[amsat-bb] NO-84 - more progress

[Mark Lunday]

Tonight, I am pretty sure I saw my downlink signal.  Unfortunately it was very weak using the off-center-fed dipole transmit antenna.  And...there was a Doppler shift even though I was using DopplerPSK for transmit.  The signal did start and stop as I started and stopped DopplerPSK transmit, so I am pretty confident I am seeing my transmission.

Maybe a true ¼ whip is needed for transmit...

Mark Lunday, WD4ELG
Greensboro, NC  FM06be
wd4elg at arrl.net
http://wd4elg.blogspot.com
SKCC #16439  FISTS #17972


_____________________________________________
From: wd4elg at outlook.com
Sent: Sunday, March 05, 2017 10:54 PM
To: AMSAT BB
Subject: NO-84 - the investigation continues


Making some progress....0335 UTC pass, I decoded the PSK31 beacon AND decoded W5SAT calling CQ.

However, I failed to see my signal on the downlink again.  I am using 65 watts and an inverted L for 160 that tunes for 10 meters.  The thing should be working, I worked several EU stations on 40 meters with just 5 watts tonight, so it's radiating SOMETHING.

I am sending PSK31 with DopplerPSK and then trying with FLDIGI, so it's not the software.

I am getting power out per the wattmeter, so it's not the transmit setup.  EZNEC shows a mostly cloud-warmer type of pattern for the inverted L on 10 meters, with some small gain at lower angles.

Maybe I will try the off-center-fed dipole next.  What are other folks using for antennas on the uplink?

Mark Lunday, WD4ELG
Greensboro, NC  FM06be
wd4elg at arrl.net<mailto:wd4elg at arrl.net>
http://wd4elg.blogspot.com
SKCC #16439  FISTS #17972