[amsat-bb] Re: AO-7 tonight - would like to receive

[Roger Kolakowski]

>I also wonder if any command station have tried any >commands on AO-7 in
>recent times, to see if it responds to commands such >as beacon on/off,
>telemetry beacon speed, or transponder-mode switch?


I have spoken to "one" of the control operators and it looks like the timer
circuit and the reset in darkness are the best controllers for the old bird.

There is little to be gained and much which could be lost by attempting
small changes for the sake of change. Even if it could be "locked" to one
band, there would never be a consensus as to which one.

Besides, who would be the ham who wanted to be forever associated with
"killing" the "comeback" AO-7, by accident,just to slow or speedup the
beacon speed?

Tracking eclipses and monitoring the timer provides almost a perfectly
predictable bird for communications.

AO-7 is our "history," enjoy her!

Roger
WA1KAT