[amsat-bb] Unsuccessful Uplinks - AO-92

Thu Jun 7 19:30:54 UTC 2018

It was suggested that you need "a few more watts" to use SO-50. That is
definitely not the case. I have worked it many times with only 500 mW, even
on busy passes, getting in full-quieting. I have also gotten into it with
an acceptable signal with only 50 mW on empty relatively high elevation
passes. It does has a relatively weak downlink though (250 mW).

Regarding AO-85, it is a little deaf and it's true it's because of an
antenna issue. I have some info about it and a "twist trick" fix documented
here:

https://spacecomms.wordpress.com/ao-85-twist-trick-and-other-hints/

73, John Brier KG4AKV

On Thu, Jun 7, 2018 at 2:57 PM, Don KB2YSI <kb2ysi at gmail.com> wrote:

> My FM operating is has been dual HTs and portable, I.E. not tripod, no
> table, just me and what I can hold. I am working on a SSB setup but only
> tried it a few times thus far, but that includes a backpack.
>
> Yes, holding 2 radios and an antenna is difficult at best, and risky for
> the equipment. That is why I took the suggestion to use a piece of wood in
> the end of my Arrow to mount the RX radio to. This was a major improvement
> in the setup. Pictures and credit for the ideas are available at
> hamqth.com/KB2YSI
>
> SO-50 has been my go to satellite and 5w has worked very well for me. AO-85
> is my unicorn, sometimes I have no issues getting in, others nothing I do
> seems to work. My money is on operater error. Hihi. AO-91 & AO-92 are crazy
> easy to use once I had a full duplex (using 2 radios and a duplexer as a
> filter) setup.
>
> I am still new, have not been operating a year yet, but am willing to talk
> offline if anyone is interested. I may have learned a lot the hard way, but
> it has been incredibly fun time!
>
>
>
> 73, Don KB2YSI
>
> On Thu, Jun 7, 2018, 14:03 Jean Marc Momple <jean.marc.momple at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> > Hugo,
> >
> > Actually the Baofengs UR-5R that Francois is using are transmitting with
> > only 2 watts on 70cm. Works very well. Sorry for having stated 4W (Vhf
> > power)
> >
> > I will send you separately a small presentation I did for the local OM’s
> > which trigger Francois venture on the birds.
> >
> > 73
> >
> >  Jean Marc
> >
> > > On Jun 7, 2018, at 9:41 PM, Hugo Dominguez, Jr. <hugois at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Thanks for the feedback. I’ll keep trying. Is the Baofang being used
> the
> > 5 watt or 8 watt version? Right now it is hard holding two radios and the
> > antenna. Maybe I can strap it to my antenna and use it for listening for
> > myself. I should also look at mounting my antenna to an old camera tripod
> > to free my hand
> > >
> > > —
> > > Hugo Dominguez, Jr.
> > >
> > >> On Jun 7, 2018, at 10:30, Jean Marc Momple <
> jean.marc.momple at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > >>
> > >> Hugo,
> > >>
> > >> Just to share experience.
> > >>
> > >> 3B8GZ (not on the BB, but in copy) is working very well AO-91 and
> AO92,
> > crystal clear above 10 deg. ele. with 2 Baofengs and a home brew Arrow
> type
> > of antenna while on the beach this side of the globe. He made QSO’s with
> > South Africa, Madagascar and locals with less than 4W.
> > >>
> > >> SO-50 is a little more tricky as a 74Hz CTCSS required to trigger the
> > repeater, then you need to switch CTCSS to 67Hz to QSO. Also it need a
> few
> > more W for clear QSO.
> > >>
> > >> AO-85 is quite hard-hearing and depending on its path you need between
> > 15 and 50 W with a 10-15 ele yagi to go through reasonably.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> Hope this help.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> 73
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> Jean Marc (3B8DU)
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>> On Jun 7, 2018, at 9:04 PM, Hugo Dominguez, Jr. <hugois at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > >>>
> > >>> Someone mentioned to me that AO-91 was made to be worked by
> handhelds.
> > They also mentioned that AO-85 actually has a damaged receive antenna and
> > that you need more power. Is that correct? Is 5 watts sufficient for
> AO-92,
> > AO-85 and SO-50?
> > >>>
> > >>> —
> > >>> Hugo Dominguez, Jr.
> > >>>
