[amsat-bb] Re: AO-7 milliwatt CW

[n3tl@bellsouth.net]

Hey Reid,

AO-7 is pretty much "locked" in Mode B for the time being because of the nature of its orbit. It's not getting to a point where the system toggles between Modes A and B, but that's fine with me because Mode B is the best mode for me and my station.

I heard myself for the first time at about 00:06 UTC, and moved just below 145.940 to call CQ in CW. I didn't have any takers, so moved up to about 145.944 and started calling again, which is where the WA4??? called me. Our QSO started during the 00:15 minute and ended during the 00:16 minute. 

>From what I could hear, the satellite was very strong. I don't know what to say about your not hearing it. I suspect you've checked the antenna on a terrestrial repeater or simplex and know that there's no problem with it or your feedline. I hope you get it figured out.

73,

Tim
-------------- Original message from w4upd <updwrb at bristor-assoc.com>: -------------- 


> I can't figure out what's wrong here. I listen for AO-7 on the past your 
> were talking about and was not able to here it at all and it went as 
> high as 89 degrees here. I thought maybe the pass times were off but 
> listen well before and after the times and still did not here it. 
> However, I hear all of the other satellites at the appropriate times. 
> Was AO-7 in A or B mode? Usually I hear AO-7 horizon to horizon (except 
> directly overhead) with a Ringer II vertical. I'm missing something 
> here. I enjoy working AO-7 now I seem not to be able to hear it. 
> 
> Reid, W4UPD 
> 
> 
> 
> n3tl at bellsouth.net wrote: 
> > Hey everyone, 
> > > I worked the AO-7 pass just after 00:00 UTC here because it had a maximum elevation for me of almost 89 degrees. I wanted to see how much, if any, my ability to work would expand when runninng a half-watt if a used CW instead of 
> SSB. 
> > > On this pass, at least, I had a copyable signal from 30 degrees to 30 degrees, 
> and made a partial contact at 00:15 UTC with a station whose call sign I did not 
> fully copy - which is totally my fault. The call was WA4 (or, at least, that's 
> what I copied), but I didn't catch the suffix. The signal faded slightly, and I 
> didn't ask for a repeat. That's embarrassing, and I apologize to the operator 
> for that. When he called me, AO-7 was below 35 degrees. I reported a 589 to him, 
> and he gave me a 559, which exceeded my expectations. When we finished the QSO, 
> AO-7 was at 28 degrees elevation to my location, and I faded into the noise. 
> > 
> > It'll take a few more passes, at least, to say with some measure of certainty, 
> but it appears that, for my station, I probably can expect to have workable 
> signals at a half-watt out on AO-7 at 50 degrees elevation and above in SSB, and 
> at 30 degrees elevation and above in CW. Given the compromises I choose to have 
> with a fully portable station, that's not to bad for milliwatts. 
> > 
> > 73 to all, 
> > 
> > Tim - N3TL 
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