Great pass of AO-7 in Mode B just ended. The footprint covered the entire contiental United States, South and Central America at the beginning of the pass, then through all of Canada and into Alaska by the end of the pass. I heard KJ4MCZ calling at the beginning of the pass and a W3 station calling in CW, and I worked AC0RA and WN9Q. Where was everyone else?

The bird sounded great with good strong signals. On the first afternoon pass, I worked GS3PYE/P on their expedition to the Isle of Lewis in Scotland (IO68) and heard EB8AYA. On the second afternoon pass, I worked KB3EJZ. Again, very good signals, but few stations heard.

All the QSOs were made with 2 FT-817s running 5 watts and an Elk antenna.

AO-7's transponder is still working great even after 39 years and 5 months in space. It also gives us the largest footprints and longest passes of any of our satellites currently in orbit. Let's use it!

73,

Paul, N8HM