AO-7 distance record

Joe Spandler K3SZH and Francisco Ramires PY2OV achieved a 7736 km QSO using the 70cm to 2m transponder on the 35 year old Amateur Radio satellite AO-7 believed to be the furthest contact within the Americas but just short of the world record.

During January the distance record for AO-7 has been repeatedly broken.

First, on January 2, Luciano Fabricio PY5LF worked Pierre van Deventer ZS6BB over a distance of 7630 km.

Next on January 8 Luiz Pirajá PS8RF worked Andre van Deventer ZS2BK at 7694 km.

Then on January 18 Pierre van Deventer ZS6BB managed to work Josep Riera EA6SA at a distance of 7766 km.

On Sunday January 24 at 22:52 UTC Joe Spandler K3SZH in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, had a short contact with Francisco Ramires PY2OV in São Paulo, Brazil. The distance between the two stations was 7738 km. The contact was made using SSB on the 70cm to 2m linear transponder and is believed to be the furthest contact within the Americas, but falls just short of the ZS6BB-EA6SA contact."

The theoretical maximum range of AO-7 is about 7907 km so there is still scope for the record to be broken yet again.

A video of the latest contact is now available.
Watch Satellite AO-7 7738 Km USA - Brazil





AO7 Log and Resource Site
http://www.planetemily.com/ao7/

Online Satellite Pass Predictions (select AO-7)
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/predict/

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Good for Joe!
I enjoy talking with him on AO-7.

 

Sorry, I still didn't hear a legitimate acknowledgement both ways regarding accurate and full callsigns between both stations. I don't agree with this story.

 

This news article led me to try to answer the following question: Which man-made satellite is the record holder for longest interval between launch and last bidirectional ground-orbit-ground communication? The distinction I'd make is that the satellite has to electronically participate, so EME stuff doesn't count.

Pioneer 6: Launched Dec'65, Last comm Dec'00: 35 years
ATS-3: Launched Nov'67, Last comm 2001: 34 years
OSCAR-7: Launched Nov'74, last comm Jan'10: 36 years

Is AO-7 now the record holder for 'satellite shown to be operational longest interval after launch' ?

 

AO7 records

Great Job guys!! Joe it is always a pleasure talking to my satellite friends. I am working on the records myself....so far my distance on this bird is OH8MBN with 4656.1 miles and 7493.2 k. Soon as I get the russian guy I might have you beat LOL LOL.

Take care guys and see you on the birds!!

Dave

 

But subtract the years it was off the air due to the battery problems and it is not the longest operational sat.

 

True that, by some 17 years, I guess. Still, those are pretty harsh conditions, powered or not, and impressive outcome. Defined as 'years between launch and last comms,' it seems near the top. defined as 'operational years on orbit,' it will need to last a long time yet to exceed ATS-3 and Pioneer 6.