Yep that was a typo-Agreed-more opportunities to use "other" modes may create more users.  A good gain antenna for L band is less than four feet long.  Right now the only testing chance we have for L & S playing  is AO-51.

73 Bob W7LRD

Seattle

----- Original Message ----- From: "John P. Toscano" tosca005@tc.umn.edu To: "Amsat-BB" amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Monday, October 12, 2009 8:15:38 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 mode update

Bob- W7LRD wrote:

Thanks Drew et al.

No one else on but me, or at least I was all I could hear, on the

> 0100Z pass, running about 60W to a 24 loop yagi.  Question--  > What is the power of the 1.2ghz downlink?  The signal strength is  > at least 3 S units less that the 435.3 frequency.  Anyone with  > 1.2ghz stuff---dust it off.

73 Bob W7LRD

Bob:

It sounds like you were transmitting on UHF and listening to L-band. If that is the case, you will never hear anyone. You need to transmit on (UPlink to) 1268.7 MHz and listen on (DOWNlink from) 435.3 MHz. There is no 1.2 GHz DOWNlink. :(

OTOH, maybe that was just a typographical error on your posting, because "60W to a 24 loop yagi" does, indeed, sound like you were UPlinking on 1.2 GHz...  :)

Anyway, here are the voice modes that AO-51 supports:

Mode V/U (J) FM Voice Repeater (QRP): Operational Uplink: 145.8800 MHz FM Downlink 435.1500 MHz FM

Mode V/U (J) FM Voice Repeater: Operational **ON NOW** Uplink: 145.9200 MHz FM Downlink 435.3000 MHz FM

Mode V/S FM Voice Repeater: Operational Uplink: 145.8800 MHz FM Downlink 2401.2000 MHz FM

Mode L/U FM Voice Repeater: Operational **ON NOW** Uplink: 1268.7000 MHz FM Downlink 435.3000 MHz FM

The chicken and egg paradox continues. No one will get on the L band uplink if no satellites listen to L band, and no satellites will listen to L band if no ground stations get on the L band uplink. The best solution? More satellites with multiple transponder capability, particularly (preferably) with linear transponders, and higher orbits. Wishing for that is a necessary, but not sufficient condition for the dream to come to pass...

Just sign me confused and waiting, a/k/a W0JT _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. 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