[amsat-bb] XW-2A and Other Roads Less Travelled

[Robert Bruninga]

Your efforts were GREATLY appreciated.

Today was our once-a-year student lab to predict a satellite pass and then
go verify it.
The students and I were out in the cold rain/snow and hearing absolutely
nothing on FO-29. For most of the pass... I couidnt understand it.
Then just a minute before LOS, we heard  Les, N1LF callling CQ with an
xcellent signal.

Students were impressed that there was something there, but wanted to know
why no one was answering

We only demoonstrate RX with a handheld and so did not have a second rig
for uplink.
Bob, WB4aPR


On Tue, Jan 29, 2019 at 11:33 PM Les Rayburn <les at highnoonfilm.com> wrote:

> I’m a bit of a nomad, and have always enjoyed taking the roads less
> travelled. That applies to my hobby as well—those of us who work VHF are a
> fairly rare bunch. Those who work satellites; not often spotted in the
> wild.
>
> But apparently, rarer still are those who enjoy making contacts on
> satellites that are not AO-91, A0-92, SO-50, and FO-29.
>
> Working from home today, so I got on nearly every satellite pass over the
> United States. Alternated between calling CQ and searching for others to
> work.
>
> The results of working eight different passes? Four contacts for the day.
> Two on SO-50, one each on AO-91 and FO-29.
>
> Called CQ on XW-2A at dinner time. High elevation pass. Good strong
> downlink the entire pass from horizon to horizon. Nada…
>
> It did net me an SWL report from Mark Gluch, KB3CI who heard me loud and
> clean in EN82 near Detroit. He doesn’t have the transmit side working yet
> for the linear birds, but will soon.
>
> Ditto on AO-7, a whole pass on FO-29 this morning, and at least three of
> the XW birds.
>
> Last weekend, I listed to the L band activity on AO-91 and there was a ton
> more activity there than I heard today. (I’m working on getting the 1296
> Yagi up so I can join you folks.)
>
> We’ve got a sky full of great satellites that perform well. Let’s use
> them.
>
> 73,
>
> Les Rayburn, N1LF
> 121 Mayfair Park
> Maylene, AL 35114
> EM63nf
>
> Member WTFDA, IRCA, NRC. Former CPC Chairman for NRC & IRCA.
>
> Elad FDM-S2 SDR, AirSpy SDR2, SDRPlay RSP-2 Pro, Sony XDR-F1HD [XDR Guy
> Modified], Dennon TU-1500RD, Sangean HDT-1X, Ray Dees RDS Decoders, Korner
> 9.2 Antenna, FM-6 Antenna, Kitz Technologies KT-501 Pre-amps, Quantum
> Phaser, Wellbrook ALA1530 Loop, Wellbrook Flag, Clifton Labs Active Whip.
>
> “Nothing but blues and Elvis, and somebody else’s favorite song…”
>
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