[amsat-bb] Re: SO-50 eludes me

[n3tl@bellsouth.net]

Mark,

If you're referring to the 5:45-ish UTC pass early this morning (local time), I heard you just fine and actually called you 2-3 times. I was experimenting with a different whip antenna on my HT, and heard you (and SO-50) quite well. I'm sorry we didn't get to make a contact.

I read other responses in the thread before writing my own, and I agree with W9VNE's comments about it - even though all the tracking I do here is manual. I find SO-50 to be the most challenging of the FM satellites because of its nominal configuration. It transmits a quarter-watt into a 0-gain quarter-wave antenna mounted on one corner of the satellite. It is a fun satellite to work, and it generally is not nearly as crowded as other satellites, for whatever the reason.

73 to all,

Tim - N3TL
AMSAT Member No. 36820
QRP-ARCI Member No. 5547
ARRL Member No. 7027180
Athens, Ga. - EM84ha


-------------- Original message from "Mark Lunday, WD4ELG" <mlunday at nc.rr.com>: -------------- 


> I have worked every bird several times: AO7, AO16, AO27, AO51, FO29, VO52. 
> 
> But I have never worked SO50. Tonight I had a pass DIRECTLY overhead. I 
> tried the standard initiation call with 74.4 CTCSS, and then calling with 67 
> Hz. Never heard a thing. In fact, I don't think I have ever heard SO50. 
> 
> I triple-checked the Doppler, turned down the squelch, turned up the RF 
> gain. Not a peep. Even with only my Arrow yagi fixed at 30 degrees EL, I 
> should have heard something. All I heard was the rush of static. I know 
> this bird is lower orbit and smaller power out, but I should hear something, 
> right? 
> 
> Mark Lunday 
> WD4ELG 
> wd4elg at arrl.net 
> http://wd4elg.net 
> 
> 
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