Just got on the ISS repeater - L band up and V band down from FN34 here in Vermont. I used full power here. 80 watts in the shack to a 55 el 1269 Directive Systems loop yagi. Transmission line is 75' of 7/8" hardline.
Results were mixed. The pass was 25 degrees max here. I had little to no success as the ISS was ascending. I opened the repeater a couple of times. I'm not sure if this was because other stations were trying and we were clobbering each other or not. As the ISS was going overhead, it appeared that the polarity was shifting rapidly as I would open the repeater for just a word or two. I did hear Clare, VE3NPC briefly. As the ISS was descending, things got better and I was able to consistently open the repeater, but nobody came back.... I could not access the repeater below 10 degrees....
If anyone else was on and trying, can you let me know? I'd like to see if that was the reason I couldn't access the repeater as it was ascending. One other observation, I found the doppler correction to be pretty critical. I've seen this when running low power into AO-51 for tests.
I hope to try a few more passes this week.
73, Mike, N1JEZ AMSAT 29649 "A closed mouth gathers no feet"
I'm spending a few days visiting friends in Delaware till this afternoon, I hope to get on L/V tomorrow morning before work. It looks like I'm missing all the fun! Mike could you please supply a suggested frequency pair to load into SatPC32 for starters? Thanks in advance...
73 Jeff kb2m
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Monday, December 29, 2008 7:36 AM To: AMSAT BB Subject: [amsat-bb] ISS Repeater
If anyone else was on and trying, can you let me know? I'd like to see if that was the reason I couldn't access the repeater as it was ascending. One other observation, I found the doppler correction to be pretty critical. I've seen this when running low power into AO-51 for tests.
I hope to try a few more passes this week.
73, Mike, N1JEZ AMSAT 29649 "A closed mouth gathers no feet"
So guy's correct me if I'm wrong but from a rough calculation that puts Mike's ERP at 4.7Kw.
Leaving my 170w ERP looking rather meagre by comparison! :-)
Congrats to Mike and Clare on their contact.
Regards
David G8OQW
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: 29 December 2008 12:36 To: AMSAT BB Subject: [amsat-bb] ISS Repeater
Just got on the ISS repeater - L band up and V band down from FN34 here in Vermont. I used full power here. 80 watts in the shack to a 55 el 1269 Directive Systems loop yagi. Transmission line is 75' of 7/8" hardline.
Results were mixed. The pass was 25 degrees max here. I had little to no success as the ISS was ascending. I opened the repeater a couple of times. I'm not sure if this was because other stations were trying and we were clobbering each other or not. As the ISS was going overhead, it appeared that the polarity was shifting rapidly as I would open the repeater for just
a word or two. I did hear Clare, VE3NPC briefly. As the ISS was descending, things got better and I was able to consistently open the repeater, but nobody came back.... I could not access the repeater below 10 degrees....
If anyone else was on and trying, can you let me know? I'd like to see if that was the reason I couldn't access the repeater as it was ascending. One other observation, I found the doppler correction to be pretty critical. I've seen this when running low power into AO-51 for tests.
I hope to try a few more passes this week.
73, Mike, N1JEZ AMSAT 29649 "A closed mouth gathers no feet"
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Yeah, close enough. I hope to try the 1235 UTC pass coming up in an hour from now.
73, Mike, N1JEZ AMSAT 29649 "A closed mouth gathers no feet"
----- Original Message ----- From: "David Barber" [email protected] To: [email protected] Cc: [email protected] Sent: Monday, December 29, 2008 8:56 AM Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] ISS Repeater
So guy's correct me if I'm wrong but from a rough calculation that puts Mike's ERP at 4.7Kw.
Leaving my 170w ERP looking rather meagre by comparison! :-)
Congrats to Mike and Clare on their contact.
Regards
David G8OQW
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: 29 December 2008 12:36 To: AMSAT BB Subject: [amsat-bb] ISS Repeater
Just got on the ISS repeater - L band up and V band down from FN34 here in Vermont. I used full power here. 80 watts in the shack to a 55 el 1269 Directive Systems loop yagi. Transmission line is 75' of 7/8" hardline.
Results were mixed. The pass was 25 degrees max here. I had little to no success as the ISS was ascending. I opened the repeater a couple of times. I'm not sure if this was because other stations were trying and we were clobbering each other or not. As the ISS was going overhead, it appeared that the polarity was shifting rapidly as I would open the repeater for just
a word or two. I did hear Clare, VE3NPC briefly. As the ISS was descending, things got better and I was able to consistently open the repeater, but nobody came back.... I could not access the repeater below 10 degrees....
If anyone else was on and trying, can you let me know? I'd like to see if that was the reason I couldn't access the repeater as it was ascending. One other observation, I found the doppler correction to be pretty critical. I've seen this when running low power into AO-51 for tests.
I hope to try a few more passes this week.
