[amsat-bb] AO-51 ECHO Sat Mode-J

["Charlie Schlieper" <n5td@xxxxxxx>]

I was able to work the following four stations via AO-51 today, and have
an observation to make.

                 N1QKW, FN31, Colchester, CT
                 K9PQR, EL98, WinterPark, FL
                 AA4RC, EM73, Atlanta, GA
                 W7JPI, DM41, Sonoita, AZ
                (--did not confirm K7ZT, EM10, Leander, TX)

I'm using an MMF200-7 Mode-J Filter, 2M-22C CP UpLink antenna,
with a 435-40CX CP Downlink antenna.  (Both antennas have switchable
circular polarization)

My observation is this--the ECHO satellite, so far,  seems to prefer my
CP antenna systems over the terrestrial arrays, even at low elevation
angles.

(VHF/UHF terrestrial arrays--> consist of four 35-element Yagis on 1.2GHz,
four 18-element Yagis on 435MHz, and four 13-element Yagis on 145MHz)

I used to switch over to the plane polarized Yagi arrays on low Elevation
angles
and do pretty well on UO-14 and AO-27 satellites, Mode-J FM.

Please keep two things in mind-- I do not intend this to be a criticism of
AO-51,
and second, my experience with ECHO sat is very limited at this point.  Any
comments from others would be appreciated.

Thanks and 73,
Charlie Schlieper, N5TD
----
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