[amsat-bb] AO-51 Basement operation!!!

[Luc Leblanc]

Hi


I just try AO-51 V/S mode this morning 0700am pass. I was checking a new S band beam and it was a success nearly all the fades disappear 
comparing to my former WMAX beam. But i was not able to uplink to the satellite only to discover a frightening flaw in my setup i was 
transmitting in the same VHF port that i used for my 2.4GHZ downconverter. Too early in the morning and probably not awaken enough i 
immediately stopped transmitting and OH surprised the DC does not blow up?

But what about the 847 finals...they survive about 10 transmission... In the middle of the pass and the DC still working i cannot switch my 
rig/antenna fast enough  i take my HT DJ-580T with his rubber duck antenna and i punch the uplink frequency then and i called Doug KD8CAO 
who was calling in the void since the beginning of the pass and at the same time i heard my downlink he answered me back...My Alinco was at 
5W. But the amazing part "i was in my basement..." It is a living proof that the hard part is the receiving side. My last basement record 
was on AO-16 50w on a dual band mobile antenna on a metal file cabinet.

P.S. i will buy a lotto ticket today i feel the stars where on my side this morning:)

 
"-"


Luc Leblanc VE2DWE
Skype VE2DWE
www.qsl.net/ve2dwe
WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE