[amsat-bb] AO-7 status?

[Nick Hart]

Great input, Paul!

Thank you, and 73!

Nick
KK6ZLF

------ Original Message ------
Received: Wed, 03 Jan 2018 07:09:51 PM PST
From: Paul Stoetzer <n8hm at arrl.net>
To: Nick Hart <nickhart at usa.net>Cc: Greg D <ko6th.greg at gmail.com>,
amsat-bb at amsat.org
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AO-7 status?

AO-7 has generally been stable for the past several months. In the Northern
Hemisphere spring and summer months, it has been quite unstable, easily
switching out of Mode B when signals are present in the passband. This is
likely due to the sun's angle on the solar panels. AO-7 has no panels on
the "top" or "bottom" of the satellite, and with AO-7's current orbit, the
sun is not in an ideal position to illuminate the satellite's solar panels
during the Northern Hemisphere summer.

For a demo next week, AO-7 has an excellent shot of being active in Mode B.
Next month, or in March, the chances may be less.

73,

Paul, N8HM

On Wed, Jan 3, 2018 at 9:22 PM, Nick Hart <nickhart at usa.net> wrote:

> Absolutely agreed, Greg,
>
> We're just limited to what's passing over during the club meeting for the
> kids
> this month.  We'll have one or two more club meetings between now and ARISS
> day.  But, we adults who are working the event will have it dialed in by
> the
> time of the ARISS QSO.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Nick
>
> To: Nick Hart <nickhart at usa.net>Cc: amsat-bb at amsat.org
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AO-7 status?
>
> Nick,
>
> If you want some practice ahead of the ARISS event (really good idea!),
> it might be a more relevant experience to get a few of the FM birds
> under your belt.  AO-85, AO-91, SO-50.  Perhaps track the ISS via Packet
> (when/if they get the packet station back on the air), to get a feel for
> that system.  Also watch for any ARISS events that you can listen in on
> (for example, the telebridge contacts through W6SRJ in Santa Rosa).
>
> Some of the ground station operations, either direct or telebridge, have
> been documented on YouTube.  Also worth a watch.
>
> As for AO-7, first look at the status logs on Amsat.org
> (http://www.amsat.org/status/); seems like it's pretty much been in Mode
> B (70cm up, 2m down), but that can change as the satellite's eclipse
> schedule changes over the course of the year.  Otherwise, it is
> definitely a daylight-only bird (as seen by the satellite, not
> necessarily here on the ground).
>
> Best of luck for your contact,
>
> Greg  KO6TH
>
>
> Nick Hart wrote:
> > Good afternoon,
> >
> > KK6ZLF in CM87.  I am elmering a radio club at the local middle school,
> and
> we
> > have a scheduled ARISS QSO coming up in March.
> >
> > A week from tomorrow, we're going to try to do a few QSOs on the
> available
> > birds during the club meeting, 22 to 23:00 zulu.  One of the passes is
> AO-7.
> I
> > saw on the AMSAT site that it is working strictly on solar power.  But,
> this
> > should be a good daytime pass for us.
> >
> > Does anyone have any recent experience and advice for AO-7?
> >
> > Thanks, and 73!
> >
> > Nick
> >
> > KK6ZLF
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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>
> _______________________________________________
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