Re: [amsat-bb] AO-40 reception

["Robert Jewell" <ac9r@xxxxxxxx>]

I calibrate my antennas with AO-40 also!

I use the "Slew" function of KCT.  I swish the antenna across the AO-40
signal, to find the strongest signal, and make a mental note of where it
appeared on the GR 5400 azimuth indicator,. I then let the program (QT-5.02)
bring the antenna back to where it thinks AO-40 is, then I hit the slew key
until the GR 5400 azimuth indicator is where "I" heard the strongest signal.
I do this on EVERY pass, and therefore don't have to worry too much about
the latest keps and antenna pointing accuracy, although  I update my keps
every couple of days.

I have calibrated my antennas with a compass and inclination indicator with
one degree increments and also with the sun, and find that calibrating with
AO-40 works best.  I "Slew" about 5-7 degrees in azimuth and a couple of
degrees in elevation.(Which means I probably need to make some adjustments)

Rather than looking for the strongest signal, I swish across the signal and
look for when the signal disappears into the noise on each side of the
anticipated azimuth, and then take the "middle" azimuth number.

I hope this helps.

AC9R@amsat.org



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