Great input, Paul!
Thank you, and 73!
Nick KK6ZLF
------ Original Message ------ Received: Wed, 03 Jan 2018 07:09:51 PM PST From: Paul Stoetzer n8hm@arrl.net To: Nick Hart nickhart@usa.netCc: Greg D ko6th.greg@gmail.com, amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AO-7 status?
AO-7 has generally been stable for the past several months. In the Northern Hemisphere spring and summer months, it has been quite unstable, easily switching out of Mode B when signals are present in the passband. This is likely due to the sun's angle on the solar panels. AO-7 has no panels on the "top" or "bottom" of the satellite, and with AO-7's current orbit, the sun is not in an ideal position to illuminate the satellite's solar panels during the Northern Hemisphere summer.
For a demo next week, AO-7 has an excellent shot of being active in Mode B. Next month, or in March, the chances may be less.
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Wed, Jan 3, 2018 at 9:22 PM, Nick Hart nickhart@usa.net wrote:
Absolutely agreed, Greg,
We're just limited to what's passing over during the club meeting for the kids this month. We'll have one or two more club meetings between now and ARISS day. But, we adults who are working the event will have it dialed in by the time of the ARISS QSO.
Thanks!
Nick
To: Nick Hart nickhart@usa.netCc: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AO-7 status?
Nick,
If you want some practice ahead of the ARISS event (really good idea!), it might be a more relevant experience to get a few of the FM birds under your belt. AO-85, AO-91, SO-50. Perhaps track the ISS via Packet (when/if they get the packet station back on the air), to get a feel for that system. Also watch for any ARISS events that you can listen in on (for example, the telebridge contacts through W6SRJ in Santa Rosa).
Some of the ground station operations, either direct or telebridge, have been documented on YouTube. Also worth a watch.
As for AO-7, first look at the status logs on Amsat.org (http://www.amsat.org/status/); seems like it's pretty much been in Mode B (70cm up, 2m down), but that can change as the satellite's eclipse schedule changes over the course of the year. Otherwise, it is definitely a daylight-only bird (as seen by the satellite, not necessarily here on the ground).
Best of luck for your contact,
Greg KO6TH
Nick Hart wrote:
Good afternoon,
KK6ZLF in CM87. I am elmering a radio club at the local middle school,
and we
have a scheduled ARISS QSO coming up in March.
A week from tomorrow, we're going to try to do a few QSOs on the
available
birds during the club meeting, 22 to 23:00 zulu. One of the passes is
AO-7. I
saw on the AMSAT site that it is working strictly on solar power. But,
this
should be a good daytime pass for us.
Does anyone have any recent experience and advice for AO-7?
Thanks, and 73!
Nick
KK6ZLF
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
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
Hi Nick,
With AO-7 I would recommend practicing ahead.
Also on AO-7 low power is essential. As Paul mentioned, if the total power consumption gets too high it flips into mode A.. Also know as: flipping the bird. Some times there is an early warning when signals starts FM'ing, other times no warning.
I would recommend running no more than 5W into an Arrow antenna.
Vy 73 de AK4WQ/OZ2DAK, Soren Straarup
On Jan 3, 2018 21:27, "Nick Hart" nickhart@usa.net wrote:
Great input, Paul!
Thank you, and 73!
Nick KK6ZLF
------ Original Message ------ Received: Wed, 03 Jan 2018 07:09:51 PM PST From: Paul Stoetzer n8hm@arrl.net To: Nick Hart nickhart@usa.netCc: Greg D ko6th.greg@gmail.com, amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AO-7 status?
AO-7 has generally been stable for the past several months. In the Northern Hemisphere spring and summer months, it has been quite unstable, easily switching out of Mode B when signals are present in the passband. This is likely due to the sun's angle on the solar panels. AO-7 has no panels on the "top" or "bottom" of the satellite, and with AO-7's current orbit, the sun is not in an ideal position to illuminate the satellite's solar panels during the Northern Hemisphere summer.
For a demo next week, AO-7 has an excellent shot of being active in Mode B. Next month, or in March, the chances may be less.
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Wed, Jan 3, 2018 at 9:22 PM, Nick Hart nickhart@usa.net wrote:
Absolutely agreed, Greg,
We're just limited to what's passing over during the club meeting for the kids this month. We'll have one or two more club meetings between now and
ARISS
day. But, we adults who are working the event will have it dialed in by the time of the ARISS QSO.
Thanks!
Nick
To: Nick Hart nickhart@usa.netCc: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AO-7 status?
Nick,
If you want some practice ahead of the ARISS event (really good idea!), it might be a more relevant experience to get a few of the FM birds under your belt. AO-85, AO-91, SO-50. Perhaps track the ISS via Packet (when/if they get the packet station back on the air), to get a feel for that system. Also watch for any ARISS events that you can listen in on (for example, the telebridge contacts through W6SRJ in Santa Rosa).
Some of the ground station operations, either direct or telebridge, have been documented on YouTube. Also worth a watch.
As for AO-7, first look at the status logs on Amsat.org (http://www.amsat.org/status/); seems like it's pretty much been in Mode B (70cm up, 2m down), but that can change as the satellite's eclipse schedule changes over the course of the year. Otherwise, it is definitely a daylight-only bird (as seen by the satellite, not necessarily here on the ground).
Best of luck for your contact,
Greg KO6TH
Nick Hart wrote:
Good afternoon,
KK6ZLF in CM87. I am elmering a radio club at the local middle school,
and we
have a scheduled ARISS QSO coming up in March.
A week from tomorrow, we're going to try to do a few QSOs on the
available
birds during the club meeting, 22 to 23:00 zulu. One of the passes is
AO-7. I
saw on the AMSAT site that it is working strictly on solar power. But,
this
should be a good daytime pass for us.
Does anyone have any recent experience and advice for AO-7?
Thanks, and 73!
Nick
KK6ZLF
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
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
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
participants (2)
-
Nick Hart -
Søren Straarup