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

[Paul Stoetzer]

The transponder is always on while the satellite is in eclipse (in the
winter months, that's all nighttime passes). The ops team almost always
turns it on for the weekends as well, so it's available during weekend
daytime hours as well.

73,

Paul, N8HM

On Thu, Dec 10, 2015 at 5:22 PM, J. Boyd (JR2TTS) <
the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp> wrote:

> On Thu, 10 Dec 2015 16:13:56 -0600, Clayton W5PFG <w5pfg at amsat.org> wrote:
>
> > 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.
>
> Currently building a portable station and am interested in trying to
> work this bird in the near future. Is the transponder always on or does
> it follow a schedule (i.e., only on during the weekends or when in
> daylight, etc)?
>
>
> --
> J. Boyd, JR2TTS/NI3B
> the2belo at msd.biglobe.ne.jp
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/the2belo/
> http://www.qrz.com/db/JR2TTS
> Twitter: @Minus2_C
>
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