[amsat-bb] what birds for field day

[Paul Stoetzer]

Jim,

SO-50 will be a zoo, of course, but will be available for 1 QSO only!

FO-29 is a fine satellite and I'm sure much of it's 100 kHz passband
will be teeming with signals.

VO-52 is also a fine satellite and it's 60 kHz passband will also be
teeming with signals.

AO-73 should be available for the weekend if the command stations
switch it to full time transponder mode on Friday. They usually post
to the BB after the command is sent. If it's not set to full time
transponder mode, the transponder will be active when the satellite is
eclipsed, but at this time of the year, it's not eclipsed very often.
There are two things to keep in mind: a narrow passband of just 20 kHz
and it's frequency instability which means that your uplink signal
usually has to be 6.5+ kHz higher than it should be for a given
downlink frequency. Even on a normal Saturday afternoon, there are
usually plenty of hams who are "lost" on the passband.

AO-7 has been a little tricky lately. On ascending passes in the
afternoon, high power signals have been causing the satellite to mode
jump to Mode A or Mode D (transponders off) as the angle of the sun on
it's solar panels is not ideal at this point in the year. As most seem
to run way too much power on Field Day, don't expect AO-7 Mode B to be
of much use, at least not on the afternoon passes. Descending passes
in the morning might turn out better. If you have Mode A gear, be
ready for it to switch or to come up in Mode A and give that a shot.

LO-78 (LituanicaSAT-1)'s FM transponder has not been activated in a
few weeks. There is no indication when they will turn it on again.
Maybe it will be on, maybe not.

The ISS packet digipeater is also an option, unless the astronauts are
using the radio used for the digipeater to make voice contacts.

73,

Paul, N8HM


On Wed, Jun 25, 2014 at 9:16 PM, Jim White <jim at coloradosatellite.com> wrote:
> I've just rebuilt my sat station and was planning to be on for Field Day to
> give out some contacts from home.
>
> What birds are folks planning to use?  I assume SO-50 and FO-29. Any others?
>
> Jim
> WD0E
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