Hey everyone,

At 2204 UTC on 20 November, KG6NUB and I completed another 2-way 50mW contact using our handheld satellite stations - this time on SO-50. KG6NUB was using his Kenwood TH-D7 HT and an Arrow antenna, and I was using my Yaesu VX-7R HT and an Elk antenna.

Given SO-50's nominal transmitter power of 250mW, our total power budget for this contact was 350 mW. I don't believe it's possible for us to go lower unless the AO-51 control team configures one of that satellite's V/U transponders below 250 mW out.

Speaking of AO-51, KG6NUB and I completed a 2-way 50mW contact on AO-51 at 0009 UTC on 21 November. KO4MA posted to the BB that the satellite is currently at 750mW on the V/U transponder, so our total power budget for that contact was 850mW.

We now have completed three contacts from CM87 to EM84 running 50mW from each handheld ground station - one each on AO-27, SO-50 and AO-51 - and on the latter's non-QRP transponder. Based on the satellites' reported transmitter powers during these contacts, our total power budget for the three contacts is 1.8 watts.

The SO-50 contact is especially gratifying because of the satellite's nominal quarter-watt out. It's our orbiting QRPp station.

My thanks to KG6NUB for joining me on the low end of the power curve - even on busy passes.

73 to all,

Tim - N3TL Athens, Ga. - EM84ha