The AO-73 transponder is on whenever the satellite is in eclipse, and usually continuously during the weekends. An AMSAT-UK command station usually announces the weekend mode change via AMSAT-bb and their Twitter account.

The wideband noise you hear is likely the gmsk downlink from xw-2f. Look at http://www.amsat.org/?p=4512 and the links contained within that post. There is an active transponder aboard as well.

The -bb archives were moved in 2009. Links to subscribe and the later archives are at http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=2348

73, Drew KO4MA

Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 28, 2015, at 9:43 PM, Jack Colson jcolson7@tampabay.rr.com wrote:

Andrew I was looking to go beyond that page. It seems like there is an operating schedule of some sort, also I hear some relatively wideband data or whatever around 145.960 and having a bandwidth of about 10 KHz. It also seems like the transponder is off for part of passes that are viewed here in EL88 and then comes on for a short bit then gone. I am curious as to what others are experiencing? 73 and thank you. Jack, W3TMZ (I have made a few contacts but with the fast doppler shift one needs more hands.)

At one time on AMSAT-bb you could find current info, now all is see is the archives from 2009 and back.

...

On Nov 28, 2015, at 8:50 PM, Andrew Glasbrenner glasbrenner@mindspring.com wrote:

http://amsat-uk.org/funcube/funcube-cubesat/ is a good start

73, Drew KO4MA

Sent from my iPhone

...

On Nov 28, 2015, at 8:41 PM, Jack Colson jcolson7@tampabay.rr.com wrote:

Where does one find current info about AO-73? _______________________________________________ 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