Two VU Hams Make Six FM satellite QSOs in Single Day

While enjoying the AMSAT-UK OSCAR QSO Party from VU Land, 9th September 2020 proved to be a memorable day for myself Rajesh VU2EXP and Lucky VU2LBW from India.

We successfully worked via Six different FM Satellites in a single day from VU Land. It's a personal record for us for such satellite activities in the region. Some satellites were 18 year (SO-50) to 27 year (AO-27) old, which all favoured us.

The list of satellites we worked through were AO-91 (0650Z), PO-101 (0830Z), AO-27 (1305Z), SO-50 (1514Z), AO-92 (1712Z) & ARISS - ISS (1714Z). That's all the satellites I am getting from my region (ML52jh) & have capabilities to work with my portable setup consisting of a pair of HT & Homebrew IOio Antenna!

There were bit challenges like the uncertainty of AO-92 switching to L mode or turning on to safe mode during eclipse, some passes (AO-92 & ISS) were at the same time and in different directions, a low elevation of 3° ISS pass at VU2LBW's end, power failure at partners end for some moments, the possibility of rain which could have interrupted my portable operation etc! We did our best and continued chasing via each satellite & exchanged 59 reports from all 6 birds. It was an exciting experience for us. I am very thankful to VU2LBW for cooperating with lots of patience. I was on my portable setup operating from my terrace from where I benefited from the decent setup of VU2LBW located at MK82tv.

Rajkot (Gujarat) India - http://www.qrz.com/db/vu2exp

AO-73 Now in Fulltime Transponder Mode

After some eight months in continuous sunlight, AO-73 (FUNcube-1) has now started to see some eclipses during each orbit.

The telemetry received has shown that the spacecraft continued to function perfectly during this period and the onboard temperatures did not reach excessively high levels.

After this became clear, our next concern was the battery. Having been kept fully charged for this period, would it actually hold a charge and do its job when in eclipse?

After three weeks of increasing eclipse periods, we can now see that indeed the Li battery appears to be ok and the bus voltage has not yet dropped below 8.1 volts.

So today we have changed the operating mode from high power telemetry educational mode to continuous amateur mode with the transponder ON.

The telemetry continues to be available, albeit at low power.