AO-51 Mode S...who's active?

[VK5LA]

Hi all,
AO-51 will be in mode V/S - March 29 - April 4

***FM Repeater, V/S
Uplink: 145.880 Mhz FM
Downlink: 2401.200 Mhz FM***

From my experience the V/U mode is quite popular, I hear stations each pass...but what about Mode S?

I have put together a RX system for 2401.2 to listen for the satellite...are there many stations active? Is 2.4 Ghz just as busy as 435.3Mhz? Or will I be listening to white noise?

Hope to hear someone!

Cheers
Andy - VK5LA

[VK2GOM]

Hi Andy,

I was reading about your Mode S setup - sounds great, well done A future Amateur Radio magazine article?

Could be worth dropping a line on the AMSAT-VK group if you haven't already, and see what the go is.

73 - Rob VK2GOM / G0MOH

[VK5LA]

Cheers Rob,
I worked/listened to AO51 on my new homemade 2/70cm Yagi yesterday and they assured me that there will be operators on Mode S next week.

I built one of these...



From here...

http://www.mydarc.de/dk7zb/Duoband/5+8_2m-70cm.htm

Yes, I know...the pvc is a bit wonky but it still works!
I'll get a straight bit later on...

And it seems to work vey well. No duplexer required - less weight.
My handheld is only single RX, but I programmed a few channels up for the pass to get over the doppler issue. A duplex Handie would be even better as you can hear the downlink as you transmit.

I'm taking it portable with me at Easter to try my hand at a bit of SSB/FM "hill hopping" and AO-51 in the Grampians, so I'll see how it goes there as well.

Cheers!
Andy VK5LA

[ZL3MH]

Hi All

From 3 months ago……………………………………

Yep, I am booked in and coming to OZ from the 12th of
Feb to the 20th of Feb. I will be at the Kyneton Hamfest
Sunday 14th of February. I am flying to Adeliade on the
15th of Feb and staying three nights and returning to
Melbourne on the 18th. Feb ( Cheap $59 Airfares )

Well I had to buy something at Kyneton a Grid Pak
Antenna. The same trader was at Wyong , VK2ZAZ
Geoff brought the same one too !

I am using a ex Galaxy Pay TV Grid Pak antenna
and part on the converter that came with it. I have cut
off the balun and antenna from the old Conifier 2.2GHz
converter. I have re-soldered the dipoles from 65mm
with out cutting anything off back to 61 mm. The coax
is 9913 which will be made off into a genuine 9913 N
type connecter which is very important at 2.4 GHz .
The coax is under 1meter long which should equate to
0,2db loss. I have a Cat 5 water proof box but I will still
put a good quality plastic bag over it. I will mount
everything up there and last of all attach the dipole
cover and reflector . I am worried about the pressure
inserted on the dipole and print circuit board by the
stiffness of the solid copper core of the coax. This
is mil spec coax with no aluminum core or sheath.


Operating S band is still a bit hard. I am using a
2400.000 MHz to 144.000 MHz converter and my
Uniden UBC72 scanner. I am a SSB person and not at
all setup for FM. I do have a trusty FDK multi 2000
for the up link on 144.880 MHz.

I have to track the satellite manually . I have brand new
Keps and Timing from the last pip on National Radio
( same as ABC in Oz ). As I am not a repeater or FM
person I do not have tuneable FM gear.

The scanner is set to 5 kc channel spacing at 144-148 MHz
I step though the frequencies as the satellite goes over.

Start of pass

Ch1 145.250 MHz Start AOS
Ch2 145.245 MHz
Ch3 145.240 MHz
Ch4 145.235 MHz
Ch5 145.230 MHz
Ch6 145.225 MHz
Ch7 145.220 MHz
Ch8 145.215 MHz
Ch9 145.210 MHz
Ch10 145.205 MHz
Ch11 145.200 MHz Mid Point
Ch12 145.195 MHz
Ch13 145.190 MHz
Ch14 145.185 MHz
Ch15 145.180 MHz
Ch16 145.175 MHz
Ch17 145.170 MHz
Ch18 145.165 MHz
Ch19 145.160 MHz
Ch20 145.155 MHz
Ch21 145.150 MHz
Ch22 145.145 MHz End LOS

I have worked VK5ALX , ZL2BX , VK2ZAZ and VK2WEL so
far. There are a few other stations about or get about ready to go
but in ZL there are only two.

I am yet to work Ron VK6AKI in Perth on Mode S . It will
still be a hard contact from here as at each end the satellite
is not very high. On Mode J + B I can work right to the horizon
and sometimes to - 0.5 degs but on Mode S under 2 deg
elevation things are very difficult, because of tree and ground
obstacle attenuation and the FM effect. The other day we
missed by one minute.

All the best Murray ZL3MH