[amsat-bb] SO-50 and AO-91 trials and tribulations
K5ZM
k5zm at comcast.net
Wed Feb 20 21:10:35 UTC 2019
Hi all….
After having been licensed since ’75, I’m finally cultivating an interest in the FM sats -the other modes can come later. Been doing a ton of reading and YouTubing from various sources over the past two weeks or so -Space Comms; WD9EWK; AMSAT website, etc. Plenty of good material out there. Tnx to all who have put it out there over the years.
‘Baby steps’ has been a very appropriate term with which I’d describe the results of my first 4 attempts at working the birds. First three attempts were with S0-50. If nothing else, that first time proved to be a huge learning experience. As to pointing the antenna, I was everywhere but where I was supposed to be! Second time out, I’d gotten my head round the antenna issue but had forgotten to enable tones! Third time out, I had everything(?) right but could never hear myself on the downlink no matter where I was in the doppler adjustment sequence.
Just attempted the 2010z pass of A0-91. It was a nearly overhead pass and was able to hear a number of stations quite nicely but, as before, I was never able to hear myself on the downlink. As such, that first sat Q has eluded me once again 😉. At least I knew enough to not to change VFOs when making my doppler adjustments for this one!
I’ve a Kenwood TH D72 and the Arrow II 146/437 10wBP. As I mentioned, I’m quite sure I’ve configured the rig correctly. In no particular order…..
‘transmit on B’: check
Enable tones (again, on VFO B): check -67.0 hz
Enable full duplex ( “ ): check
Squelch open on VFO A: check
For S0-50, adjust for doppler on VFO A: check
For AO-91, adjust for doppler on VFO B: check
Probably a couple other things I’m aware of but can’t recall just now.
The one thing I’ve not messed with is the Audio Balance -it’s still at the default 50/50 setting. Could this be why I’ve not been able to hear myself? Is it that critical?
I’m also using a Heil HTH headset with the Kenwood K1 connector. I can already tell this isn’t the way to go for me. I’ll likely move toward phones and either use the onboard mic or an external handheld mic. I’ve tested the whole combination on various a couple of repeaters around town and haven’t had a problem, so I’m convinced something else is keeping me from hearing myself on the downlink.
Baby steps, indeed.
73
Ian, K5ZM
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