[amsat-bb] SO-50 Troubles

[Scott]

Hi Mike.

Like everyone else, I was on more than usual over the long holiday
weekend.  SO-50 did seem a little on the noisy side to me and there seemed
to be stations that were not in cleanly.  I got in a few times, but at
other points with plenty of elevation, it didn't seem to hear me w/ 10w to
roof-mounted antennas on a rotor.

Also, on at least two of the passes that I can recall this weekend, there
came a time mid-pass when the satellite went dead quiet.  Wondering if it
needed to be re-enabled w/ the 74.4 tone, I (and probably others) keyed up
with that tone for a couple of seconds and a moment later, the contacts
resumed.

So, I don't know if any of that is business-as-usual or not.  Just wanted
to reply with one person's observation.

73!

-Scott,  K4KDR

===========================

On Mon, Nov 27, 2017 at 9:46 AM, Mike Thompson <zryder94 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Good morning Ladies and Gent's.
>
> Tried working SO-50 last night after a few successful contacts on AO-91,
> and I was having a hard time hitting the bird. I am using a pair of HT's
> (FT-60 on RX, VX-8 on TX), each connected to their respective elements of
> my arrow antenna. TX tone was enabled, and I was hearing the bird just
> fine, but couldn't seem to make it in. Did anyone by chance hear my call
> sign? I know it's likely far to vague for anyone to give any real
> suggestions, but I was a bit frustrated with my 2nd recent unsuccessful
> attempt at working stations on SO-50.
>
> Thank you.
>
> Mike, AE0MT