If it was on the moon it wouldn't be a satellite. But if one was orbiting the moon it would be... So we need two. AO-M1a and AO-M1b
From the responses I see above, I assume that it would be impracticle to place an RF passive reflector on the surface of the moon or, it would have been done already. I seem to recall that one of the very first satellites launched by the NASA was a metal sphere which was in low earth orbit and could reflect radio signals. If memory serves, it was called ECHO ???? Tom WA4ILH
LOL A repeater on The Moon In my mind it would be the same as EME Hams are hesistant to put up a 2m single beam for FM or SSB Most who do EME have huge arrays Do you really think you could use a repeater on the moon from your vertical Even AO27 was almost impossible without an Arrow Beam Placing a repeater on The Moon accomplishes one human tradition Polluting pristine areas What I would like to see is a ..... New AO10 High Altitude Satellite With the latest technology AO10 surpassed expectations A new version will be amazing and more cost effective.... Than anything on the moon Just My Humble Opinion
Why not? A satellite is an object that orbits another object. The moon is our "natural satellite" - a repeater on the moon IMO most certainly would be "a satellite" - and a pretty darn reliable one, at least as far as "the vehicle" is concerned - it's been faithfully being a satellite for, well, quite some time now Dave W7UUU
The problem is that a signal takes approximately 2.6 seconds to make the lunar round-trip. The average user of a linked repeater system can't get the idea that you press the PTT then wait for the repeaters to setup. Make them wait 2.6 seconds and EVERY transmission will have the first words cut off. THEN there will be the same ones who dominate a satellite pass who will think the repeater is theirs at all times. This appears to be a classic Charlie Foxtrot.
If I did that math right, for a 100 watt tx, and 3 element yagi antennas on earth and the moon, you will get 2 microvolts at the moon RX, on the 2m band Typical FM RX sensitivity is better than 10db sinad at .5uv. This would be a near full Quieting link with a VERY average station. Or about the same signal a taxi or fire truck makes. I once read a article from a fellow who claimed to be the guy who had to pick a clear channel for Neil and Buzz to talk back to earth. Problem was not building some super special moon talk radio, but finding a frequency not in use anywhere on the planet. Rege
You would need a awful lot of aluminum foil ! Moon reflects around 7% of the radio wave back to earth as it is. Rege
Send Astronauts to the moon again and let them build an Tower on the moon with Solar Powered and it will be all good Problem solved. you got your satellite which will be powerful and reliable.
A repeater on the moon might be a bit difficult to maintain, especially in the winter with all that snow---- TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo
Popular Electronics in the 70's had an interesting article on SWL'ing from the moon. With a relatively modest receiver, many terrestrial FM and TV stations could be heard. The situation has changed somewhat with most countries on Earth switching to digital broadcasting, but a number of FM stations could be listened to quite easily. http://onetuberadio.com/2015/05/10/dxing-from-outer-space/
Do we really need to junk up the moon any more? Seems we are treating outer space the same as our trashed earth. I can understand the desire but sometimes we should think first...JMO
