I just wanted to relate the outstanding early morning pass I had on FO-29 today. I had set up a schedule with AL7RS in AP65, way out in western Alaska. We have been emailing a while, and Dan indicated he was ready to try, and even agreed to try SSB since I'm not a big CW fan. After a few emails the night before to set up specifics, we were go for the 1016Z pass, right as FO-29 came over at near apogee. I heard him as soon as the sat popped over the horizon, and we made a leisurely exchange for a new grid and field for us both. Mission Accomplished!
As I was quietly sitting filling out my log, at just after 5AM local, listening to the transponder hiss, I heard a very strong signal pop up, exactly where I was listening. It was WH6XM calling CQ from BK29 in Hawaii! Now, I've been on satellites on and off since 1992, and hardcore since about 2000. I have QSLs from Hawaii on both AO-10 and AO-40, but have never heard KH6 on a LEO! I started answering his CQ before he was even done, hoping he was full duplex and we wouldn't run out of time and pass before we made the QSO. After a few quick back and forths, we got the calls and reports exchanged, and I heard him until my LOS. Actually, he was strong to past where I should have had LOS, to about -1.5 degrees. Thank you Gulf of Mexico tropo for a bit of an extension. A quick email confirmed what I knew was a good QSO, and off to bed I went again, a very happy ham.
So, I just wanted to thank both Dan and Bob for being there, having good receive setups, and making the QSOs with me. This stuff is still exciting!
73, Drew KO4MA
Outstanding Drew! I'm now getting excited about getting OTS from Florida as I also don't have Hawaii on a leo...
73 Merry Christmas and a HNY
-----Original Message----- From: Andrew Glasbrenner Sent: Thursday, December 24, 2015 2:18 PM To: 'amsat-bb' Cc: 'Den Koawl' ; wh6xm@mac.com Subject: [amsat-bb] A good morning on FO-29
I just wanted to relate the outstanding early morning pass I had on FO-29 today. I had set up a schedule with AL7RS in AP65, way out in western Alaska. We have been emailing a while, and Dan indicated he was ready to try, and even agreed to try SSB since I'm not a big CW fan. After a few emails the night before to set up specifics, we were go for the 1016Z pass, right as FO-29 came over at near apogee. I heard him as soon as the sat popped over the horizon, and we made a leisurely exchange for a new grid and field for us both. Mission Accomplished!
As I was quietly sitting filling out my log, at just after 5AM local, listening to the transponder hiss, I heard a very strong signal pop up, exactly where I was listening. It was WH6XM calling CQ from BK29 in Hawaii! Now, I've been on satellites on and off since 1992, and hardcore since about 2000. I have QSLs from Hawaii on both AO-10 and AO-40, but have never heard KH6 on a LEO! I started answering his CQ before he was even done, hoping he was full duplex and we wouldn't run out of time and pass before we made the QSO. After a few quick back and forths, we got the calls and reports exchanged, and I heard him until my LOS. Actually, he was strong to past where I should have had LOS, to about -1.5 degrees. Thank you Gulf of Mexico tropo for a bit of an extension. A quick email confirmed what I knew was a good QSO, and off to bed I went again, a very happy ham.
So, I just wanted to thank both Dan and Bob for being there, having good receive setups, and making the QSOs with me. This stuff is still exciting!
73, Drew KO4MA
Well dome Drew Dan and Robert.
Those fleeting opportunities are really rewarding when they happen
Sounds like a very Merry Christmas moment.
73
David G0MRF
-----Original Message----- From: Andrew Glasbrenner glasbrenner@mindspring.com To: 'amsat-bb' amsat-bb@amsat.org CC: 'Den Koawl' dkoawl@gmail.com; wh6xm wh6xm@mac.com Sent: Thu, 24 Dec 2015 19:18 Subject: [amsat-bb] A good morning on FO-29
I just wanted to relate the outstanding early morning pass I had on FO-29 today. I had set up a schedule with AL7RS in AP65, way out in western Alaska. We have been emailing a while, and Dan indicated he was ready to try, and even agreed to try SSB since I'm not a big CW fan. After a few emails the night before to set up specifics, we were go for the 1016Z pass, right as FO-29 came over at near apogee. I heard him as soon as the sat popped over the horizon, and we made a leisurely exchange for a new grid and field for us both. Mission Accomplished!
As I was quietly sitting filling out my log, at just after 5AM local, listening to the transponder hiss, I heard a very strong signal pop up, exactly where I was listening. It was WH6XM calling CQ from BK29 in Hawaii! Now, I've been on satellites on and off since 1992, and hardcore since about 2000. I have QSLs from Hawaii on both AO-10 and AO-40, but have never heard KH6 on a LEO! I started answering his CQ before he was even done, hoping he was full duplex and we wouldn't run out of time and pass before we made the QSO. After a few quick back and forths, we got the calls and reports exchanged, and I heard him until my LOS. Actually, he was strong to past where I should have had LOS, to about -1.5 degrees. Thank you Gulf of Mexico tropo for a bit of an extension. A quick email confirmed what I knew was a good QSO, and off to bed I went again, a very happy ham.
So, I just wanted to thank both Dan and Bob for being there, having good receive setups, and making the QSOs with me. This stuff is still exciting!
73, Drew KO4MA
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participants (3)
-
Andrew Glasbrenner -
David G0MRF -
Jeff