[amsat-bb] Re: SO-50, IC-910H, and Sat PC32 Issues

[Paul Stoetzer]

Les,

I believe I am one of the callers that you never got back to on a pass a
couple of weeks ago!

SO-50's frequency seems to be shifted down by about 5 kHz from the
published downlink. What does your Doppler.sqf say?

73,

Paul, N8HM


On Thu, Sep 19, 2013 at 1:23 PM, Les Rayburn <les at highnoonfilm.com> wrote:

> Before I ask again for assistance, I'd like to say that I've read the
> "manual" for both the software and the rig, experimented, and tested on my
> own trying to resolve these issues. This includes staying up well past
> midnight so that I can run tests on the bird without bothering other users
> too much.
>
> Here, briefly is a description of my station, and the issues I'm
> experiencing. Any assistance or advice in resolving the problem would be
> gratefully accepted:
>
> Running an Icom IC-910H into antennas in the attic. The 432 antenna is an
> Arrow 7 element Yagi, mounted at a fixed elevation of 25 degrees. The 2
> Meter antenna is a 6 element K1FO Yagi, mounted horizontal. Both can be
> rotated on the stack in azimuth only. Feedline is 75' foot runs of 1/2"
> hardline with antennas mounted in the attic.
>
> The 432 antenna has an ARR mast mount pre-amp, while the 2 Meter antenna
> has an SSB Electronics mast mount pre-amp. Performance on FO-29, VO-52 is
> fair to good. High elevation passes on all satellites seem to give me
> reception problems, but down nearer the horizon things are good. Hoping to
> upgrade to AZ/EL in the near future.
>
> I've learned how to deal with Doppler on the other birds, and generally
> can used the stored corrections in SATPC32, or adjust it on the fly using
> the software to hear my own downlink well, and work other stations.
>
> SO-50 ISSUES
> ==============================**========================
> However, on FM I continue to struggle.
>
> A.) Reception is poor. Especially high elevation passes.
> B.) Successful reception of other stations requires adjusting the RIT
> control on the rig. Often to "plus" 5 KHz and sometimes to somewhere in
> between 0 and +5 Khz.
> C.) Switching the rig to FM Narrow mode helped, but did not resolve the
> problem.
> D.) Attempting to adjust for Doppler using the software control doesn't
> seem to help much.
> E.) I can only rarely hear my own downlink on this satellite, even in the
> middle of the night when the bird is empty.
> F.) Numerous reports of others calling me without success, even though I'm
> getting into the bird fine.
>
> I realize that polarity is an issue with all satellites. Signals arrive
> out of phase, and I have no way to compensate. Also having a fixed
> elevation is a problem, and explains the poor performance at high
> elevation. But I fail to understand why the system seems to work well on
> other birds, but not SO-50. What am I missing?
>
>
>
> --
> --
> 73,
>
> Les Rayburn, N1LF
> 121 Mayfair Park
> Maylene, AL 35114
> EM63nf
>
> 6M VUCC #1712
> AMSAT #38965
> Grid Bandits #222
> Southeastern VHF Society
> Central States VHF Society Life Member
> Six Club #2484
>
> Active on 6 Meters thru 1296, 10GHz & Light
>
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