[amsat-bb] HEO

[Mark L. Hammond]

Hi David,

The L-band receiver setup is on a 24 hour timer (unless the satellite
resets due to SAA or low battery voltage before the timer is up!).

As I recall, we did a pretty good poll via social media (FB, Twitter if I
recall) and Wednesday UTC was the top pick.

Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]
AMSAT Director and Command Station



On Wed, Jul 22, 2020 at 4:54 PM David Worboys via AMSAT-BB <
amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:

> Following on from Patrick’s post (below), I just got home and checked to
> find that the first AO-92 pass for me is at 23:13 edt tonight which, as I
> have to get up at 3.15am for work, is a definite no-no!
>
> What is the reason for L/U to be only switched on for just a 24 hour
> period and during the work week?  Is it automatically switched back or does
> the command station do it? If that latter, can it be left on for say, 48
> hours to give operators a better chance of working L band or moved to a
> weekend slot? What with the non activity last week I think its been about
> three weeks since the last time I could use Mode L and whilst I appreciate
> that there are a lot of people who want to use that mode, opening up the
> ability would give a greater number of operators the opportunity.
>
> If the 24 hour period is the maximum available to preserve the health of
> the satellite then I understand but I would be interested in knowing the
> rationale!
>
> Many thanks
>
> 73
>
> David
> KG4ZLB
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Jul 22, 2020, at 1:30 PM, Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) via AMSAT-BB
> <amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:
>
> 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
> >
> >
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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!
> Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>