[amsat-bb] AO-7 Mode A

[RSoifer1 at aol.com]

I was on the most recent pass of AO-7 (2113-2130Z).  The satellite was in 
Mode A, and while within range of southern Arizona there were exactly two 
stations on it: W1AW/0 on SSB and myself on CW.

Why so few?  Although the 10m downlink is not as strong as when the bird 
was new, signal strength on my Elecraft KX3 and multi-band vertical was more 
than adequate.  I suspect that, for many, the problem is a poor receiving 
antenna.  

If you have a 10m beam, so much the better, but you don't really need one.  
A good ground plane or vertical antenna, or a 10m dipole at a reasonable 
height (say, 30 feet or more) iwill produce good results.  Elevation controll 
is not required -- AO-7 will be above 30 degrees elevation less than 10% of 
the time it is within range of your station.

SKN on OSCAR is coming up on January 1st, UTC.  See you on all satellite 
modes!

73 Ray W2RS