[amsat-bb] HEO

[Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)]

Hi Andrew!

I am all for a variety of satellites. When we had AO-51 in the 2000s, I
found the pieces to work its V/S FM repeater as I started working
satellites. Doppler at 2.4 GHz made tuning those downlinks an almost
constant thing on those passes, but it was fun. We have the sort of
transponder you mentioned in your post with AO-92's L/V FM repeater
right now. We are only permitted to use the 1.2 GHz band for satellite
uplinks, not downlinks.

Many satellite operators now have the 1.2 GHz uplink capability with
the IC-9700, but the only time AO-92 L/V is available appears to be
inconvenient for many who might want to try it right now (Tuesday
evenings and Wednesday mornings in North America). We were told that
the switch from a Sunday UTC activation (Saturday nights and Sunday
mornings in North America) last year was not going to be a permanent
change. I think there would be more new call signs heard on AO-92 L/V
with those IC-9700s and other radios, if that mode was available at a
more convenient time for those who have work or school commitments
during the week. It isn't like we lack V/U or U/V FM satellites right
now.

73!





Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK
http://www.wd9ewk.net/
Twitter: @WD9EWK or http://twitter.com/WD9EWK









On Wed, Jul 22, 2020 at 4:46 PM Andrew Lazenby via AMSAT-BB <
amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:

> Hello EveryoneI recently joined Amsat because I felt like a bit of a
> hypocrite for complaining about things, and not doing my part to change
> them. One thing that does bug me is the HEO satellites having microwave
> uplinks and downlinks. I think that will greatly limit the clientele that
> will be able to use these.
>  I have head many older hams gripe about LEO satellites and reflect back
> on how back in the day there would be passes up for hours! Many of them
> where using drifty transverters with terrible noise figures, turning
> antennas with tv rotators and no preamp! The argument that I have heard to
> move to mircowave uplinks and downlinks is lower noise, but if it worked
> with them back then, then what's changed?
> Something else to consider is that the microwave spectrum is under fire
> from commercial interest more and more. Why not consider like a U/L or L/U
> transponder? That would bring the envelope a little closer to where the
> average ham could operate with out investing in some serious equipment,
> while keeping the dream of HEO alive for the large percentage of satellite
> operators, and not just a handful?
> Forgive me if Im wrong, but I just wanted to put my 2 cents in the pot. If
> we all would learn to work together as much as we fuss we would be making
> some tracks. Thanks everyone, Andrew N4LAZ
>
>