[amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 - After the Change

[w6zkh@comcast.net]

I experience this drastic polarity changing here ever since the change, and like SO-50, have to keep one finger on the polarity switch.........maybe my aging ears arent as good as my aging KLM's? Will be glad when they can reverse what they did afew weeks back. Also I notice the signal is not as strong now, as instead of picking up the bird at 1-2 degs above horizon, it is now 6-8 degrees. 

John W6ZKH 
on the Left Coast of the Sierras 




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Clint Bradford" <clintbrad4d at earthlink.net> 
To: "Glenn AA5PK" <aa5pk at suddenlink.net> 
Cc: amsat-bb at amsat.org 
Sent: Sunday, December 6, 2009 7:15:19 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific 
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 - After the Change 

>> ... I think the handheld ops have less trouble with the polarity 
switching because tend to compensate more quickly with a twist of the 
wrist ... 

That phenomenon is not evident now - nor has it ever been - for me on 
AO-51. 

I know the engineers say I am supposed to be increasing or decreasing 
my signal strength by 22 or 23db by merely twisting my Yagi 90 
degrees. But I have hundreds of witnesses during dozens of 
demonstrations who will tell you that when the Yagi is turned 90 
degrees, there's no discernible change in the signal. 

This is not a scientific approach to the subject, of course. Just what 
my aging ears can hear. 

I have heard fellow AMSAT members describe AO-51's "signal fading due 
to the satellite tumbling in space," too. I am not using elaborate 
equipment, but have no idea what they are talking about. 

Just my firsthand observations. Guess I could be wrong ... we are a 
little different - I am told - out hre on the West Coast of the US. 

Clint Bradford, K6LCS 




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