[amsat-bb] another fun pass on HO-68/XW-1

[Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)]

Hi!

The HO-68 (XW-1) transponder was full of activity once again 
this evening over North America.  For me, this was a better 
pass with maximum elevation of 25 degrees compared to Saturday's
pass at 13 degrees maximum elevation.  The pass cut through 
center of the USA, a nice pass for the entire continent.  I
saw K8YSE has made available his recording from tonight's pass,
and I'll listen to that tomorrow to see what else was on that
I may not have heard.  

Out in the (dark, cool, quiet) city park at DM33xp/DM43ap here 
in Phoenix, I made another 3 QSOs during the pass.  Thanks to 
Glenn AA5PK, Tim N3TL, and Jeff K7WIN for hearing me and the 
nice signal reports for my portable all-mode station (two 
FT-817NDs, Elk Antennas handheld 2m/70cm log periodic, 5W
transmit power).  Many other stations were on when I tuned
through the passband.  Compared to the relatively few QSOs
made when the satellite was in the FM/packet configuration 
earlier this week (none were logged by WD9EWK), SSB seems to 
be a huge success!  

Before HO-68 passed by this evening, I worked a pair of AO-7 
passes with this same setup.  When I'm on HO-68 or AO-7 in SSB
or other satellites like VO-52 and (when operational) FO-29, 
this is the station I'm using.  I can't turn up the power any
more than 5W, and - until we get satellites with orbits much
higher than AO-7 - this power level seems to work fine.  

I'm looking forward to more HO-68 passes with the linear 
transponder.  :-)  Thanks again to Alan BA1DU and CAMSAT for a
great new satellite! 

Merry Christmas, Happy 2010, and 73 to all from the desert!





Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK - Phoenix, Arizona USA
http://www.wd9ewk.net/