XW-2A and Other Roads Less Travelled
I’m a bit of a nomad, and have always enjoyed taking the roads less travelled. That applies to my hobby as well—those of us who work VHF are a fairly rare bunch. Those who work satellites; not often spotted in the wild.
But apparently, rarer still are those who enjoy making contacts on satellites that are not AO-91, A0-92, SO-50, and FO-29.
Working from home today, so I got on nearly every satellite pass over the United States. Alternated between calling CQ and searching for others to work.
The results of working eight different passes? Four contacts for the day. Two on SO-50, one each on AO-91 and FO-29.
Called CQ on XW-2A at dinner time. High elevation pass. Good strong downlink the entire pass from horizon to horizon. Nada…
It did net me an SWL report from Mark Gluch, KB3CI who heard me loud and clean in EN82 near Detroit. He doesn’t have the transmit side working yet for the linear birds, but will soon.
Ditto on AO-7, a whole pass on FO-29 this morning, and at least three of the XW birds.
Last weekend, I listed to the L band activity on AO-91 and there was a ton more activity there than I heard today. (I’m working on getting the 1296 Yagi up so I can join you folks.)
We’ve got a sky full of great satellites that perform well. Let’s use them.
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114 EM63nf
Member WTFDA, IRCA, NRC. Former CPC Chairman for NRC & IRCA.
Elad FDM-S2 SDR, AirSpy SDR2, SDRPlay RSP-2 Pro, Sony XDR-F1HD [XDR Guy Modified], Dennon TU-1500RD, Sangean HDT-1X, Ray Dees RDS Decoders, Korner 9.2 Antenna, FM-6 Antenna, Kitz Technologies KT-501 Pre-amps, Quantum Phaser, Wellbrook ALA1530 Loop, Wellbrook Flag, Clifton Labs Active Whip.
“Nothing but blues and Elvis, and somebody else’s favorite song…”
I agree but aren't you preaching to the choir?
FWIW I'm doing my part by setting up a base/ground station so I can operate more conveniently than portable only allows.
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On Tue, Jan 29, 2019 at 11:35 PM Les Rayburn les@highnoonfilm.com wrote:
I’m a bit of a nomad, and have always enjoyed taking the roads less travelled. That applies to my hobby as well—those of us who work VHF are a fairly rare bunch. Those who work satellites; not often spotted in the wild.
But apparently, rarer still are those who enjoy making contacts on satellites that are not AO-91, A0-92, SO-50, and FO-29.
Working from home today, so I got on nearly every satellite pass over the United States. Alternated between calling CQ and searching for others to work.
The results of working eight different passes? Four contacts for the day. Two on SO-50, one each on AO-91 and FO-29.
Called CQ on XW-2A at dinner time. High elevation pass. Good strong downlink the entire pass from horizon to horizon. Nada…
It did net me an SWL report from Mark Gluch, KB3CI who heard me loud and clean in EN82 near Detroit. He doesn’t have the transmit side working yet for the linear birds, but will soon.
Ditto on AO-7, a whole pass on FO-29 this morning, and at least three of the XW birds.
Last weekend, I listed to the L band activity on AO-91 and there was a ton more activity there than I heard today. (I’m working on getting the 1296 Yagi up so I can join you folks.)
We’ve got a sky full of great satellites that perform well. Let’s use them.
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114 EM63nf
Member WTFDA, IRCA, NRC. Former CPC Chairman for NRC & IRCA.
Elad FDM-S2 SDR, AirSpy SDR2, SDRPlay RSP-2 Pro, Sony XDR-F1HD [XDR Guy Modified], Dennon TU-1500RD, Sangean HDT-1X, Ray Dees RDS Decoders, Korner 9.2 Antenna, FM-6 Antenna, Kitz Technologies KT-501 Pre-amps, Quantum Phaser, Wellbrook ALA1530 Loop, Wellbrook Flag, Clifton Labs Active Whip.
“Nothing but blues and Elvis, and somebody else’s favorite song…”
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
Your efforts were GREATLY appreciated.
