Woirk the FM LEOs tutorial - updated

[K6LCS]

Revision SEVENTEEN of my 4-page tutorial was just uploaded to ...

http://www.work-sat.com

Minor edits only ... and removed AO-51 as "the" primary easy-to-work satellite - at least for the time being.

A new page was added to the Web site this evening - an attempt to document the last V/U communications through AO-51 last week -

http://tinyurl.com/AO51-DCARR

Your edits/comments/corrections/critiques are welcome.

Clint K6LCS

[K3EEZ]

Excellent job. I would suggest a footnote in your table for SO-50 about the PL 74.4 tone and when it might be needed.

[K6LCS]

That paper is a handout used at my talks and demos where "Becoming the control operator of SO-50" is well-covered ... I have tried to condense the "meat" to those first three pages. AND I am "spoiled" by being here on the West Coast of the U.S. - where I have rarely needed to turn SO-50 "ON" with a blast of 74.4.

THANK YOU for your comment ... I may make another revision!

Clint K6LCS
909-241-7666

[K3EEZ]

Thanks for your efforts. I only mention it because I was stealing the table to program into my handhelds memories and for a second thought it was a typo, until I remembered the timer. I'm spoiled too.

[K6LCS]

BNut I certainly remember the early-mornikng pass of SO-50 a few years ago where I *DID* have to turn it on ... Think I wasn't paranoid about THAT? I mean, what if it crashes right here on my Koi pond ... how tight will the handcuffs be ...

(grin)

Clint K6LCS

[W5PFG]

That paper is a handout used at my talks and demos where "Becoming the control operator of SO-50" is well-covered ... I have tried to condense the "meat" to those first three pages. AND I am "spoiled" by being here on the West Coast of the U.S. - where I have rarely needed to turn SO-50 "ON" with a blast of 74.4.

Even if you're relying on "luck" that someone else has turned on the timer, it can go off mid-pass needing someone to turn it back on again. This happens fairly regularly. It is only a ten minute timer. Sometimes I am fortunate to have a good, workable 13-14 minute pass from home.

[WD9EWK]

Even if you're relying on "luck" that someone else has turned on the timer, it can go off mid-pass needing someone to turn it back on again. This happens fairly regularly. It is only a ten minute timer. Sometimes I am fortunate to have a good, workable 13-14 minute pass from home.

I also have many passes that go for 14 minutes or so. Being further west than Clayton, I find I am using the 74.4 Hz tone many times to turn on the satellite at the start of passes. If the satellite is coming from the north or northwest, sometimes it will already be turned on, but not so much if it is coming up from the west or south. Maybe that's why Clint rarely has to turn it on. Also having to send the 74.4 Hz tone another time before the satellite moves away from me is not unusual.

I'm seeing more activity on the SO-50 passes since AO-51 went silent a few weeks ago. This is a good thing. This satellite is working as well today as it was when I first tried it in 2005. Let's hope for many more years of service from it.

73!