Was just about to enjoy a CW QSO with PV8DX on AO-7 and everything disappeared. Has it been acting up lately or is it me?
Rick W2JAZ
Rick,
It's not you. It's been switching off (or into Mode D) quite often.
Hopefully this is just a temporary condition due to sun angles at this point in it's orbit.
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Fri, May 30, 2014 at 5:29 PM, Richard Lawn [email protected] wrote:
Was just about to enjoy a CW QSO with PV8DX on AO-7 and everything disappeared. Has it been acting up lately or is it me?
Rick W2JAZ _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
WC7V confirmed to me that AO-7 was in Mode A after the Mode B transponder shut off.
This likely means that my theory of a power drain causing the satellite to automatically switch into Mode D is incorrect and this is just a manifestation of the random mode switching that has been a part of AO-7's "character" for the past 39+ years.
One of the likely causes of random mode jumping, however, is an excessive power drain caused by too much power on the uplink. Please limit your uplink power to no more than 100w ERP. As stated numerous times over the past 39 years, if you cannot hear your downlink on AO-7 Mode B with 100w ERP, you need a better receive system, not more power!
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Fri, May 30, 2014 at 5:29 PM, Richard Lawn [email protected] wrote:
Was just about to enjoy a CW QSO with PV8DX on AO-7 and everything disappeared. Has it been acting up lately or is it me?
Rick W2JAZ _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sadly, the "alligators" (2 specific violators come to mind...) who need to hear this admonition are not BB subscribers...
George, KA3HSW
----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Stoetzer" [email protected] To: "Amsat BB" [email protected] Sent: Friday, May 30, 2014 6:14 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AO-7 Report
<snip>
One of the likely causes of random mode jumping, however, is an excessive power drain caused by too much power on the uplink. Please limit your uplink power to no more than 100w ERP. As stated numerous times over the past 39 years, if you cannot hear your downlink on AO-7 Mode B with 100w ERP, you need a better receive system, not more power!
73,
Paul, N8HM
participants (3)
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George Henry -
Paul Stoetzer -
Richard Lawn