Today was our once-a-year student lab to predict a satellite pass and then go verify it. The students and I were out in the cold rain/snow and hearing absolutely nothing on FO-29. For most of the pass... I couidnt understand it. Then just a minute before LOS, we heard Les, N1LF callling CQ with an xcellent signal.
Students were impressed that there was something there, but wanted to know why no one was answering
We only demoonstrate RX with a handheld and so did not have a second rig for uplink. Bob, WB4aPR
On Tue, Jan 29, 2019 at 11:33 PM Les Rayburn les@highnoonfilm.com wrote:
I’m a bit of a nomad, and have always enjoyed taking the roads less travelled. That applies to my hobby as well—those of us who work VHF are a fairly rare bunch. Those who work satellites; not often spotted in the wild.
But apparently, rarer still are those who enjoy making contacts on satellites that are not AO-91, A0-92, SO-50, and FO-29.
Working from home today, so I got on nearly every satellite pass over the United States. Alternated between calling CQ and searching for others to work.
The results of working eight different passes? Four contacts for the day. Two on SO-50, one each on AO-91 and FO-29.
Called CQ on XW-2A at dinner time. High elevation pass. Good strong downlink the entire pass from horizon to horizon. Nada…
It did net me an SWL report from Mark Gluch, KB3CI who heard me loud and clean in EN82 near Detroit. He doesn’t have the transmit side working yet for the linear birds, but will soon.
Ditto on AO-7, a whole pass on FO-29 this morning, and at least three of the XW birds.
Last weekend, I listed to the L band activity on AO-91 and there was a ton more activity there than I heard today. (I’m working on getting the 1296 Yagi up so I can join you folks.)
We’ve got a sky full of great satellites that perform well. Let’s use them.
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114 EM63nf
Member WTFDA, IRCA, NRC. Former CPC Chairman for NRC & IRCA.
Elad FDM-S2 SDR, AirSpy SDR2, SDRPlay RSP-2 Pro, Sony XDR-F1HD [XDR Guy Modified], Dennon TU-1500RD, Sangean HDT-1X, Ray Dees RDS Decoders, Korner 9.2 Antenna, FM-6 Antenna, Kitz Technologies KT-501 Pre-amps, Quantum Phaser, Wellbrook ALA1530 Loop, Wellbrook Flag, Clifton Labs Active Whip.
“Nothing but blues and Elvis, and somebody else’s favorite song…”
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
KB7IJ and I are very active on XW-2A, 2B, 2C, as well as CAS-4A and CAS-4B. We operate SSB usually a bit below the "standard" center band pair because we experience some pretty strong WIFI/router interference in the "normal" area.
What we have found is there are a LOT of people who don't listen anywhere but their favorite watering hole. The primary reason is they are using conventional radios on the downlink. This is a significant handicap. IN In fact, one might as well be operating while wearing a blind fold.
Anyone who is serious about sat ops should invest in an SDR and use it to receive. You can see the entire passband all the time. I can't tell you how many times I'v e heard people say there is no one on the birds...when in fact, people are there calling CQ. Or, like me, reciting az and el, polarity and signal strength (which I am recording with the SDR software, btw).
If you get an SDR and run the SDRC v3.0.x software, you will find full sat capability, including the ability to control an external radio for uplink. Automatic doppler, everything you could want, pass prediction, real time AZ/EL map display, etc.
If you have never run an SDR for sat work with good software (which is free), you have no idea how unaware you are of what is happening on and around these birds.
There is a LOT going on that is being missed by being chained to old technology.
...and I'm not denying that empty passes exist. They do. I have called CQ for entire passes. Once I notice the lack of activity. I turn on the audio recording (which is nothing but the press of a button in the software) and collect data on the effects of polarization, obstructions, vegetative losses, etc. It is quite easy, just recite the current conditions and and let the software do the work.
Having operated with standard high quality radios back in the days of AO-6/7/8/10/13 and 40, I can simply state, there is NO comparison in operating capabilities and convenience between traditional radios for satellite downlinks vs. SDRs.
Check them out, they are not expensive. You will never go back once you have used an SDR with decent software for your satellite downlink. Seeing IS believing!
