Dear Folks:
I just got off from a pass of XW-2D. The pass started at around 23:48UTC here in my grid square of DM-79. It was a pretty good pass over my QTH with the highest point being at an elevation of about 50 degrees.
I observed that the satellite appeared to be operating intermittently, i.e., it would cut in and out. I would transmit, and suddenly, my signal would appear on the downlink at about S6 or S7, and after a few syllables, it would cut out completely. A couple of times, I could hear someone else coming in on the downlink but I could only hear a few syllables as well and then they would cut out much like me. Occasionally, I would hear an intermittent buzzing noise.
I then turned my receive frequency to the beacon. The beacon wasn't audible most of the time. Every now and then, I'd hear what appeared to be a solitary dash, but nothing else on the beacon frequency. I did vary my receive frequency to account for doppler and heard nothing else but that occasional solitary dash.
For the record, immediately before the pass, I had worked an RS-44 pass without difficulty or anomaly. After the pass, I switched to some local repeaters and my equipment worked normally. Thus, I don't think my setup was the reason why XW-2D appeared to be operating intermittently.
Anyone have any ideas what is going on?
Thanks and 73 de Bernie, KF0QS
XW-2Dwas doing the exact same thing yesterday as well on one pass. During a later pass it was working normally.
Hope it helps
Gary AA9JS
On Monday, January 25, 2021, hamdan@ix.netcom.com hamdan@ix.netcom.com wrote:
Dear Folks:
I just got off from a pass of XW-2D. The pass started at around 23:48UTC here in my grid square of DM-79. It was a pretty good pass over my QTH with the highest point being at an elevation of about 50 degrees.
I observed that the satellite appeared to be operating intermittently, i.e., it would cut in and out. I would transmit, and suddenly, my signal would appear on the downlink at about S6 or S7, and after a few syllables, it would cut out completely. A couple of times, I could hear someone else coming in on the downlink but I could only hear a few syllables as well and then they would cut out much like me. Occasionally, I would hear an intermittent buzzing noise.
I then turned my receive frequency to the beacon. The beacon wasn't audible most of the time. Every now and then, I'd hear what appeared to be a solitary dash, but nothing else on the beacon frequency. I did vary my receive frequency to account for doppler and heard nothing else but that occasional solitary dash.
For the record, immediately before the pass, I had worked an RS-44 pass without difficulty or anomaly. After the pass, I switched to some local repeaters and my equipment worked normally. Thus, I don't think my setup was the reason why XW-2D appeared to be operating intermittently.
Anyone have any ideas what is going on?
Thanks and 73 de Bernie, KF0QS
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It has been doing this for a while, 2 seconds on, 5 seconds off. XW-2C was doing the same thing over the weekend. I think XW-2B does this now as well.
73 John AF5CC
On Mon, Jan 25, 2021 at 6:08 PM hamdan@ix.netcom.com wrote:
Dear Folks:
I just got off from a pass of XW-2D. The pass started at around 23:48UTC here in my grid square of DM-79. It was a pretty good pass over my QTH with the highest point being at an elevation of about 50 degrees.
I observed that the satellite appeared to be operating intermittently, i.e., it would cut in and out. I would transmit, and suddenly, my signal would appear on the downlink at about S6 or S7, and after a few syllables, it would cut out completely. A couple of times, I could hear someone else coming in on the downlink but I could only hear a few syllables as well and then they would cut out much like me. Occasionally, I would hear an intermittent buzzing noise.
I then turned my receive frequency to the beacon. The beacon wasn't audible most of the time. Every now and then, I'd hear what appeared to be a solitary dash, but nothing else on the beacon frequency. I did vary my receive frequency to account for doppler and heard nothing else but that occasional solitary dash.
For the record, immediately before the pass, I had worked an RS-44 pass without difficulty or anomaly. After the pass, I switched to some local repeaters and my equipment worked normally. Thus, I don't think my setup was the reason why XW-2D appeared to be operating intermittently.
Anyone have any ideas what is going on?
Thanks and 73 de Bernie, KF0QS
Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)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!
