[amsat-bb] AO-73 Lack of transponder activity

[Clayton W5PFG]

There is no "secret decoder ring" necessary. Simply pick a frequency in 
the transponder's passband and tune your uplink to stay on that 
frequency. (Tune uplink because it is the higher of the two 
frequencies.) You will drift slightly across the transponder but this 
has never been a problem even during a busy weekend such as Field Day.

Full computer control works but only if you tweak it during the pass. 
This is easily done with SatPC32 and the +/- buttons on your keyboard. 
I strongly recommend tuning manually.

AO-73 is a great satellite.  It's easy to hear and workable with modest 
antennas at very low power.

73
Clayton
W5PFG


On 12/10/2015 16:07, Bob wrote:
> My personal opinion is that the required frequency offsets have never been
> formally published, just the theoretical ones.  Someone familiar with
> satellite operation isn't going to be looking nearly as far off frequency
> as is required to operate through AO-73.  I've never seen an offset less
> than 8 KHz from published TX values, I've seen it as high as 15 KHz.  I've
> asked our UK brothers to publish this, but it doesn't seem to be in the
> card.
>
> Once you figure out the magic decoder ring setting, and get on frequency,
> it is a wonderful bird.
>
> 73, Bob, WB4SON
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Dec 10, 2015 at 2:17 PM, Bryan KL7CN <bryan at kl7cn.net> wrote:
>
>> Me too, Jack!
>>
>> I don't think it is widely known that the transponder is active when the
>> satellite is in darkness.
>>
>> I wonder how we could market that a little better?
>>
>> --bag
>>
>> Bryan KL7CN/W6
>>
>> On Dec 10, 2015, at 10:56, Jack Colson <jcolson7 at tampabay.rr.com> wrote:
>>
>> On the mid-evening passes the last two nights the transponder has been on
>> but no activity.  I am hearing my uplink fairly well.
>> 73,
>> Jack, W3TMZ
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> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed
> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>