[amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 s-band

[Alan P. Biddle]

Kelby,

Hearing nothing on the mode-S downlink is actually pretty typical.  There
are only a handful of stations who operate there.  I am not complaining,
since I am one of those stations, but it would be nice to have some company.
Excellent mode.  You should be getting a very strong carrier, even if nobody
is on.  With a modest gain antenna you will get an exceptionally strong
signal.  

This is not a packet configuration, though there is always a chance that
somebody will decide to try a digital or other mode on an otherwise unused
pass.  Additionally 9k6 and up does not really have "packet bursts" unlike
1200 baud.  It sounds more like while noise, and you sometimes get things
which can sound like that on the downlink briefly.

Alan
WA4SCA