[amsat-bb] Re: more SSB satellite experimenting (23 August)

[Jeff Yanko]

Hi Patrick & the group!

Yea, it topped out around 106 to 107 here in Las Vegas, NV.  However, you 
know well as I do, it's a dry heat. :)  Anyhow, great operating and keep 
cool.

73,

Jeff  WB3JFS






----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)" <amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net>
To: <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2008 10:22 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] more SSB satellite experimenting (23 August)


> Hi!
>
> Today, I planned to spend most of the morning at a city park
> in north Phoenix (a park straddling the DM33/DM43 grid boundary)
> to try a few passes on DO-64 and VO-52.  I also worked an AO-51
> pass using my all-mode setup (two FT-817NDs with Arrow Antennas
> handheld 2m/70cm Yagi), before those SSB birds started making
> their morning passes here - and before it reached 41C/106F
> outside!
>
> The DO-64 pass I tried first was about 22 degrees maximum elevation
> to the east.  I could hear the beacon, and could hear my CW going
> through the transponder.  I could not hear myself when using the
> mic.  Since the second pass to the west was about the same elevation,
> I didn't try it.  I was on VO-52 for two passes, both passes having
> maximum elevation in the 20-25 degree range.  I heard a couple of
> stations in SSB on each pass, I was able to hear myself call CQ a
> lot during each of the passes, but logged no QSOs.
>
> Since I am not using computer control, I have tried not to park near
> the center of the passbands on these satellites.  Specifically for
> VO-52, I have tried to park around 145.910 or 145.915 MHz on the
> downlink as not to interfere with others around 145.900 MHz using
> full computer control.  Unfortunately for me today, nobody ventured
> up to find me during the passes.
>
> During the second (western) VO-52 pass around 1825-1840 UTC, I
> started reducing my power as I called CQ.  The FT-817ND has 4 power
> levels, and I went down from the high power (5W) setting to the
> lowest level (500mW) and could still hear myself clearly through
> VO-52.  Antenna polarization was more important as the power level
> went down, in order to get to and through the transponder.  I had
> to twist my Yagi around more, to make sure I could make the round-
> trip to the satellite.  This is a good thing, as now I know I can
> use a lower power level if I am operating with only the FT-817ND's
> internal NiMH battery pack.  I normally use one of my two 12V/20Ah
> jumpstart battery packs to power my two FT-817NDs or (for the FM
> birds) my IC-2720H when on the satellites.
>
> Since next weekend is a holiday weekend for the US (and Canada), I
> hope to be on VO-52 and maybe DO-64 during those 3 days.  I might
> try AO-7 if there is a high pass in my area as well.  If you are
> on during those passes next weekend, please feel free to tune up
> the passband.  Please be patient with me, as I am not set up for
> computer control on my radios - yet.  If things go well, I will do
> some demonstrations on VO-52 along with the 3 FM satellites during
> the upcoming ARRL Southwestern Division convention here in the
> Phoenix area on 12-14 September.
>
> 73!
>
>
>
> Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK
> http://www.wd9ewk.net/
>
>
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