73, N0AN Hasan
On Tue, Jan 29, 2019 at 10:35 PM Les Rayburn les@highnoonfilm.com wrote:
I’m a bit of a nomad, and have always enjoyed taking the roads less travelled. That applies to my hobby as well—those of us who work VHF are a fairly rare bunch. Those who work satellites; not often spotted in the wild.
But apparently, rarer still are those who enjoy making contacts on satellites that are not AO-91, A0-92, SO-50, and FO-29.
Working from home today, so I got on nearly every satellite pass over the United States. Alternated between calling CQ and searching for others to work.
The results of working eight different passes? Four contacts for the day. Two on SO-50, one each on AO-91 and FO-29.
Called CQ on XW-2A at dinner time. High elevation pass. Good strong downlink the entire pass from horizon to horizon. Nada…
It did net me an SWL report from Mark Gluch, KB3CI who heard me loud and clean in EN82 near Detroit. He doesn’t have the transmit side working yet for the linear birds, but will soon.
Ditto on AO-7, a whole pass on FO-29 this morning, and at least three of the XW birds.
Last weekend, I listed to the L band activity on AO-91 and there was a ton more activity there than I heard today. (I’m working on getting the 1296 Yagi up so I can join you folks.)
We’ve got a sky full of great satellites that perform well. Let’s use them.
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114 EM63nf
Member WTFDA, IRCA, NRC. Former CPC Chairman for NRC & IRCA.
Elad FDM-S2 SDR, AirSpy SDR2, SDRPlay RSP-2 Pro, Sony XDR-F1HD [XDR Guy Modified], Dennon TU-1500RD, Sangean HDT-1X, Ray Dees RDS Decoders, Korner 9.2 Antenna, FM-6 Antenna, Kitz Technologies KT-501 Pre-amps, Quantum Phaser, Wellbrook ALA1530 Loop, Wellbrook Flag, Clifton Labs Active Whip.
“Nothing but blues and Elvis, and somebody else’s favorite song…”
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
Thanks, Hasan...
Any tips on set up for the Console software?
73, Ted K7TRK
-----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Hasan al-Basri Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2019 2:30 PM To: Les Rayburn Cc: AMSAT-BB; Work-Sat@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] XW-2A and Other Roads Less Travelled
KB7IJ and I are very active on XW-2A, 2B, 2C, as well as CAS-4A and CAS-4B. We operate SSB usually a bit below the "standard" center band pair because we experience some pretty strong WIFI/router interference in the "normal" area.
What we have found is there are a LOT of people who don't listen anywhere but their favorite watering hole. The primary reason is they are using conventional radios on the downlink. This is a significant handicap. IN In fact, one might as well be operating while wearing a blind fold.
Anyone who is serious about sat ops should invest in an SDR and use it to receive. You can see the entire passband all the time. I can't tell you how many times I'v e heard people say there is no one on the birds...when in fact, people are there calling CQ. Or, like me, reciting az and el, polarity and signal strength (which I am recording with the SDR software, btw).
If you get an SDR and run the SDRC v3.0.x software, you will find full sat capability, including the ability to control an external radio for uplink. Automatic doppler, everything you could want, pass prediction, real time AZ/EL map display, etc.
If you have never run an SDR for sat work with good software (which is free), you have no idea how unaware you are of what is happening on and around these birds.
There is a LOT going on that is being missed by being chained to old technology.
...and I'm not denying that empty passes exist. They do. I have called CQ for entire passes. Once I notice the lack of activity. I turn on the audio recording (which is nothing but the press of a button in the software) and collect data on the effects of polarization, obstructions, vegetative losses, etc. It is quite easy, just recite the current conditions and and let the software do the work.
Having operated with standard high quality radios back in the days of AO-6/7/8/10/13 and 40, I can simply state, there is NO comparison in operating capabilities and convenience between traditional radios for satellite downlinks vs. SDRs.
Check them out, they are not expensive. You will never go back once you have used an SDR with decent software for your satellite downlink. Seeing IS believing!
