I also forgot to mention that a PreAmp makes all of the difference. I worked a few passes with N5AFV this past weekend for Museum Ship weekend, and he let me borrow his preamp. On AO-27, it went from an S-1 to an S6, and with SO-50 it went from an S-0 (still audible though) to an S-4. I'll also embarrassingly admit that I had my arrow pointed in the wrong direction (for part of the pass), and AO-27 was still audible with an S3, but only with the preamp.
I believe we used an AAR SP450VDA. On Tue, Jun 9, 2009 at 11:22 PM, Andrew Koenig <ke5...@gmail.com> wrote: > I would try taking the antenna off of the tripod for a little while. The > polarization of the satellites changes constantly, and with the antenna on > the tripod, it's difficult to compensate for those changes. > > Also, AO-51 is a much stronger bird than SO-50, but AO-27 is the strongest > at the moment. AO-27 has the same frequencies as SO-50, but there is no > tone, and it's got a timer on it that turns it on when it reaches (about) > the Gulf Coast line (for the purposes of maintaining battery power). You'll > have time to get your antenna in the right place with the 20 seconds of > telemetry it starts with (see http://www.ao27.org/AO27/index.shtml for a > schedule). > > For your situation, I would recommend trying AO-27 until you are familiar > with the satellites. AO-27 isn't as crowded as AO-51, but it's also not as > quiet (both in traffic and output) as SO-50. > > Don't quote me on it, but I think AO-51 has less than 500mW output right > now, AO-27 is 500mW and SO-50 is 250mW. > > Good luck! Once you get the hang of it, it's easy enoguh that a teenager > can do it (I'd know..) > > 73 de KE5GDB > > On Tue, Jun 9, 2009 at 9:18 PM, LeRoy Miller <kd8...@sprint.blackberry.net > > wrote: > >> Hello >> >> I am relatively new (- I have been tring on my own to get the hang of >> working the satellites) with little or no luck. >> >> I have been posting my failed results to twitter and getting over >> frustrated in my attempts - luckly there have been a few who have given me >> pointers. And one very nice person kl7cn let me call him and he talked me >> though a few things during the call he said maybe I should try the SO50. So >> today I did try it >> And much to my surprise and happiness it was easy enough to pickup and >> find and things seemed to working for me (He told me that is was a quite >> machine and that I might have to look for it a bit) >> The pass I tried was at 1710 UTC (110 pm local est) and the sat was moving >> from the southwest to the northeast from my previous trys on the AO51 I knew >> that I would probably not get it while it was still low (less then about 20 >> degrees - also because of where I was pointing the antenna that low I was >> pointing right at a building) I reasoned that if I started looking at about >> 24 degrees I would being doing much better (so that is what I did) at about >> 1714 or 1715 UTC I had heard the SO51 for the first time, still a bit rough >> and probably still a little low by the time it was up around the 40 degree >> mark I thought >> What the heck I am here, people are talking why not try to make a contact >> - so that is what I did >> I think I waited just a little longer got a nice strong signal and put my >> call out >> >> KD8BXP em79 -- >> What I heard on the downlink really surprised me - it was this horrable >> noise (it almost sounded like when 2 people double) I don't know what I did >> but thought ok maybe feedback from the microphone so I unpluged the external >> and tried again >> I got the same horrable sound >> >> Now I am sorry up front for this noise I am sure people heard it - so if >> you were on around 1717 - 1720 I am so sorry upfront >> >> But that leads me to my question - what did I do wrong? >> And how can I correct the problem and try again >> >> I have been really frustrated with the AO51 so much so that I almost put >> my rig antenna and what not on ebay 3 days ago - I cooled off but I really >> want to work this bird >> It seemed (at least to a newbie) an easy one to find and maybe make >> contacts on. >> >> You will need to know the setup: >> TH-D7 A (not the G model I have a G but didn't use it this time) >> Arrow (2 meter/440) mounted to a telescope tripod >> Eeepc running ubuntu linux a gpredict >> External mic for the radio >> I was on 145.850 pl 67hz for the uplink >> And 436.800 for the downlink >> Radio was in duplex mode and sql was turned off (or open if you prefer) >> And the balance on the speaker was set for only the 440 side >> I was at 40 - 50 degrees when I first keyed up and the second time would >> have been when it was at its highest point of between 64 and 74 degrees >> I was on the high power setting >> I have used this radio for both local repeater work and aprs and no one >> has ever told me that it was making horrable noises >> And I think if it was making horrable noises while transmitting aprs the >> data would be corrpted >> >> I hope I have given enough information. I hope someone can help I don't >> want to make horrable noises again >> >> One other thing but I am sure it is my problem not one that someone fix so >> to speak >> Once the satellite reached its max and started back down - I lost it >> completely couldn't find it again >> I think it was me one leg on the tripod is bent and started to collaspe >> while I was turning the antenna to start it pointing in a north east direct >> >> Thanks for the help in advance I write a lot to ask something simple sorry >> about that >> >> LeRoy, KD8BXP >> Sent on the Now Network™ from my Sprint® BlackBerry >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >> >> > > > -- > Andrew Koenig > > -- Andrew Koenig _______________________________________________ Sent via amsat...@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
