Category Archives: AO-7

Back on the birds!

I’ve been using an ancient Panasonic ToughBook (CF-31) as the computer to control my IC-9700 for satellite work.  I liked the TB because the screen is readable in full daylight.  That particular computer was never fully supported by Panasonic to … Continue reading

Posted in AMSAT, AO-7, AO-73, CAS-4A, CAS-4B, CF31, Satellite, SatPC32, SO-50, Toughbook, XW-2C | Leave a comment

Getting Ready for WFD/Satellite

I don’t have the stamina of my youth, and especially don’t push things in New England Winters.  That said, this coming weekend is Winter Field Day.  I’ve participated the past five years with my club, W1SYE Newport County Radio Club.  … Continue reading

Posted in AO-7, AO-91, AO-92, CAS-4B, Satellite, SO-50, WFD, XW-2A, XW-2B, XW-2F | Tagged | Leave a comment

CW QSO via AO-7 Old Lady

It is always exciting to make a contact through AO-7, a satellite that was launched in 1974.  It died due to battery failure about five years later (batteries shorted), exceeding its design goals. Amazingly, 21 years after its launch, in … Continue reading

Posted in AO-7, Satellite | Leave a comment

Nice day with Scouts working satellites during JOTA

Today was the sixth JOTA (Jamboree On The Air) that I’ve had the privilege of working at, along with other Newport County Radio Club members.  While the weather was dicy yesterday (poor scouts trying to sleep during some rather strong … Continue reading

Posted in AMSAT, AO-7, AO-91, AO-92, CAS-4B, IOTA, Satellite, SO-50 | 4 Comments

Field Day 2018 Satellite Passes

I’ve put together my list of candidate orbits that are happening during daylight hours for Field Day 2018.  Orbits in green are pretty optimal.  Orbits in yellow are lower (and hence further away, or in darkness). Satellite Passes FD 2018

Posted in AMSAT, AO-7, AO-73, AO-85, AO-91, CAS-4B, FO-29, From the OM, Satellite, SO-50, XW-2A, XW-2B, XW-2C, XW-2D, XW-2F | Leave a comment

Calibrating the Uplinks for FD

The satellites are conspiring against me this year, mostly passes in the dark (nothing like stumbling/fumbling around in the dark in a field), but I’m getting the uplink calibrated again on my IC-9100. Anyway, was able to calibrate AO-7 uplink … Continue reading

Posted in AO-7, AO-73, AO-85, ISS, Satellite, SO-50, XW-2A, XW-2B, XW-2C, XW-2D, XW-2F | Leave a comment

CY9C – St. Paul Island DXpedition – via Satellite

I was fortunate enough to work CY9C today at 21:08:39 during a pass of AO-7.  Great operator on the other end and great signals too.  Heard him work quite a few prior to me as well. Did the same thing … Continue reading

Posted in AO-7, DX, Satellite, XW-2C | Leave a comment

Field Day 2016 Satellite Passes for FN41

The table of times listed below will likely be off a bit since FD is about 10 days in the future and the TLEs will have changed slightly by then.  However it is good enough for planning purposes.  Daylight and … Continue reading

Posted in AO-7, AO-73, AO-85, FO-29, Satellite, SO-50, XW-2A, XW-2C, XW-2F | Leave a comment

Worked AMSAT Demo Station at Dayton Hamvention

I had a Fox-1 QSO today at 20:10 UTC with John Papay, K8YSE operating portable at the AMSAT Demonstration Station at the Dayton Hamvention. Less than an hour later, at 21:01 I also worked him on SSB using AO-7.

Posted in AO-7, AO-85, Satellite | Leave a comment

Another Old Friend – AO-7

Although I’ve worked AO-7 during several Field Days (using our club call W1LY), I hadn’t made an AO-7 QSO since last summer.  Today I worked W4VAS, notably on SSB (my first voice QSO on that bird). It is simply amazing … Continue reading

Posted in AO-7, Satellite | Leave a comment