[amsat-bb] Re: VO-52 underused bird

[Tony Langdon]

At 01:35 PM 10/26/2006, James Duffey wrote:
>Key the PTT line of your UHF FM transmitter for a CW uplink. Turn 
>the mic gain  down or remove the mike all together.
>
>It will chirp a bit, but it can be copied.

True, the question is how much of the response I'll be able to copy! 
:-)  I have to keep CW slooooow.. :(


>20 to 30 years ago, when 2M multimode rigs were not common, Lots of 
>guys made their first Mode A contacts that way.
>
>Most satellite SSB ops will come back to a CW signal.

If the other end can copy, might be worth a shot, either slow CW or 
cross mode...  I will have to wire the key across the PTT though, the 
PTT is awful for CW - I'd barely manage QLF! :-D



>It is not voice communication, but it will get you on the linear 
>birds, which, in my opinion, opens up a whole new level of satellite 
>ops. And arguably better with more opportunties.

I'm yet to be convinced, in the case of LEOs, because we NEED the 
popularity of FM to actually get a contact down here!  I used to try 
RS-12/13 when it was active, and the only QSOs (both SSB and CW) I 
ever had on it were pre-arranged with locals on FM before the 
pass.  I have even been known to have UO-14, SO-50 and AO-51 to 
myself for an entire pass!

Now when it comes to HEOs, that's a different ball game, because HEOs 
allow us to actually get outside our back yard.  And I plan on having 
at least V/U SSB ready for P3E and Eagle...  Should have put enough 
away for a decent station by then. :-)

73 de VK3JED
http://vkradio.com