[amsat-bb] A few sat questions

["Dittmar, Mark" <Mark_Dittmar@xxxxxxxxxx>]

	Hello all-

	I am new to satellite operation,  having worked a few CW QSOs on
RS13 and listening in on UO14 passes.  I have a few questions for the
experts:

	1)  With respect to receiving antennas on 435 Mhz,  I put up a
homebrew "eggbeater" type omni antenna,  using about 40' of 9913 to the
rcvr.  It is wired for RHCP.  Though the antenna works OK on various passes
of UO14,  ocassionally bringing the rcvr to "full quieting" , a lot of the
time during the pass,  the signal just drops out.  Perhaps weakly related to
the elevation angle,  it is hard for me to tell.  Is this due more to the
fact that the polarazation from the sat is changing?  I thought that an
eggbeater would have worked better,  though I realize that an omni ant is a
compromise.  Do most ops work UO14 with handheld beams ?

	2)  RS15 ?  I've been tuning in on this bird just to listen;  some
times,  I hear the beacon sending CW telemetry,  other times,  I just hear a
series of long chirpy dashes.  Is the sat switched in and out of sending CW
telemetry?  Or is this some kind of power saving mode?  Does the transponder
function when in the "long dash" mode?  Also,  I have yet to hear any
activity on this sat,  even when the CW telemetry beacon is coming in
strong.  

	Thanks for your consideration,

	73, Mark, AB0CW

	
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