> > >>>> On Jun 6, 2018, at 23:08, Daniel Wight <kd7lee at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >>>>
> > >>>> As Gabe pointed out, I may have this backwards as I started out on
> > SO-50 (V/U) & then applied my original techniques to the Fox (U/V) birds
> in
> > error (i.e. your initial settings are probably correct). I need to do
> some
> > more research before I understand this fully, but it looks like I've been
> > using the wrong uplink frequencies on my IC-W32A. My apologies for the
> > mistake. Looks like I'll be reprogramming my radio soon....
> > >>>>
> > >>>> 73,
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Daniel, KD7LEE
> > >>>>
> > >>>>> On Wed, Jun 6, 2018, 21:50 Hugo Dominguez, Jr. <hugois at gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> > >>>>> Thanks. All the web pages I read said to perform doppler shift by
> > starting 10 kHz below and work your way up. Even this amsat website has
> > instructions to do it how I am doing it:
> > https://amsat-uk.org/2018/01/26/ao-92-open-for-amateur-radio-use/
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>> I also just noticed that there is a schedule for the L-band for
> > uplink which i’m interpreting that UHF won’t work when the bird is setup
> > for the L-band for uplink. Maybe I was trying to make contact when it was
> > on the L band.
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>> —
> > >>>>> Hugo Dominguez, Jr.
> > >>>>>
> > >>>>>> On Jun 6, 2018, at 21:07, Daniel Wight <kd7lee at gmail.com> wrote:
> > >>>>>>
> > >>>>>> Seems like your Doppler shift might be opposite. I normally start
> > high & work my way down during the satellite pass... (For instance, I
> would
> > start at 435.180 for AO-85 and then work my way down to 435.160 as the
> > satellite 'sunsets' on my horizon). Doppler shift should be higher
> > frequency during approach, near zero when the satellite is overhead, and
> > lower after the satellite passes.
> > >>>>>>
> > >>>>>> 73,
> > >>>>>>
> > >>>>>> Daniel, KD7LEE
> > >>>>>>
> > >>>>>>> On Wed, Jun 6, 2018, 17:27 Andrew Glasbrenner <
> > glasbrenner at mindspring.com> wrote:
> > >>>>>>> You've discovered one of the reasons full duplex is best on the
> FM
> > sats...you have no idea if you are getting through, because you can't
> hear
> > while transmitting.
> > >>>>>>>
> > >>>>>>> Got another radio so you can work full duplex?
> > >>>>>>>
> > >>>>>>> 73, Drew KO4MA
> > >>>>>>>
> > >>>>>>> -----Original Message-----
> > >>>>>>> From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org> On Behalf Of Hugo
> > Dominguez, Jr.
> > >>>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2018 7:41 PM
> > >>>>>>> To: amsat-bb at amsat.org
> > >>>>>>> Subject: [amsat-bb] Unsuccessful Uplinks - AO-92
> > >>>>>>>
> > >>>>>>> I’ve just started playing with talking on satellites. I’m able to
> > hear all the satellites (AO-85, AO-91, AO-92 and SO-50) that I have
> > programmed on my Kenwood TH-D74, which I use with my Elk dual band
> periodic
> > log antenna. However no one can hear me or responds to me. I’ve only been
> > successful with my uplink (being heard) on AO-91 on several passes. I
> > triple checked my frequencies on my radio and the 67 Hz tone and they are
> > set as follows:
> > >>>>>>> Sat.        Xmit       Tone
> > >>>>>>> SO-50   145.850  67.0 Hz
> > >>>>>>> AO-85   435.170  67.0 Hz
> > >>>>>>> AO-91   435.250  67.0 HZ
> > >>>>>>> AO-92   435.350  67.0 Hz
> > >>>>>>> These are the frequencies used when the bird is at its peak. I
> > adjust for doppler on 440 by starting out 10 khz less, e.g AO-85 435.160,
> > 435.165, 435.170, 435.175, 435.180.
> > >>>>>>>
> > >>>>>>> Any ideas if something has changed from what is published or am I
> > missing something? Like I said, i’ve been able to communicate on AO-91.
> > >>>>>>>
> > >>>>>>> —
> > >>>>>>> Hugo Dominguez, Jr.
> > >>>>>>> _______________________________________________
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> >
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> > to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
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> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions
> expressed
> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
> AMSAT-NA.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
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