73, N0AN Hasan
On Tue, Jan 29, 2019 at 10:35 PM Les Rayburn les@highnoonfilm.com wrote:
I’m a bit of a nomad, and have always enjoyed taking the roads less travelled. That applies to my hobby as well—those of us who work VHF are a fairly rare bunch. Those who work satellites; not often spotted in the wild.
But apparently, rarer still are those who enjoy making contacts on satellites that are not AO-91, A0-92, SO-50, and FO-29.
Working from home today, so I got on nearly every satellite pass over the United States. Alternated between calling CQ and searching for others to work.
The results of working eight different passes? Four contacts for the day. Two on SO-50, one each on AO-91 and FO-29.
Called CQ on XW-2A at dinner time. High elevation pass. Good strong downlink the entire pass from horizon to horizon. Nada…
It did net me an SWL report from Mark Gluch, KB3CI who heard me loud and clean in EN82 near Detroit. He doesn’t have the transmit side working yet for the linear birds, but will soon.
Ditto on AO-7, a whole pass on FO-29 this morning, and at least three of the XW birds.
Last weekend, I listed to the L band activity on AO-91 and there was a ton more activity there than I heard today. (I’m working on getting the 1296 Yagi up so I can join you folks.)
We’ve got a sky full of great satellites that perform well. Let’s use them.
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114 EM63nf
Member WTFDA, IRCA, NRC. Former CPC Chairman for NRC & IRCA.
Elad FDM-S2 SDR, AirSpy SDR2, SDRPlay RSP-2 Pro, Sony XDR-F1HD [XDR Guy Modified], Dennon TU-1500RD, Sangean HDT-1X, Ray Dees RDS Decoders, Korner 9.2 Antenna, FM-6 Antenna, Kitz Technologies KT-501 Pre-amps, Quantum Phaser, Wellbrook ALA1530 Loop, Wellbrook Flag, Clifton Labs Active Whip.
“Nothing but blues and Elvis, and somebody else’s favorite song…”
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
Hasan, I have played with SDR Console a bit but the one thing I would really would like it to do I haven’t figured out how to get it to work.
That is, if I bring up a linear satellite the SDRconsole will set the downlink SDR frequency and set the uplink freq on the external radio which is fine if I just want to just stay there to work the satellite. However if I see someone elsewhere in the waterfall and I click over to them the downlink freq will change to that freq and I can hear that contact but the uplink freq on the external radio is not shifted the corresponding amount to equate to the new downlink freq. I can manually spin the dial on the external radio to get there but that is a bit of a pain. Is there some trick I am missing to keep the two frequencies locked together as you move around searching for contacts?
73 Dennis KI4KNC
On Feb 1, 2019, at 6:51 PM, Ted Krempa k7trkradio@charter.net wrote:
Thanks, Hasan...
Any tips on set up for the Console software?
73, Ted K7TRK
-----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Hasan al-Basri Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2019 2:30 PM To: Les Rayburn Cc: AMSAT-BB; Work-Sat@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] XW-2A and Other Roads Less Travelled
KB7IJ and I are very active on XW-2A, 2B, 2C, as well as CAS-4A and CAS-4B. We operate SSB usually a bit below the "standard" center band pair because we experience some pretty strong WIFI/router interference in the "normal" area.
What we have found is there are a LOT of people who don't listen anywhere but their favorite watering hole. The primary reason is they are using conventional radios on the downlink. This is a significant handicap. IN In fact, one might as well be operating while wearing a blind fold.
Anyone who is serious about sat ops should invest in an SDR and use it to receive. You can see the entire passband all the time. I can't tell you how many times I'v e heard people say there is no one on the birds...when in fact, people are there calling CQ. Or, like me, reciting az and el, polarity and signal strength (which I am recording with the SDR software, btw).
If you get an SDR and run the SDRC v3.0.x software, you will find full sat capability, including the ability to control an external radio for uplink. Automatic doppler, everything you could want, pass prediction, real time AZ/EL map display, etc.
If you have never run an SDR for sat work with good software (which is free), you have no idea how unaware you are of what is happening on and around these birds.
There is a LOT going on that is being missed by being chained to old technology.
