[amsat-bb] Listening for QIKCOM-1?

[Greg D]

I don't have a super high-gain antenna (2x8 element CP beam on 2 meters,
with a preamp), but nothing heard during the 08:26z pass (00:26am
local).  Does it matter if the spacecraft is in sunlight or not?  Nearly
all the passes here are at night...

Greg  KO6TH


Robert Bruninga wrote:
> Anyone looking for  something to do with a gain array, might want to track
> the SIMPL spacecraft while listening on 145.825.
>
>
>
> This is the host spacecraft that has QIKCOM-1 module on board.
>
>
>
> The SIMPL ground team reports detecting some S band signals apparently from
> SIMPL.  So that is an indication that maybe the spacecraft powered up.
> That being the case, then maybe it powered up QIKCOM-1 also.  But if the
> host CPU did not send the antenna release signal, then QIKCOM-1 may be
> powered up but with antennas all coiled up and still in their slot.
>
>
>
> But high gain stations might hear something.  This is a far fetched
> scenario, but if someone is looking for something to do, its worth a
> listen.  The object number is
>
> 42983 or type SIMPL in spacetrack.
>
>
>
> QIKCOM-1 beacons once a minute on 145.825 APRS 1200 baud and should respond
> as a digipeater using the path of ARISS or APRSAT.  So rather than wait for
> the 1 minute beacon, you are welcome to ping it as well.  But remember,
> like all APRS digis, it will ignore dupes for a while.  I think the DUP
> delay was set to ten seconds.
>
>
>
> And even if you do not decode it, if your 10 kW EIRP signal can get a PING
> response every 10 seconds or so, then  that would be something you might
> hear.
>
>
>
> QIKCOM-1 transmits with 4 Watts.  But into a shorted antenna, the signal
> might be down 26 dB or more… something like 10 mw.  Not decodable, but
> detectible by ear maybe.
>
>
>
> Good luck fishing.
>
>
>
> Bob, WB4aPR
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