[amsat-bb] Re: Field Day mode for AO-51

[Ron Overdrive]

Agreed. Sure your arm gets tired after a long pass from satellites like
HO-68, but half the fun is the simplicity and the other half being the
challenge. I doubt I would personally get involved with L/U on LEO's like
AO-51 because of the cost and complexity of having computer controlled
servos to track them just for a 10 - 20 minute window that you only get once
or twice a day depending on the LEO. Considering I work satellites mostly on
weekends the amount of use it would get wouldn't be worth it for me. I'd be
more likely to build a setup for working HEO's like AO-40 before building a
setup for L/U work on LEO's due to the simplicity, larger foot print, and
longer predictable window.

To be honest I would use FM on AO-51 as that is the most likely usage new
comers to satellites will most likely end up using. If you want to
demonstrate the raw rag chewing potential of satellites then demo a HEO like
AO-40.

~73, KC2WQW

On Tue, May 4, 2010 at 2:30 PM, Gordon JC Pearce <gordonjcp at gjcp.net> wrote:

> On Tue, 2010-05-04 at 07:20 -0500, Alan P. Biddle wrote:
> > Peter,
> >
> > >From past studies, mode L/U is the place to be if you want to work
> someone
> > on AO-51 without an EME station.  ;)  While the V/U FM repeater was
> choked
> > on every pass, there were very few stations on L/U.  In the four passes I
> > monitored last year, totaling 46 minutes, there were only 21 station
> heard.
> > Half of those were on the first pass, and by the last pass on Sunday,
> only
> > one plaintive station calling.
> >
> > Alan
> > WA4SCA
>
> Presumably that's because very few people have L- and S-band equipment.
> I'm guessing that many people are - like me - put off by the prohibitive
> cost and requirement for overcomplicated tracking systems.
>
> Working V/U with a handheld antenna is much more fun than sitting
> watching a computer twiddle servos and tune the radio for you.
>
> Gordon MM0YEQ
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>