View archives of this mailing list at https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/list/amsat-bb@amsat.org To unsubscribe send an email to amsat-bb-leave(a)amsat.org Manage all of your AMSAT-NA mailing list preferences at https://mailman.amsat.org
Once you get the rhythm down it’s very rewarding to complete a QSO! I announce my call and grid on every other 2sec window until someone comes back to me. I find it takes two, 2 second windows to reply to confirm the QSO. Is it ideal? Perhaps not. Is it fun? Absolutely!
73, Michael, N4DCW
--
Michael Whitman michael@n4dcw.com Louisville, KY, USA - EM78
On Jan 25, 2021, at 19:16, John Geiger af5cc2@gmail.com wrote:
It has been doing this for a while, 2 seconds on, 5 seconds off. XW-2C was doing the same thing over the weekend. I think XW-2B does this now as well.
73 John AF5CC
On Mon, Jan 25, 2021 at 6:08 PM hamdan@ix.netcom.com wrote: Dear Folks:
I just got off from a pass of XW-2D. The pass started at around 23:48UTC here in my grid square of DM-79. It was a pretty good pass over my QTH with the highest point being at an elevation of about 50 degrees.
I observed that the satellite appeared to be operating intermittently, i.e., it would cut in and out. I would transmit, and suddenly, my signal would appear on the downlink at about S6 or S7, and after a few syllables, it would cut out completely. A couple of times, I could hear someone else coming in on the downlink but I could only hear a few syllables as well and then they would cut out much like me. Occasionally, I would hear an intermittent buzzing noise.
I then turned my receive frequency to the beacon. The beacon wasn't audible most of the time. Every now and then, I'd hear what appeared to be a solitary dash, but nothing else on the beacon frequency. I did vary my receive frequency to account for doppler and heard nothing else but that occasional solitary dash.
For the record, immediately before the pass, I had worked an RS-44 pass without difficulty or anomaly. After the pass, I switched to some local repeaters and my equipment worked normally. Thus, I don't think my setup was the reason why XW-2D appeared to be operating intermittently.
Anyone have any ideas what is going on?
Thanks and 73 de Bernie, KF0QS
Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)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!
View archives of this mailing list at https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/list/amsat-bb@amsat.org To unsubscribe send an email to amsat-bb-leave(a)amsat.org Manage all of your AMSAT-NA mailing list preferences at https://mailman.amsat.org
Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)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!
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Michael:
That sounds brutal (hollering call and grid during the 2 seconds in hopes of making a QSO).
It makes the FM birds sound serene and placid. 😉
73 de Bernie, KF0QS
This is NOT new. B & D have been doing this for a long time now. It even says it on the AMSAT page: https://www.amsat.org/two-way-satellites/ However if C is doing it, that's new and sad... -David, N9KT
On Mon, Jan 25, 2021 at 7:08 PM hamdan@ix.netcom.com wrote:
Dear Folks:
I just got off from a pass of XW-2D. The pass started at around 23:48UTC here in my grid square of DM-79. It was a pretty good pass over my QTH with the highest point being at an elevation of about 50 degrees.
I observed that the satellite appeared to be operating intermittently, i.e., it would cut in and out. I would transmit, and suddenly, my signal would appear on the downlink at about S6 or S7, and after a few syllables, it would cut out completely. A couple of times, I could hear someone else coming in on the downlink but I could only hear a few syllables as well and then they would cut out much like me. Occasionally, I would hear an intermittent buzzing noise.
I then turned my receive frequency to the beacon. The beacon wasn't audible most of the time. Every now and then, I'd hear what appeared to be a solitary dash, but nothing else on the beacon frequency. I did vary my receive frequency to account for doppler and heard nothing else but that occasional solitary dash.
For the record, immediately before the pass, I had worked an RS-44 pass without difficulty or anomaly. After the pass, I switched to some local repeaters and my equipment worked normally. Thus, I don't think my setup was the reason why XW-2D appeared to be operating intermittently.
Anyone have any ideas what is going on?
Thanks and 73 de Bernie, KF0QS
Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)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!
View archives of this mailing list at https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/list/amsat-bb@amsat.org To unsubscribe send an email to amsat-bb-leave(a)amsat.org Manage all of your AMSAT-NA mailing list preferences at https://mailman.amsat.org
participants (6)
-
Bernie and Cheryl -
David Spoelstra -
Gary Smith -
hamdan＠ix.netcom.com
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John Geiger -
Michael N4DCW