages have been good for me in past Field Days. I stayed out there to copy the ARRL's W1AW bulletin on 20m SSB just before 7pm (0200 UTC), and then I wrapped up my Field Day effort. I went to Flagstaff to get some dinner, then drove home after that.
During the afternoon, I would periodically check the 10m and 6m bands for activity. Nothing was heard on those bands most of the day, but a little before 5pm (0000 UTC) W3AO - a group that loves to put lots of transmitters on the air for Field Days - was barely coming out of the noise. After 2 or 3 minutes of back-and-forth to get information exchanged, I made a QSO with W3AO. This was my first Field Day QSO on 10m in a few years, and worth the extra effort to make the QSO. :-)
I still need to get my logs prepared for both ARRL and AMSAT Field Days, as there will be some satellite QSOs in my log that won't count for points in each event. My Field Day QSOs have already been uploaded to Logbook of the World. If anyone wants a QSL card for a QSO from yesterday, please e-mail me directly with the QSO details. I will be happy to send a card, without first receiving a card or SASE from you.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK or http://twitter.com/WD9EWK
Great job! I have yet to work anyone on EO-88. Passes in eclipse are normally past my night-night time.
I think you're right, on some of those passes I was on, QRO CW stations may have been overwhelming the transponder. They certainly overwhelmed my ear when I had the volume turned up to try to copy the SSB stations beneath them.
Perhaps the AMSAT Field Day rules should be revised to discourage CW on the satellites if folks can't keep to responsible power levels. I like to work CW on HF, but I don't suck all the life out of the ionosphere when I key up.
73, Ryan AI6DO
On Sunday, June 23, 2019, 3:22:03 PM PDT, Matthew Stevens [email protected] wrote:
the linears were the opposite of empty over here on the east coast... I did 10 passes, making about 40 qsos. The center of the passband on each linear pass was nuts, with 5-10 different stations all calling cq over one another. I used a borrowed 910, and my handheld arrow. It was nice to have the extra power when needed...there was one station in particular that I'm pretty sure had to be running about 300w lol. Every time they keyed up, literally every other station in the passband dropped out.
Easiest pass by far was EO-88, I worked N8HM and W4YY, and heard one other station before the transponder shut off.... - Matthew nj4y/K4LKL
participants (4)
-
Mac A. Cody -
Matthew Stevens -
Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) -
Ryan Noguchi