[amsat-bb] HO-68 first QSO over Europe

[Ε. Καφετζόπουλος]

Dear friends,
HO-68 over Europe is a reality, but with some degree of frustation. I heard the bird at 10 degrees (loc KM17), I called and I made two QSO's with RZ6MB and Nikolay, UR5BFX, with excellent signals. May be these are the first QSOs over Europe with the new chinese bird. But when the satellite reached an elevation of 30 degrees, I was not able to enter the uplink channel. I heard some calls from Nikolay, and a couple of minutes later I heard HB9OAB calling and calling through the wlole pass, but I was not able to enter the repeater. I suspect that many station were trying to enter, but the only station heard was HB9OAB with a strong signal. Do you have any explanation? 
Any way I thank our chinese colleagues for this Chrismas present and I hope to enjoy the next passes,
73 de SV1EEK