Good evening, On the 0250Z pass of AO-73, I was delighted to hear and work Paulo, PV8DX, very soon after AOS. While I have worked Paulo many times (five other times in just the past week), this was my first intercontinental QSO on AO-73 and my first intercontinental QSO on any satellite other than AO-7 and FO-29 with their higher orbits. My elevation was between 2 and 3 degrees during the QSO. AO-73 is in a slightly elliptical orbit of 682 km x 595 km, but it was at it's perigee of 595 km during this QSO. The distance between Paulo and I is 4,337 km, 899 km short of the theoretical maximum of 5,236 km at perigee.
I have posted audio and a graphic from SatPC32 showing the satellite's footprint at the time of the QSO on YouTube: http://youtu.be/HLzMV7MGz0U Although I rushed the QSO as I did not know how much longer Paulo would be in the footprint, he was heard for another 30 seconds or so. Equipment used was my normal satellite station: two Yaesu FT-817s, a High Sierra Microwave LNAA146FIL preamp, and an Arrow II 146/437-10BP handheld yagi. I was operating off my apartment balcony with a very good view of the southern horizon in southwest Washington, DC. 73, Paul, N8HM _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
