[amsat-bb] Re: working ao-51 (finding the bird)

[Eric Fort]

Presently I'm using a vx-6 and a handheld arrow antenna.  I'm getting my
tracking information from the amsat website.  I've downloaded gpredict for
osx but have not got it running yet, mainly the price was right.  if any of
you have this running under osx I'd like to hear from you.  for The
forseeable future my station will run under unix so some version of predict
seems like the likely choice.  Other suggestions for tracking under unix are
welcome, especially those which are low cost.  orbitron and pcsat32 look
nice but unfortunately they only run under windows.

as for tracking I have been attempting to orient for best polorization but
finding and keeping on the sat while tuning around is still somewhat
difficult.   one question though - Are bearings true or magnetic?

Eric
AF6EP

On Mon, Nov 10, 2008 at 7:03 PM, <n3tl at bellsouth.net> wrote:

>  Hey Eric,
>
> What are you using to find the times and such for passes? Even if you're
> only using a handheld station - which is all I used for months here with
> good success - I would suggest downloading and installing one of the
> tracking programs available online. SatPC32 is very good, especially if you
> ultimately are going to use it to guide an az/el rotor setup and to tune
> your radio(s) for Doppler. I am old school here, doing everything manually
> (and will be for the foreseeable future), and I use a program called
> Orbitron. I like it a lot for a number of reasons - not the least of which
> is its ability to provide you with a schedule of upcoming passes based on
> parameters you provide it.
>
> Each listing on that schedule gives you the time of Acquisition of Signal
> (AOS) along with an azimuth position. It also lists time and azimuth for
> maximum elevation, and time and azimuth for Loss of Signal (LOS). If you
> have those data and a compass, you can "map" a pass in advance, which is
> what I do. I note "landmarks" for AOS, mid pass and LOS, then simply turn
> the compass on its side to check the angle at maximum elevation. From there,
> it's a matter of visualizing the satellite rising, moving across the sky and
> setting. Watching visible passes of the International Space Station is a
> great way to get some visual practice to help when trying to "see" an
> amateur satellite pass as it happens. You won't actually see the satellite,
> of course, but watching the ISS will give you an idea of how a satellite
> moves across the sky - especially if you have a chance to watch passes with
> different maximum-elevation angles.
>
> My first handheld station included a Yaesu VX-7R HT and an Arrow, so I have
> literally hundreds of passes' worth of experience with that antenna. When
> you're searching for the satellite, are you twisting your wrist to adjust
> the position of the elements (i.e., the antenna's polariztion relative to
> the satellite)? If not, you should try that. There have been more than a few
> times when a twist of the wrist made the difference for me in terms of
> getting a new grid square, or not.
>
> I hope at least some of this proves helpful.
>
> 73,
>
> Tim - N3TL
> AMSAT Member No. 36820
> Athens, Ga. - EM84ha
> -------------- Original message from "Eric Fort" <eric.fort at gmail.com>:
> --------------
>
>
> > I think I finally heard the ao-51 downlink sending some form of digital
> data
> > (likely sstv) this evening from DM14GK at 0218 GMT near the very end of
> the
> > pass. I had much trouble finding the bird and it took most of the pass to
>
> > find. What can everyone suggest for making it progressively easier?
> > Antenna is an arrow with duplexer feeding a vx-6 ht.
> >
> > Eric
> >
> > PS
> >
> > I'm curious, who's uplink was that?
> > _______________________________________________
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