How busy are the linear transponder satellites?
I know that the FM satellites, primarily SO-50 and AO-85, can be quite congested during a pass. This is understandable, since each satellite presents only one channel. On the other hand, the linear transponder satellites can support multiple communication channels, due to the available bandwidth. This ranges from 20 KHz (XW-2A/B/C/D/F) to 100 KHz (FO-29, AO-7). From your experience running SSB, how congested or how utilized, is the bandwidth of these satellites? Is there usually plenty of room to spare, or is it a challenge to find a place within the available bandwidth to conduct a QSO?
Thanks and 73,
Mac Cody / AE5PH
Mac, Usually plenty of room and often there are several actual ragchews and a couple Rover-Grid operations. Not at all like the chaos and rudeness of the FM birds. GL/73, Bob K8BL
________________________________ From: Mac A. Cody [email protected] To: "[email protected]" [email protected] Sent: Thursday, September 7, 2017 9:50 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] How busy are the linear transponder satellites?
I know that the FM satellites, primarily SO-50 and AO-85, can be quite
congested during a pass. This is understandable, since each satellite
presents only one channel. On the other hand, the linear transponder
satellites can support multiple communication channels, due to the
available bandwidth. This ranges from 20 KHz (XW-2A/B/C/D/F) to 100 KHz
(FO-29, AO-7). From your experience running SSB, how congested or how
utilized, is the bandwidth of these satellites? Is there usually plenty
of room to spare, or is it a challenge to find a place within the
available bandwidth to conduct a QSO?
Thanks and 73,
Mac Cody / AE5PH
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On 09/07/17 20:50, Mac A. Cody wrote:
I know that the FM satellites, primarily SO-50 and AO-85, can be quite congested during a pass. This is understandable, since each satellite presents only one channel. On the other hand, the linear transponder satellites can support multiple communication channels, due to the available bandwidth. This ranges from 20 KHz (XW-2A/B/C/D/F) to 100 KHz (FO-29, AO-7). From your experience running SSB, how congested or how utilized, is the bandwidth of these satellites? Is there usually plenty of room to spare, or is it a challenge to find a place within the available bandwidth to conduct a QSO?
Hi Mac!
Plenty of room on the linear sats, as far as I've heard on the passes I've monitored. With a SDR dongle such as FCD or FCD Pro+, you can watch the entire passband for activity. If you record I/Q, you can then play back the whole pass to figure out who usually shows up where.
I need to make a strong effort to get my shack put back together. It has been years since I actually made a contact!
Nice talking to you again. Hope to hear ya on the birds.
73 DE N0ZGO --- Zach
participants (3)
-
Mac A. Cody -
R.T.Liddy -
Zach Metzinger