caught "hamsat" yesterday.

[WQFM513]

caught what the heavens above app for droid calls "hamsat" (NORAD id 28650) unknown what mode it was. i could hear it pretty well on the wouxun for 8-10 minuets, it sounded garbled though. i couldn't make out what anybody was saying.
what mode is it in?

 

[Token]

NORAD No 28650 is known as OSCAR 52.

The reason it sounded garbled is because the transponders are SSB/CW and your HT is FM.

T!

 

[WQFM513]

i know what mode my ht is, couldnt figure out what mode the sat was. thanks for the info.

 

[JeremyB]

i know what mode my ht is, couldnt figure out what mode the sat was. thanks for the info.

VO-52 I think is the Amsat designation for the sat, its an inverted linear transponder sat and the usual modes are SSB/CW but you may hear PSK31 or other digital modes that use SSB.

Check out Amsats page on the Amateur sats: AMSAT - Satellite Status

 

[WQFM513]

Just caught it again. Really wish I had a receiver that'll do ssb. Actually broke the squelch on the wouxun. Great signal strength.

 

[JeremyB]

I have used a Kenwood TH-F6A for listening to the linear sats before. There are only 3 linear sats working now, AO-7(switches between 10m and 2m downlink daily), FO-29, and VO-52. There are 3 FM sats also, SO-50, AO-51(may not be on every pass, having some battery issues and must be turned on by command team, downlink on 435.150 +/- doppler), and AO-27- its on a timer so its usually on in the afternoon, whenever it crosses 30 degrees N on an ascending pass.

SO-67 is currently off because of a corrupt CAN module but it used to be on a rotation, one week each month for North America, Europe/Africa, Australia and Asia. HO-68 is not working and I don't think a reason was given for it being down, used to switch between linear transponder and FM for a couple weeks at a time and like SO-67 was on for scheduled passes with schedules being uploaded to the sat by command team. A think the last time the HO-68 repeater was heard was in early January, the CW beacon may still work

 

[robschonk]

Just caught it again. Really wish I had a receiver that'll do ssb. Actually broke the squelch on the wouxun. Great signal strength.

Here's a good site with the basics of working LEO FM birds.

Work the FM Ham Satellites

It'actually fairly easy with a dual band HT and a good directional antenna like an Arrow. I work two ways all the time with my Wouxun HT.

Rob N4JKL