Fellow satellite operators,
There is nothing particularly magical about the center of the transponder on VO-52 or FO-29. In fact, on FO-29 it is the poorest sounding place in the entire passband. Just because SatPC32 puts you there with the default Doppler.SQF configuration, does not mean every single QSO should take place there. Spread out a little, listen to what is going on, and we'll all make more, and happier, QSOs.
I might also add that if a rare station pops up, or makes a habit of operating in one spot, it might be beneficial to call CQ the entire pass somewhere other than the middle of the pile.
Even with the previous observations, it is nice to hear many new calls on the transponders. Just remember this isn't AO-51 or AO-27...spin the VFO a bit. I'm looking forward to Funcube and the other new transponders this September.
73, Drew KO4MA
Hello, the file Doppler.SQF that comes with SatPC32 sets the radio frequencies of a linear transponder to the center of the uplink and downlink passbands +/- Doppler shift. But that can easily be changed. If you want to start - for example - on a downlink frequency 10 KHz above the center do the following: Select the satellite (even if it is out of range). With the VFO knob or the frequency controls of the program tune the downlink frequency 10 KHz up. Then open menu CAT, click the button "Change/Store Data File" and in the window that opens click on "Change/Store Rx/Tx Frequency Data". At the next program start the radio will be set to the new frequencies.
With this methode you can also easily specify an entry for a beacon frequency.
73s, Erich, DK1TB
----- Original Message ----- From: "Andrew Glasbrenner" glasbrenner@mindspring.com To: "amsat-bb" amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2012 1:48 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Center of the transponder
Fellow satellite operators,
There is nothing particularly magical about the center of the transponder on VO-52 or FO-29. In fact, on FO-29 it is the poorest sounding place in the entire passband. Just because SatPC32 puts you there with the default Doppler.SQF configuration, does not mean every single QSO should take place there. Spread out a little, listen to what is going on, and we'll all make more, and happier, QSOs.
I might also add that if a rare station pops up, or makes a habit of operating in one spot, it might be beneficial to call CQ the entire pass somewhere other than the middle of the pile.
Even with the previous observations, it is nice to hear many new calls on the transponders. Just remember this isn't AO-51 or AO-27...spin the VFO a bit. I'm looking forward to Funcube and the other new transponders this September.
73, Drew KO4MA
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participants (2)
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Andrew Glasbrenner -
Erich Eichmann