[amsat-bb] heard FUNcube-1/AO-73 from soggy patio tonight

[Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)]

Hi!

Here in central Arizona, I'm supposed to have over 300 days of
clear and sunny weather every year.  Today was not one of those 
days, and it has been wet into the evening.  I did not get all of my
gear out to work the FUNcube pass that just went over the 
continental USA around 0440 UTC, but I had no problems copying
it with an FT-817ND hanging around my neck and holding my Elk 
antenna sticking out from the patio to the satellite.  I heard K9QHO
in CW and a few others in SSB (K4FEG, KD8CAO, W5PFG, and 
one or two others whose calls I did not remember in the walk from
the patio to my computer). I didn't think to bring my audio recorder
out; my mistake.  I wasn't using a preamp, and had a 10-foot coax
run between the antenna and radio.  

I hope the FUNcube crew keeps this mode going, as I am hoping
to get a chance to work it myself in a couple of nights.  This should
be fun, even with the limited availability for amateur use at present. 
Congratulations to everyone connected with this project!

73!




Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK 
http://www.wd9ewk.net/