[amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 V/S Mode Ops, Some Observations

[Joe Westbrook]

Drew:
The V/S Mode was fun!

I will look forward to the additional opportunities to get the doppler set 
up correctly.

Regards,
- Joe K7ZT

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Andrew Glasbrenner" <glasbrenner at mindspring.com>
To: <k7zt at suddenlink.net>; <amsat-bb at amsat.org>; "Robert Felt" 
<robertfelt at bellsouth.net>
Cc: <kb5yzg at amsat.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2008 1:06 PM
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 V/S Mode Ops, Some Observations


> If you use the 910 for receive you could use the AFC feature to tune the 
> downlink with no software required (once you acquire the signal). An HT or 
> other simple low power transmitter is fine for the VHF uplink, and doesn't 
> need to be tuned.
>
> SATPC32 will also tune the downlink provided you have it set up correctly 
> with the downconverter offset.
>
> I'm real happy to hear folks enjoyed the V/S period, and am also happy to 
> say that during the imminent 100% illumination period (beginning at the 
> end of the month and lasting until next year) we hope to be able to run 
> the S band downlink more often, and perhaps as an independent repeater 
> along with the normal V/U.
>
> 73, Drew KO4MA
> AMSAT-NA VP Operations
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <k7zt at suddenlink.net>
> To: <amsat-bb at amsat.org>; "Robert Felt" <robertfelt at bellsouth.net>
> Cc: <kb5yzg at amsat.org>
> Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2008 1:55 PM
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 V/S Mode Ops, Some Observations
>
>
>> Hi Bob:
>> I too was on AO51 for the "S" Band event and I too found the doppler 
>> tuning a challenge.
>>
>> I use Nova for the Antennas and Ham Radio Deluxe www.ham-radio-deluxe.com 
>> for doppler.  It usually does a good job most of the time, but I must be 
>> doing something wrong when using it on AO51 S band.
>>
>> HRD is a feature rich CAT Program and is freeware!
>>
>> 73's
>> - Joe K7ZT
>>
>> ---- Robert Felt <robertfelt at bellsouth.net> wrote:
>>> Thanks AMSAT for placing the AO-51 is V/S mode last week.
>>>
>>> It was the first time I have operated any S-band downlink. The AO-51 was 
>>> really quiet on S-band downlink, not a lot of people yelling on top of 
>>> each other and background noise was nil.
>>>
>>> I made some good  QSOs including - N8BBQ,  WB8OTH,  N5UXT,  N5AFV, 
>>> KD8CAO,  N8TLV,  N5ZNL... and heard a lot more, but was too focused with 
>>> the doppler to make contact.
>>>
>>> My station :
>>> On the receive side I am using a home brew antenna based on a 36" "BBQ" 
>>> grill with a 5 turn helix feed, connected directly to a model UEK-3000 
>>> down converter (by SSB) , into my AOR AR-5000A3 receiver.
>>>
>>> The transmit side was with my Icom-910 into a 11 element yagi.
>>>
>>> Antenna: My old Kenpro 5400 rotator was controlled through the LVB 
>>> interface using NOVA software on my laptop. I used the frequency utility 
>>> in the NOVA s/w to calculate and display the doppler on the down link, 
>>> which varied from +50 to -35 KHz on most passes!! The doppler really 
>>> keeps you busy on S-band, as there is no CAT output (just display) on 
>>> the NOVA software, and you have to crank in the doppler manually. NOVA 
>>> tracking software is very powerful and user friendly, but lacks radio 
>>> CAT output.  I would like to someday find a software program with the 
>>> same or comparable look and feel as NOVA, but with CAT rig control 
>>> interface in addition to the standard rotator interface. (SATPC is ok 
>>> but has the look and feel (GUI) of an old 1980s DOS program).
>>>
>>> Is there a good CAT program rig control that I can run in the background 
>>> while running NOVA for ant control and display?
>>>
>>> Anyway, Thanks AMSAT. Lets do this again some day.
>>>
>>> 73'  de KB5YZG
>>>
>>> Bob Felt
>>> 1403 5th Ave West (EM85)
>>> Hendersonville, NC 28739
>>>
>>> email - kb5yzg at amsat.org
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>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>