73, Mike, N1JEZ AMSAT 29649 "A closed mouth gathers no feet"
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Morning,
Heard Clare, VE3NPC, loud through the repeater. Then they switched to interactive, and said he was the first station heard, though they did not get his call so far as I can tell. No luck here, though the pass was relatively low and blocked with trees and hills. Will recheck the numbers, and try again on the next pass which is nearly overhead.
Alan WA4SCA
Yes NA1SS heard my reply to his CQ and congratulated me on being the first station heard but unfortunately he didnt get my call right and I wasnt able to get in again. Sigh!!
I agree that the squelch appears to be set hi as it is either a no go or complete quieting. I saw some where that ISS L rx ant is LHCP but if I can get in at all I am wondering if this is correct.
Clare VE3NPC
----- Original Message ----- From: "Alan P. Biddle" [email protected] To: "'AMSAT BB'" [email protected] Sent: Monday, December 29, 2008 8:59 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: ISS Repeater
Morning,
Heard Clare, VE3NPC, loud through the repeater. Then they switched to interactive, and said he was the first station heard, though they did not get his call so far as I can tell. No luck here, though the pass was relatively low and blocked with trees and hills. Will recheck the numbers, and try again on the next pass which is nearly overhead.
Alan WA4SCA
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Just tried to work the ISS L/V pass at 1240z here in fm29. I'm using the freq pair of 145800,1269650 with SatPC32 . Heard Mike n1jez and Claire ve3npc, I didn't hear my D/L at all. Mike you called me a couple of times did you hear me? I'm running 10 watts into 90 foot of 1/2 " hardline feeding a 55 L directive systems loop yagi, I have about 5.56 watts at the ant feedpoint. I will try some more tomorrow morning. If this becomes a frequent mode I will buy a 1.2 gig amp. I wouldn't have much use for it otherwise as my 1.2 ant is at 17 feet 30 feet above sea level 2 miles from the Ocean. Not exactly an ideal VHF and above contest location !
73 Jeff kb2m
----- Original Message ----- From: "jeff kb2m" [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: ISS Repeater
Just tried to work the ISS L/V pass at 1240z here in fm29. I'm using the freq pair of 145800,1269650 with SatPC32 . Heard Mike n1jez and Claire ve3npc, I didn't hear my D/L at all. Mike you called me a couple of times did you hear me?
Hi Jeff, no sorry I didn't hear you....
I'm running 10 watts into 90 foot of 1/2 " hardline feeding a 55 L directive systems loop yagi, I have about 5.56 watts at the ant feedpoint. I will try some more tomorrow morning. If this becomes a frequent mode I will buy a 1.2 gig amp. I wouldn't have much use for it otherwise as my 1.2 ant is at 17 feet 30 feet above sea level 2 miles from the Ocean. Not exactly an ideal VHF and above contest location !
If your loop yagi is mounted for horizontal polarization, and you got an amp, you'd do OK in some of the VHF contests. I assume it's a pretty flat take off from your QTH?
73, Mike, N1JEZ AMSAT 29649 "A closed mouth gathers no feet"
73 Jeff kb2m
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Morning,
Heard WB8OTH calling CQ early in the 1410 UTC pass here in TN. Good signal. Threw everything I had at the bird, but could not get in until after TCA. Was able to bring it up intermittently on the second half of the pass after tweaking the TX frequency a bit, but still required significantly more power than yesterday.
Still haven't found what beam width and direction the antennas view from the ISS WRT its direction of flight.
Alan WA4SCA
Morning again,
Just worked a 15 degree max elevation pass to my west. Heard KB0HH(?) briefly with a good signal. Above 5 degrees, which is my local horizon +/- I was able to get a good access. Several very brief dropouts, but considering the slant range and obstacles, not that unexpected. Held the bird back down to 5 degrees or so. It still took about 25-30 watts to the antenna to bring it up.
Last daylight pass. Looks like it is going to be an all nighter. ;)
Alan WA4SCA
Allan & All, Yes- it sounds great- I hope to work the bird on New Years day. The passes aren't co-operating with my location when I am available. Someone should record some audio so we'll give a listen one way or another. Happy New Year to All in the AMSAT realm & those that want to be !! 73, Dee, NB2F
----- Original Message ----- From: "Alan P. Biddle" Date: Tuesday, December 30, 2008 11:05 am Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: ISS Repeater To: 'amsat-bb'
Morning again,
Just worked a 15 degree max elevation pass to my west. Heard KB0HH(?) briefly with a good signal. Above 5 degrees, which is my local horizon +/- I was able to get a good access. Several very brief dropouts, but considering the slant range and obstacles, not that unexpected. Held the bird back down to 5 degrees or so. It still took about 25-30 watts to the antenna to bring it up.
Last daylight pass. Looks like it is going to be an all nighter. ;)
Alan WA4SCA
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participants (6)
-
Alan P. Biddle -
Clare Fowler -
David Barber -
jeff kb2m -
morsesat＠optonline.net -
n1jez＠burlingtontelecom.net