Re: [amsat-bb] AO-40 reception

["Dr. Jim Akers" <jakers@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Paul,

I heard AO-40 on the good pass from about MA 247 to 251.  It was never
very strong.  I have not yet verified my antenna orientation which I will
do before long by sighting the pole star.  Weather here in Miss. has been
absolutely miserable.  Clouds up almost every night I have any time.
Can't complain as we need rain desperately.  I will add the preamp after I
have verified the antenna orientation and had a look at AO-16 a couple of
more times. I hope before long we will get the S/C oriented with the gain
antennas pointing toward us so maybe we can get some copy most times.

Later es 73...Jim...W5VZF.

Dr. Jim Akers
Dept. of Electrical 
and Computer Engineering
Miss. State Univ. 


On Tue, 27 Mar 2001, Paul Willmott wrote:

> For your tests with AO-40, ...
> 
> post-perigee reception has almost dried up, ... its still worth listening
> for it, and any bad CRCC data is much appreciated, ... but don't expect
> solid copy!
> 
> pre-perigee MA 235-253 is now the best time to listen! With MA 245-251
> getting the best CRCC OK copy.
> 
> Cheers and good luck!
> 
> Paul, VP9MU
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dr. Jim Akers" <jakers@ECE.MsState.EDU>
> To: "Mark L. Hammond" <hammond@surrealnet.net>
> Cc: "Jesse Morris" <w4mvb@juno.com>; <amsat-bb@AMSAT.Org>
> Sent: Tuesday, March 27, 2001 16:23
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] AO-40 reception
> 
> 
> > Mark,
> >
> > I did not get up and listen for the down link last night.  I did hear the
> > recent pass but not as well as I had hoped for.  I am using the BBQ dish
> > with a Drake 2880 to a FT-736 with 144 MHz IF.  I got only about a s-2 max
> > reading.  I have a preamp but have not put it on line as I wanted to
> > experiment with the Drake by itself.  Here is what I have found so far.  I
> > can hear UO-11 from about a 25 deg elevation to 25 deg elevation as it
> > passes almost overhead.  It doesn't even move the s-meter.  I cannot hear
> > AO-16 even on an almost direct overhead pass...84 deg elevation.  I get
> > about an s-2 on AO-40.  So I guess it is time to put the preamp on line
> > and see what happens.
> >
> > That should give you something to experiment with in the long absence of
> > AO-40.  I look at these passes as ways to "tweak" my system a bit. I may
> > even get it to the point where I can send some telemetry to the AO-16
> > command team;-))
> >
> > Let me know how you fare on some of these signals.
> >
> > 73...Jim...W5VZF.
> >
> > Dr. Jim Akers
> > Dept. of Electrical
> > and Computer Engineering
> > Miss. State Univ.
> >
> >
> > On Tue, 27 Mar 2001, Mark L. Hammond wrote:
> >
> > > 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
> > >
> >
> > ----
> > Via the amsat-bb mailing list at AMSAT.ORG courtesy of AMSAT-NA.
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> >
> 

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