...and I'm not denying that empty passes exist. They do. I have called CQ for entire passes. Once I notice the lack of activity. I turn on the audio recording (which is nothing but the press of a button in the software) and collect data on the effects of polarization, obstructions, vegetative losses, etc. It is quite easy, just recite the current conditions and and let the software do the work.
Having operated with standard high quality radios back in the days of AO-6/7/8/10/13 and 40, I can simply state, there is NO comparison in operating capabilities and convenience between traditional radios for satellite downlinks vs. SDRs.
Check them out, they are not expensive. You will never go back once you have used an SDR with decent software for your satellite downlink. Seeing IS believing!
73, N0AN Hasan
On Tue, Jan 29, 2019 at 10:35 PM Les Rayburn les@highnoonfilm.com wrote:
I’m a bit of a nomad, and have always enjoyed taking the roads less travelled. That applies to my hobby as well—those of us who work VHF are a fairly rare bunch. Those who work satellites; not often spotted in the wild.
But apparently, rarer still are those who enjoy making contacts on satellites that are not AO-91, A0-92, SO-50, and FO-29.
Working from home today, so I got on nearly every satellite pass over the United States. Alternated between calling CQ and searching for others to work.
The results of working eight different passes? Four contacts for the day. Two on SO-50, one each on AO-91 and FO-29.
Called CQ on XW-2A at dinner time. High elevation pass. Good strong downlink the entire pass from horizon to horizon. Nada…
It did net me an SWL report from Mark Gluch, KB3CI who heard me loud and clean in EN82 near Detroit. He doesn’t have the transmit side working yet for the linear birds, but will soon.
Ditto on AO-7, a whole pass on FO-29 this morning, and at least three of the XW birds.
Last weekend, I listed to the L band activity on AO-91 and there was a ton more activity there than I heard today. (I’m working on getting the 1296 Yagi up so I can join you folks.)
We’ve got a sky full of great satellites that perform well. Let’s use them.
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114 EM63nf
Member WTFDA, IRCA, NRC. Former CPC Chairman for NRC & IRCA.
Elad FDM-S2 SDR, AirSpy SDR2, SDRPlay RSP-2 Pro, Sony XDR-F1HD [XDR Guy Modified], Dennon TU-1500RD, Sangean HDT-1X, Ray Dees RDS Decoders, Korner 9.2 Antenna, FM-6 Antenna, Kitz Technologies KT-501 Pre-amps, Quantum Phaser, Wellbrook ALA1530 Loop, Wellbrook Flag, Clifton Labs Active Whip.
“Nothing but blues and Elvis, and somebody else’s favorite song…”
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
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
Dennis, No, you have to use the method of successive approximations to qsy. Once you see how it works, it is really easy and you can get quite good at it.
Put your RX where you want it, then key/unkey, tx/no tx to get where you need to be. It sounds awkward, but having done it for a few months it's now automatic.
Move the ext radio frq with the mouse wheel (not clicking) and it acts just like a vfo, but ...do it in increments, because many radios will not accept CAT command while PTT is asserted.
Just takes practice :-)
73, N0AN
Hasan
On Sat, Feb 2, 2019 at 2:06 AM Dennis Veselka dennisvipod@yahoo.com wrote:
Hasan, I have played with SDR Console a bit but the one thing I would really would like it to do I haven’t figured out how to get it to work.
That is, if I bring up a linear satellite the SDRconsole will set the downlink SDR frequency and set the uplink freq on the external radio which is fine if I just want to just stay there to work the satellite. However if I see someone elsewhere in the waterfall and I click over to them the downlink freq will change to that freq and I can hear that contact but the uplink freq on the external radio is not shifted the corresponding amount to equate to the new downlink freq. I can manually spin the dial on the external radio to get there but that is a bit of a pain. Is there some trick I am missing to keep the two frequencies locked together as you move around searching for contacts?
73 Dennis KI4KNC
On Feb 1, 2019, at 6:51 PM, Ted Krempa k7trkradio@charter.net wrote:
Thanks, Hasan...
Any tips on set up for the Console software?
