[amsat-bb] AO-92 L/v

Wed Jul 22 22:11:07 UTC 2020

Hi David,

Mark is correct. We did several polls, and they all came back to keep it where it is. The results were 2 to 1 and 3 to 1 in the two polls AMSAT did on FB and Twitter. There are other factors at play, but Tuesday night L/v seems to be the clear majority preference.

If ESEO is ever placed in amateur service, that will be an additional L band resource. Golf-TEE and Golf-1 will also have L band uplink capability with the 10GHz downlink.

73, Drew KO4MA
AMSAT VP Operations

-----Original Message-----
From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org> On Behalf Of Mark L. Hammond via AMSAT-BB
Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2020 5:17 PM
To: David Worboys <kg4zlb at icloud.com>
Cc: AMSAT <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] HEO

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