Glenn, You are probably right, though I do think there are a few subscribers out there that could use a reminder.
Also, the BB archives do show up in web searches, so someone searching for SO-50 might come across this thread and learn from it. 73, Paul, N8HM On Sun, Aug 3, 2014 at 3:51 PM, Glenn Miller - AA5PK <[email protected]> wrote: > Paul, > > I think you're preaching to the choir. > > The offenders are not likely subscribers to the BBS and probably don't even > know it exists. > > Glenn > AA5PK > > -----Original Message----- From: Paul Stoetzer > Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2014 2:47 PM > > To: John Belstner > Cc: amsat-bb > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] SO-50 QSO's > > Also heard over the past few days on SO-50: > > -Whistling > -"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10" > -"CQ satellite" > -"November" > > You are definitely correct about the primary cause - people need to > put some effort into optimizing their receive setup as SO-50 has a > weak downlink signal. I was on a 10 degree max eastern pass of SO-50 > (mostly over the Atlantic Ocean) around 1400Z this morning and had a > nice 4 minute chat with KG4JPL. Signals were S9+20 on my meter at 10 > degrees. I am using an Arrow II 146/437-10BP, two FT-817s, and a High > Sierra Microwave LNAA432 preamp. > > Here are a few tips: > > -If it's the middle of the day or the evening and the pass is covering > most of the United States, there is someone on. Definitely wait to > hear it before transmitting. Only the night owl passes are devoid of > activity. > > -Be sure you can adjust polarity. I've seen SO-50 signals go from > inaudible to S9 with a simple twist of the Arrow/Elk. > > -Use good quality coax (I use LMR-240UF at the moment) and the > shortest run you can use. > > -Operate full-duplex. Baofengs are cheap and have adequate sensitivity > to receive SO-50, get one to use as your receive radio if you're > trying to use a dual band HT without full-duplex capability. You might > even mount the receive radio directly to your antenna if you are using > an Arrow to eliminate coax losses. > > -Listen to what's going on. If there's a QSO in progress, wait until > it's complete. If a station calls someone else, don't call them unless > the station called is obviously not responding. If there's a rare grid > or other rarely heard entity on the air, let those who need the grid > work that station, don't try to make other QSOs. If you key up and > have clearly lost the battle with another station, unkey. > > -Throwing out your callsign once in a pass is OK, but it's better to > call specific stations. > > The good news for FM satellite fans: EO-80 and the Fox-1 series are > coming! They will be much easier to hear with nice, loud 2m downlinks! > EO-80 is even capable of putting out 2 watts > (http://www.amsat-f.org/site/spip.php?article82) which would make it a > whopping 20 dB louder than SO-50, though it probably won't (and > shouldn't) be set to 2 watts output very often. > > And remember to donate to the Fox project here: http://www.amsat.org/?p=2957 > > 73, > > Paul, N8HM > > On Sun, Aug 3, 2014 at 3:18 PM, John Belstner <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> I heard lots of new calls on SO-50 today and I really wanted to give them >> a shout back and say welcome. >> Unfortunately, that's about all I heard was a bunch of folks throwing >> their call sign out. >> Is there some "transmit only" mode that I'm not aware of? ;-) >> >> On a more serious note, try to hear the downlink first before >> transmitting. It reduces QRM and greatly increases your chances of making a >> QSO! >> >> Thanks and 73, >> John W9EN >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