73, Ted K7TRK
-----Original Message----- From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Hasan
al-Basri
Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2019 2:30 PM To: Les Rayburn Cc: AMSAT-BB; Work-Sat@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] XW-2A and Other Roads Less Travelled
KB7IJ and I are very active on XW-2A, 2B, 2C, as well as CAS-4A and
CAS-4B.
We operate SSB usually a bit below the "standard" center band pair
because
we experience some pretty strong WIFI/router interference in the "normal" area.
What we have found is there are a LOT of people who don't listen anywhere but their favorite watering hole. The primary reason is they are using conventional radios on the downlink. This is a significant handicap. IN
In
fact, one might as well be operating while wearing a blind fold.
Anyone who is serious about sat ops should invest in an SDR and use it to receive. You can see the entire passband all the time. I can't tell you
how
many times I'v e heard people say there is no one on the birds...when in fact, people are there calling CQ. Or, like me, reciting az and el, polarity and signal strength (which I am recording with the SDR software, btw).
If you get an SDR and run the SDRC v3.0.x software, you will find full
sat
capability, including the ability to control an external radio for
uplink.
Automatic doppler, everything you could want, pass prediction, real time AZ/EL map display, etc.
If you have never run an SDR for sat work with good software (which is free), you have no idea how unaware you are of what is happening on and around these birds.
There is a LOT going on that is being missed by being chained to old technology.
...and I'm not denying that empty passes exist. They do. I have called CQ for entire passes. Once I notice the lack of activity. I turn on the
audio
recording (which is nothing but the press of a button in the software)
and
collect data on the effects of polarization, obstructions, vegetative losses, etc. It is quite easy, just recite the current conditions and and let the software do the work.
Having operated with standard high quality radios back in the days of AO-6/7/8/10/13 and 40, I can simply state, there is NO comparison in operating capabilities and convenience between traditional radios for satellite downlinks vs. SDRs.
Check them out, they are not expensive. You will never go back once you have used an SDR with decent software for your satellite downlink. Seeing IS believing!
73, N0AN Hasan
On Tue, Jan 29, 2019 at 10:35 PM Les Rayburn les@highnoonfilm.com
wrote:
I’m a bit of a nomad, and have always enjoyed taking the roads less travelled. That applies to my hobby as well—those of us who work VHF
are a
fairly rare bunch. Those who work satellites; not often spotted in the wild.
But apparently, rarer still are those who enjoy making contacts on satellites that are not AO-91, A0-92, SO-50, and FO-29.
Working from home today, so I got on nearly every satellite pass over
the
United States. Alternated between calling CQ and searching for others to work.
The results of working eight different passes? Four contacts for the
day.
Two on SO-50, one each on AO-91 and FO-29.
Called CQ on XW-2A at dinner time. High elevation pass. Good strong downlink the entire pass from horizon to horizon. Nada…
It did net me an SWL report from Mark Gluch, KB3CI who heard me loud and clean in EN82 near Detroit. He doesn’t have the transmit side working
yet
for the linear birds, but will soon.
Ditto on AO-7, a whole pass on FO-29 this morning, and at least three of the XW birds.
Last weekend, I listed to the L band activity on AO-91 and there was a
ton
more activity there than I heard today. (I’m working on getting the 1296 Yagi up so I can join you folks.)
We’ve got a sky full of great satellites that perform well. Let’s use them.
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114 EM63nf
Member WTFDA, IRCA, NRC. Former CPC Chairman for NRC & IRCA.
Elad FDM-S2 SDR, AirSpy SDR2, SDRPlay RSP-2 Pro, Sony XDR-F1HD [XDR Guy Modified], Dennon TU-1500RD, Sangean HDT-1X, Ray Dees RDS Decoders,
Korner
9.2 Antenna, FM-6 Antenna, Kitz Technologies KT-501 Pre-amps, Quantum Phaser, Wellbrook ALA1530 Loop, Wellbrook Flag, Clifton Labs Active
Whip.
“Nothing but blues and Elvis, and somebody else’s favorite song…”
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
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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 (6)
-
Dennis Veselka -
Hasan al-Basri -
John Brier -
Les Rayburn -
Robert Bruninga -
Ted Krempa