Worked my First Sat!

[K2FR]

So.. aside from being extremely nervous, I had watched enough youtube videos of everyone else doing it.. Why not record my first attempt at AO-51!

I was all dressed up for work, and was almost late because I wanted to upload the video before I left.. Be nice =)

I unfortunately jumped in over someone, My apologies!

I was able to get 2 contacts in there, and it was pretty awesome!  Was way too jittery to try and write stuff down and use proper etiquette So again ill work on that in the future now that I know my setup works


the full video unedited can be found here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXCNqvim2MU


Great way to start the weekend Id say! =)

73's
-Andrew
KC2UOO

[KB2FCV]

Andrew, congratulations!!! I'm pretty new to FM sats myself and I'll warn you, it can get addicting. I find myself planning my day sometimes around good passes. Hope to work you on the birds!

[KD7MNI]

Congratulations. I just made my first contact with satellites too. It was very exciting hearing someone saying my callsign back to me. Though I was so caught up in the moment I forgot to mention things such as my name and almost forgot to say my gridsquare.

It was pretty difficult getting everyone's callsigns down. The next time I use satellite, I'm going to rig up a tape recorder so I can go back and listen to the pass to make sure I recorded everything correctly.

[K6LCS]

Oh, boy - you've got the sat bug now ... Great work!

Clint Bradford
http://www.k6lcs.com

[W6TGE]

...and I am just now putting the mod in my TM-731a for wide band operation. I will be trying AO-51 as soon as I get the rig back together. If it works, then, for me anyway, the W2A did not receive well enough at 435mhz to even know a LEO was there.

I have the 6 el 440 portion of my beam built, but before I add my 2m portion I will try a 2m "J" that I have. Maybe 50 watts to it will work.

[W6TGE]

Well, everyone, I did the mod and AO-27 was 15 minutes away.

WOW is this TM-731a great. I tell you it has one heck of a receiver! A
AO-27 was FULL Quieting!

I do not have my 2 elements added yet for 2M so I may use a 2M J I had built and see if I can get in in 3 hours.

[W6TGE]

Yup...I got my first 2 on AO-51 with my TM-731a and a J for the uplink!

[KB2FCV]

Congratulations!! Glad to hear you were able to make some QSO's!!

[W6TGE]

I heard Alaska but could not work him as I was using a J on the uplink! That will be resolved in a few days!

[KB2FCV]

Getting those elements for 2m will definitely help! Let us know how you make out.

[W6TGE]

OK, bought enough 1/8 X 36" welding rod to make the 2 el 2M section and enough to replace the 435 6 el I already have made out of ground wire. I do not expect that rebuilding the 435 will change much but I may as well try!