AO-51 & HO-68 with handhelds?!?!?!

[spdfile1]

Is anyone picking up and or transmitting to AO-51 and or HO-68 with an HT? I tried 6 different sat's earlier and went 0-6. I printed off the pass predictions from amsat.org so the times should be correct. A buddy of mine in upstate ny said he talked to a guy in cleveland on HO-68 yesterday. It'll come around my way wednesday night at 1939. Just trying to see if anyone has had any luck. I can probably do better off the kenwood 708 in the car but doing it from the comfort of the QTH is better!!!!!!

 

[JeremyB]

AMSAT - Satellite Status

Check the sat status page. HO-68 is only on for certain passes and switches between FM/Packet and linear transponder modes. CAMSAT

AO-51 is currently not running the FM(V/U) repeater. AMSAT - AO-51 Control Team News
Looks like it will switch back to V/U mode late Nov 22.

I could never hear SO-50 with my VX-6 with the yaesu rubber duck but can pick it up with my diamond rubber duck from inside my car.

AO-27, this sat is only on for ascending passes over NA for 7 minutes. It turns on about the time it crosses the 30 degrees north latitude and shuts off before crossing 60 degrees. Official AO-27 HomePage
You can download the next events for 24 hours on this page or you can download the AO-27 scheduler that will let you put in the date and it will predict what times the sat will be on in analogue(repeater) mode.

The arrow 2 or elk handheld antennas will make it easier to use any of the FM sats and there are some good videos on the arrow antenna page Arrow Antenna's Arrow II Antennas
The video by moleculo shows a bit on what you have to do to pick up the sats with the rubber duck antenna- you almost have to be a contortionist at times and you may have to have a high elevation pass to make a contact

 

[WB2UZR]

Also check this page for some good info on working the FM sats:Work the FM Ham Satellites

HO-68 is going to be tough on an HT, it has a 1200 km apogee, and as Jeremy said, it switches modes, so you need to check the schedules.

Your best bet on an HT is to try and work the ISS, it has been quite active on voice the past few months.

In general. working sats on an HT with a rubber duck is tough, between the weak signals from the sat and the high activity levels, it makes it real tricky. Something like an Arrow will help immensely.


Scott/WB2UZR

 

[JeremyB]

Clint Bradfords page, I forgot about that, he also has a yahoo group(work-sat). I have been able to get APRS beacons digipeated by the ISS with my VX8GR but have not had a voice contact even with the arrow 2 or elk antenna and I have made a lot of attempts. I still find it amazing to listen to the sats with the rubber duck or the arrow/elk antenna. There are plans on the internet for a cheap yagi to work the FM sats(Kent Britain?) and plenty of variations.

Here is picture of what I'd like to have to work the sats, except I would have it on a tower. http://papays.com/sat/minnesota_palisade_front_sample.jpg
K8YSE is just one of the terrific operators that you may contact/hear on the sats and he has pass recordings on his website, General Satellite Recordings

 

[spdfile1]

Thanks guys for responding. I am looking to get the Diamond RH-77CA for the ht's and the arrow antenna as well. That should improve my chances of getting into the sat's!!!!!!