[amsat-bb] Getting back into Sats- current state of affairs

[Tim Goodrich]

Hi All,
It's been a few years since I've posted here, but just bought a Yaesu 736R
over the weekend and am back to experimenting with the birds. Looking at the
AMSAT page, it's sad to see how few birds are operational, including the
once stellar AO-51 and also HO-68 (which I never got to work). 

I did hear VO-52 and the APRS on ISS last night. However, this morning, I
tried to activate SO-50 during the 9:07PST pass and I didn't hear anything.
Is there a problem with this bird, is it too weak for me to hear, or was
there just no activity? I should have been able to hear myself after
activating it with the tones on full duplex, but didn't.

Thanks,
Tim
K6TW (formerly KI6VBY)

Yaesu FT-736R
2m and 70cm homebrew Quadralfilar Helixes, 50ft LMR-400