Posts by DL4EEC

  • FO-29 (JAS-2)

    Hi

    FO-29 is not a silent key - but often not active. This week I had the chance to work FO-29 twice (with strong signals). Maye it was active more often, but I´m not able to monitor it 24hours per day ;)


    Even an other old bird was/is still active. The FM repeater of AO-27 was/is active as well!



    Best regards


    Alex

  • AMSAT P3-A

    Thank you for keeping that project in mind. In any case a very big thank you to everyone who realized these milestones of ham radio satellites (in the past and today). Maybe one day we will have a P3 satellite again.

  • How can I use the HackRF with Qo-100

    Hi


    I use the HackRF for receiving under the SDR console. For transmit you have to use different software ( SDR console does not support the HackRf for TX).


    I used SDR Angel under windows 10 for portable operation. SDR Angel does not look very friendly but it works without any issues.


    Best regards


    Alex

  • RS-44 / DOSAAF-85

    I can confirm this. RS44 really works. It was a high activity at the transponder a few minutes ago.

    The signal had very fast QSB and I guess it is not as strong as FO-29 was/is on 70cm downlink.



    Best regards

    Alex

    DL4EEC

  • RS-15 active?

    I guess I have to try WSPR. Actually I´m not very familiar with that mode. My HF receivers are not connected to the PC yet. I´ll try the next days or weeks. Maybe someone else can try JT4 on RS15 as well.


    If we can see a transmitted signal at the downlink we have a final answer.






    Best regards

  • RS-15 active?

    Hi

    Yes in 1995 I used a HB9VC and 20 Watt as well. Maybe the final amp at the RS-15 is broken, or it has to less power (that´s what I think), or the receiver of the satellite has some problems.

    I´ll upgrade my downlink Antenne. Actually I´m using a FB-33 with Azimut only. I guess I have to use a 4el monbander with pre-amp and elevation. Than let´s see what happen. But we need somebody with a strong uplink as well. Let figure this out.

  • RS-15 active?

    Hi


    I need some help to observe the RS-15 satellite. As we know, the beacon is still transmitting. Sometimes a simple carrier, sometimes some beep digits.


    Before I explain my experience, I have to say I have a noisefloor of absolutely zero due me qth out in to the countryside.


    Anyway, today the beacon was very strong and I tried to transmit on the 2m Uplink some CW signs. I guess I could hear some parts of my own signal. During the transmitting period I changed very slow my frequency and the tone of the downlink changed as well. Maybe I´m wrong but I tried that some times and the result was the same.


    I do have a good receiver for 10m but my 2m uplink was only 50Watt into a K5OE eggbeater.




    I´m looking for someone with a strong 2m uplink to try this out. One again, maybe I´m wrong but I guess the transponder is working at the first 15 KHz, but extremely weak.


    I there anyone out, the do some research as well?


    Could that happen?




    Best regards




    Alex

    DL4EEC

  • AMSAT OSCAR-7 (1974)

    Hi


    I really like the Mode A. Please don’t get me wrong, but I´ll highlight some important facts.




    1. Listen to the downlink. I’m receiving very strong downlink signals, but I´m not sure that these stations could recognize their own signal. They are shifting very much and searching their own signal. In addition the are not receiving other answering stations. Sometimes I increase my uplink power to be stronger than their downlink, Even than, they are not able to copy everything.


      Please check your receiver/antenna. AO-7 is very sensitive and has a very limited power budget. Therefore be very careful with high uplink power.


    2. Mode A is not inverting >> the 2m Uplink and the 10m downlink are both in USB.






    Let’s enjoy that very old bird.




    Best regards




    Alex

  • AMSAT OSCAR-7 (1974)

    Hi




    The low activity on AO-7 is sooo sad. I did some DX QSO´s the last weeks and this bird is really great.

    Today Oscar 7 was active in Mode A (10m downlink) and very loud – but nobody was on L

  • TX Antenna challenge

    Hi


    This can be a solution.

    The next day’s I´ll try a PCP log-per and the “beer can antenna” as feed system. Let´s see how the different between prime focus and offset will be in that case. Must be the same, I guess.

  • TX Antenna challenge

    TX antenna challenge


    I did some interesting antenna test during the evening sun. The test does not meet scientific requirements, but still shows interesting results.

    As a comparison in the uplink, I have had the following antennas competed


    1. 3 Turn Helix in front of 1m prime focus dish
    2. 36 turn Helix (rhcp)
    3. 5 ½ turn Helix in front of 90cm Offset, but overhead the LNB ( o bit of center)


    The 3 turn with prime focus was definitely the winner. Around 7 dB less (not calibrated) I received the signal from the 90cm Offset with 5 ½ turn helix. Far away (only a bit over the noise) I could read the signal from the helix. The TX Power was 2 watt.


    I´ll practice some more tests the next days, with yagis and “beer can antenna” in front of the dish.


    Please note, during the transmission with the prime focus the Helix was not in front of the antenna anymore.

  • TX-only modification on commercial WiFi booster

    Hello

    I mounted a small PC cooler/air condition at the top of the “8 Watt” AMP. I think, after that it works a bit better.

    Buy the way, I can confirm that shorting pin 4 and 5 together switch the AMP to TX mode – even the small “4 Watt” Version.


    Best regards


    Alex