Re: [amsat-bb] AO-40 reception

["Mark L. Hammond" <hammond@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Wow, glad to have somebody confirm weak signals last night, Jess!

Yesterday, I got the new 3' BBQ dish+TranSystem downconverter, mounted it 
on the array, and did a few quick "harmonics tests."  All seemed to be 
okay, and the quick bench tests suggested an improvement over the Drake (no 
surprise).

I got up for the pass, and only heard ONE tiny little "grind" out of AO-40, 
about MA 7-ish.  I think pointing accuracy was a factor, but was really 
disappointed since I have clearly heard better signals from the Drake+Wimo 
30 turn helix on previous passes.

So, it is reassuring that signals were indeed weak last night.  I was 
afraid the new downconverter+dish wasn't any better than the Drake+Wimo 
helix.  Obviously, I need many more passes before I can get much of a 
hands-on opinion of the two systems.  Too bad it takes so long for good 
perigee passes---but that's the nature of the bird for now.

73 and keep the signal reports coming in gang!  Misery loves company ;-)

Mark N8MH



At 09:04 AM 3/27/01 -0500, Jesse Morris wrote:
>Good Morning,
>
>I was able to make it up to listen for AO-40 at 06:28Z this morning.  The
>signal at AOS was not quite as strong as it was at LOS on Sunday and did
>not last very long.  By 06:40Z (phase 7) the signal was in the noise.
>Based on the lat two receiptions I guess the antenna angle for me is best
>when the satellite is hiding behind the earth!
>
>73 de Jess - W4MVB
>----
>Via the amsat-bb mailing list at AMSAT.ORG courtesy of AMSAT-NA.
>To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe amsat-bb" to Majordomo@amsat.org



Mark L. Hammond  [N8MH]

----
Via the amsat-bb mailing list at AMSAT.ORG courtesy of AMSAT-NA.
To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe amsat-bb" to Majordomo@amsat.org