[amsat-bb] ECHO reception

[McGrane <tmcgrane@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Greetings, this is Patrick N2OEQ Long Island new york

I am using the following setup for oscar echo:
FT-8800R dual band radio, narrow FM, squelch off, doppler memories.
Diamond 500 vertical 15 feet high with 25 feet of 9913 feedline.

During the typical medium to high angle pass, I have no reception for the
first and last 3 minutes and noisy to full quiet reception around the
center of the pass. On low angle passes below 20 degrees I have very noisy
to no reception. I tried a discone without the low frequency vertical on
top and the diamond vertical was clearly better.

I would consider my setup to be simple and capable of working the oscar
echo under typical conditions in the future when the power is higher.
Hopefully this is in keeping with the EASYSAT concept. I noticed on the
amsat website that echo is capable of up to 7 watts output and 1 to 6 is
stated as typical. I understand that echo is transmitting less than 1 watt
for now. 

I have not yet made a contact as I am mostly listening. Before the
satellite was opened for general use, I heard a test transmission from
echo on a table top scanner with only the supplied antenna. I am guessing
the test was at a high power level. That was very encouraging for the
future. I will gladly wait the three weeks until the satellite gains
power. 

I commend amsat and its volunteers for producing a satellite that should
appeal to a very large number of amateurs.

More power!
More power!

HI HI 

Thank you, patrick N2OEQ
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