[amsat-bb] Re: antennas and schedule for AO-7?

[w7lrd@comcast.net]

Hello 
This post brings up an interesting issue regarding mode A.  Back in the day of RS10 & 15, mode A was quite popular.  I soon discovered that my 10 meter four element quad, though a hot antenna at 28.4Mhz was lousey at 29.5.  In fact it received better off the back for mode A than off the front.  After thinking about it,  I realized the reflector was acting as a director at 29.5Mhz, and the other two directors were out of the picture.  Yes the SWR was high but it was for receiving. I even went to the effort of building a 10 meter loop, "looking" up for high elevation passes.   So, for  those of us who still play with mode A on AO-7, flip that beam around, you might be surprised!

73 Bob W7LRD
Seattle

--
"if this were easy, everyone would be doing it"

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: Bill Dzurilla <billdz.geo at yahoo.com> 

> Hi, 
> 
> Today I listened for the first time for AO-7. I read 
> all the info pages about this bird, but did not see 
> anything about a key question: when is the bird in 
> mode A and when in mode B? Is there a schedule, or do 
> we have to listen on both 10m and 2m until we hear the 
> beacon? 
> 
> Anyhow, this morning there was a high pass and I heard 
> the sat loud and clear in mode A, although it was not 
> at all busy. Just 2 or 3 stations calling CQ on cw, 
> no ssb at all. I was able to hear my own ssb signal 
> on the downlink. 
> 
> Was wondering what is a good antenna for receiving the 
> 10m downlink. I have a vertical that usually performs 
> quite well for regular HF work, but I lost the sat 
> signal when the bird was still quite high, 25 degrees 
> or so. This surprised me, as the vertical has a low 
> angle of radiation. 
> 
> Is there any SSB activity on this sat? 
> 
> 73, Bill NZ5N 
> 
> 
> 
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