Goldmine Holiday for VU2SWG

Hi,

Today 1/2 day off from MQTH - gave way to a goldmine on AO51

1st pass @ 1630IST E21EJC, ND9M/MM, HS3ANP. Heard VU2GSM and UP??WFF or EFF
2nd pass @ 1800IST VU2DPE, ND9M/MM,A71CV, VU2MUD, Heard VU2GUR calling ND9MM. Heard UP??WFF or EFF

Today I want to create a record with VO52 + SO50 tonite if time + HQTH QRL permits + outside WX

All QSO today made with Hand held Wouxun with standard rubber ducky single radio only.

73 & gud dx
Shankar VU2SWG

Copied from the email received from Shankar

Birthday Luck??????????

Call it Birthday Luck???????

on 5th May, 2010 - the 5th Birthday of our beloved satellite - HAMSAT - VO52, we were lucky to have an overhead pass @ 2113 IST - 85 deg peak elevation. 

My VHF Moxon has become a inverted vee MOXON :( Birds sitting on the horizontal elements have bent the elements downwards when the fly off.  I have not been able to bring down the antenna and rectify it.  In this situation, the only hope of working the satellite was with rubberducky from the roof.  Luckily, it was a clear - non rainy - evening . 

Up on the terrace, (I am lucky to have a near - clear visibility allround) I gave it a shout - and I had a 59+ report QSO with VU2GUR and later on I got reports that I was going through 59 to VU2DPE and VU3STJ.

Thank you HAMSAT - for giving me a real memorable experience on your BIRTHDAY - goes to show no sophesticated setup is really required to work the BIRDS.

Satellite activity for 24th April, 10

Day time activity was affected by frequent power cut.

AO-51 is on a different Mode - VHF uplink and S-Band Downlink - until tomorrow.  It will be back on VHF/UHF mode from 26th Apr.

Tried the VO-52 at 2103 IST and was able to work VU3STJ - 59 and VU2DPE - 59. 

It was an interesting night.  This pass was immediately followed by the SO-50 pass along with the HO-68 (ofcourse no FM activiation)

This is the screen shopt for the Orbitron Satellite tracking software showing the Passes.

Should try HO-68 @ 0902IST on 25th April for the FM activiation.

Satellite Activity - 10th March, 10

Another eventful evening pass for the HAMSAT today @ 2148IST.

Was able to access the Bird as it was coming up at around 15 deg elevation.

Then it was only my signal until the satellite came up to about 40 deg elevation when VU2GUR came thorugh strong with a 59 Sig. Then on the doppler shift, I was able to hear VU2TQC OM Jayant from Mumbai with a 59 signal but am not sure if he heard my report - I could hear him call me and Guru - but not report.

Then for a short burst, I heard VU2ZUB - OM Subu from Bangalore.

In the "AFTER Satellite QSO" on the local repeater, it was reported that OM Daya - VU2DPE was able to copy VU2GUR, me and another stan with the call letters JE in the call sign giving me a call - unfortunately, I did not hear that station. Om Subu was able to hear Guru, but unable to hear me. And Guru was unable to hear VU2TQC and VU2ZUB. The vaguories of Satellite communication. !!!!!!!!

Unfortunately missed the SO-50 Pass at 2035 today - Guru was able to hear his voice on the downlink freq. but no QSOs

By the way, VU3VOC - OM Rajesh Nambiar from Ottapalam, Kerala is listening to the satellites using the "IOio" antenna (above)

More reports to come from him in the near future.