[amsat-bb] ARISSat-1 European Activity and Status update.

[GW1FKY at aol.com]

Hi all,
I again monitored and worked into ARISSat-1 during the earlier pass and the 
 final one as it entered eclipse
over here in Europe.
The early pass  was a low angle  from my QTH and  screened by buildings so 
I  was not able to access the  satellite.   However the FM downlink was 
quite reasonable and I did  hear someone active on CW .
The final pass as it moved into eclipse was really remarkable and my  
downlink and the FM transmissions
were booming in . The loudest that I have ever heard from the satellite, in 
 addition I quickly monitored the
CW portion and someone was booming in, I could not stay at that end of  the 
band as I was trying to make
schedule on SSB.   Heard someone calling but not able to confirm  whom it 
was as they were not easy to copy.
I wonder in view of the recent predicted re-entry if the loss of  height is 
perhaps why it is now so strong, or was it perhaps the angle and  coverage 
of the satellites antenna?
Will try again tomorrow evening and thanks to those that were hoping to  
make a contact.
Ken Eaton
GW1FKY
Amsat-UK
Amsat NA