[amsat-bb] Looking for activity where there is little.

[Tom Schuessler]

Hello all,

With all the rumblings about excessive, rude and uncivil activity,
especially on AO-51, there are passes from both SSB and FM satellites that
go completely unused.  For the last few nights, I have drug out in the late
evening to attempt to make a few QSO's on SO-50.  On both nights, last
evening was a 05:51 AOS 1-15-2011, I could hear the satellite via an
occasional retransmitted carrier, but there was no one else on.  Tonight in
North Texas I have a great 70 degree pass at 04:38 AOS and would encourage
others to give it a shot, especially if you are newer to the FM birds.


SO-50 is available 24/7 but pass times vary due to the nature of it's orbit.
It can be a bit challenging in different ways compared to other sats.  First
it is relatively low power, 250mw. Second, it does require a PL and I even
forgot that it requires a different PL to activate than to just use so I
will have to try that tonight.  (Perhaps that was the issue for me last
night, I will check my memories).  Also it does seem to me that it does
downlink about 5Kc below published frequencies.  SO-50 does seem to need a
bit more switching of the polarization, (For me and my arrow, that means
quit a bit of spinning), to hear and get in.  Additionally, it is not a bent
pipe, retransmitting noise even if it hears nothing like AO-51 does so
manual aiming is trickey if you do not hear anything coming down.

All in all though SO-50 is a good bird to work and it would be nice to see
some activity on it during the odd hour passes.

I will hopefully see some of you on for the 04:3x Z pass Jan 16.


73 de N5HYP

Tom Schuessler
2713 Lake Gardens Drive
Irving, Texas  75060
972-986-7456
214-403-1464 (Cell)
n5hyp at arrl.net