It appears that AO-7 switched to Mode A between 0400 and 0600 UTC today. That suggests that the satellite is now in constant sunlight and receiving enough power from the solar cells for the 24 hour timer to stay on throughout it's entire orbit. Expect daily mode switches between A and B to occur for the next three months or so.
As AO-7's orbit precesses and the periods of constant sunlight become fewer and fewer, there will be less of an opportunity to use Mode A on a yearly basis, so enjoy it while it lasts!
If you don't have a 10 meter antenna up to receive the downlink, try whatever you can. I have used my AlexLoop Walkham Portable Magnetic Loop with adequate results.
73,
Paul, N8HM
Hi Paul,
According to Mike, DK3WN's, fine software http://www.dk3wn.info/files/illum.zip It looks like AO7 will remain continuously illuminated until the first week of December.
It also suggests that roughly the same will happen around the same time next year but I suppose we cannot run these predictions forward that far...
Have fun
73 Graham G3VZV
-----Original Message----- From: Paul Stoetzer Sent: Friday, September 30, 2016 5:14 PM To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-7 Mode A
It appears that AO-7 switched to Mode A between 0400 and 0600 UTC today. That suggests that the satellite is now in constant sunlight and receiving enough power from the solar cells for the 24 hour timer to stay on throughout it's entire orbit. Expect daily mode switches between A and B to occur for the next three months or so.
As AO-7's orbit precesses and the periods of constant sunlight become fewer and fewer, there will be less of an opportunity to use Mode A on a yearly basis, so enjoy it while it lasts!
If you don't have a 10 meter antenna up to receive the downlink, try whatever you can. I have used my AlexLoop Walkham Portable Magnetic Loop with adequate results.
73,
Paul, N8HM _______________________________________________ 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
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Graham Shirville -
Paul Stoetzer