Well just something the original author needs to bear in mind is he's comparing a satellite that was launched roughly 5 months ago (ho-68) to another that was launched almost 6 years ago (AO-51) so of course there's gonna be some significant differences among them being mission objectives. HO-68 is the first Chinese AMSAT and China is going through an industrial revolution of sorts at the moment so it makes sense to make their first AMSAT as advanced as they can make it to add to their list of technological achievements. Its really comparing Apples to Oranges.
Unfortunately being a new ham myself I can't share the same sentiments as the author seems to be more interested in CW then Voice/Data which appears to be really his only reason for claiming HO-68 is a superior satellite. At the moment I don't know CW and my interest in it is a passive one since I'm more interested in digital modes like PSK31. That and it doesn't help that my only dual-band vhf/uhf rig that I use for working satellites is an HT either. ~73, KC2WQW On Mon, Apr 26, 2010 at 11:14 AM, <n5...@email.com> wrote: > > Found this interesting from another mailing list. > > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: John Hackett <archie.hack...@hotmail.com> > To: eu-am...@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Sun, Apr 25, 2010 3:50 pm > Subject: [eu-amsat] HO-68 versus AO-51 > > > > > HO-68 v AO-51 ??. > > HO-68 versus AO-51 - and the university downlink only satellites - (aka the > FM menagerie). > > In my honest opinion it's a 'no contest' scenario - with HO-68 winning > hands down. > > The two main reasons for me making this claim are ... > > 1) HO-68's superior orbit. > > 2) It's multi-mode transponders. > > On a typical European pass an HO-68 orbit has a footprint the covers from > Spain in the west to India in the east, Norway in the north to Sudan in the > south ... and all points in between. > > Whereas AO-51 is FM only ... HO-68 has transponders for CW, SSB as well as > FM. > > HO-68 is (IMHO) easier to operate due to it needing less power to get into > the transponders, albeit, to really take advantage of that, a knowledge of > CW is required, which *STILL* shows it's great advantage as weak signal > mode. > > When all else fails ... switch to CW. > > Igor, RW3XL has been operating cross-satellite with HO-68 to VO-52 and > HO-68 to > AO-7 ... keying the up down buttons for CW since his keyer is on the blink. > > For those wanting to learn, the 200mW beacon sends *SLOW* morse and it's > copyable on a piece of wet string wrapped round a rusty six inch nail. > > I've proved this over and over on HO-68 at the beginning of passes when the > elevation is under 20 degrees and a SSB just can't make it - switch to CW - > Q5 copy - (Domenico, I8CVS will endorse that). > > I believe that HO-68 is becoming the experienced 'operator's' satellite > while AO-51 will remain the platform for the potential newcomer ... where > they can QRM eachother to their heart's content ... more power Egon ... MORE > POWER !!! ... (with due apologies to the Hollywood film 'Frankenstein'). > > For me at least, HO-68 has brought the fun back into amateur satellite > operating, particularly on CW ... akin to RS-10, the most popular satellite > ever - (judged by the amount of users) - after the veritable old AO-7. > > While everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, operating FM on a > satellite is about as much fun for me as watching paint dry and is, in my > opinion, the worst possible way to introduce a potential newcomer to amateur > satellites. My EU-Amsat co-founder, SV1BSX > (SK) first used the word 'zoo' to describe the AO-51 standard of operating. > > There ought to be a sign on the microphone ... PLEASE DON'T FEED THE > ANIMALS. > > 73 John. <la2...@amsat.org> > > > > > > > __._,_.___ > > Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic > Messages in this topic (1) > Recent Activity: > Visit Your Group > > > Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use > > > > . > > > __,_._,___ > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > _______________________________________________ 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
