[amsat-bb] I am doing it wrong, but not sure what...

[Mark Lunday]

Back about 7 years ago, I was able to hear and work all the birds using  a
pair of FT817ND rigs and even my VX6R: FO-29, VO-52, SO-50, AO-7, AO-16,
AO-27, AO-51.  It was so easy, even a caveman (me) could to it.

I now have an IC910H, second owner.  The rig does work, I made a couple of
EME QSO's back in 2010 on a 2M9 yagi in my back yard.

I am now dusting it off and trying to work satellites after keeping it in
the closet for a couple of years.

I have a pair of Elk log periodic 2M/440 antennas, using one for 144 MHz and
one for 432 MHz.  The antennas are mounted on a painter's pole in a closet
right next to the roof, about 15 feet from my operating position.  I am also
using a pair of ARR pre-amps.

I am using the HRD satellite tracking software from v5 (free).

I am attempting to hear CW beacon from any bird, anywhere.  The antennas are
fixed pointing south.  So far, I have not heard a thing this evening (since
0100 UTC).    Attempted to hear CW beacon for FO-29, AO-73, LO-19, CO-55,
SO-50.  Also listened for passband activity on AO-73 and FO-29.  Nada.

The pre-amps are working, and I can pick up National Weather Service
broadcasts very strong (as expected).   I can also hear the telemetry on
144.39.

I am double-checking my sat predictions with the AMSAT site.

Possibilities:
1.	The birds shut off when not in sunlight (according to AO-73 web page
that should not be the case)
2.	Attenuation of the signal from the roof (unlikely, I have been able
to work simplex out to several hundred miles on my 2M9 in the attic)
3.	Wrong beacon frequency (I triple checked this)
4.	Other?

Mark Lunday, WD4ELG
Greensboro, NC  FM06be
wd4elg at arrl.net
http://wd4elg.blogspot.com