Amsat-DL international team successfully transmitted and received signals via Venus on 25-03-2009 at 10:38 utc.
The signal received was about 0.3 dB under bad interference from WLan and bad weather in Bochum. The transmitter was about 6 kW CW on 2.4 GHz . The transmitter used a magnetron that has been locked to rubidium and for the first time SSB quality was achieved making it possible to use this transmitter for P5A Amsat-DL mission to Mars. The use of a magnetron for this purpose was possible thanks to a new Amsat-DL developped modulator that enables a magnetron to be used for narrow band operation. With this transmitter Amsat-DL is ready to start the next step in the Mars mission and prepare the spacecraft. More information on Amsat-DL website http://amsat-dl.org
