[amsat-bb] AO-40 Questions

["william washburn" <billwashburn@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Folks,

Although I have been building and testing S-band receive
equipment for several months now, I had not tried to use
the equipment to hear AO-40 until last night.

The antenna and converter are shown in this link: 
http://people.we.mediaone.net/billwashburn/helix_&_drake.htm

The 144MHz receiver is a DSP-10 & Toshiba Laptop:
http://people.we.mediaone.net/billwashburn/dsp-10.htm

My QTH is Fresno, California, USA @ 36.74N, 119.77W.

At 2400hr local time AO-40 was supposed to be at 180 degrees
azimuth and 50 degrees elevation.  This is the direction in which
I had pointed the helix.  I have a restricted view to the east
because of a large 2-story house at about 160 degrees azimuth.

I listened on S2 GB, MB and EB along with the S2 analog passband
and heard absolutely nothing.  I could see nothing on the waterfall
display either.

However, from inside the house at about thirty feet from the helix
and downconverter I could hear my test signal source clearly:
http://people.we.mediaone.net/billwashburn/2_4_ghz_source.htm

I know nothing about ALON/ALAT, squint, etc.

But I know one thing for sure:

Either the satellite signals were not there to hear or my receive
setup is totally deaf or both.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks, Bill, WA6QGR
 



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