[AReU] AO40

[w4tas]

Well, I screwed up!!!!!!!

I sent a message earlier to the BARS group and to the AREU group 
about the improving conditions of AO40. I thought I sent the message 
to the BARS reflector but sent it to my mailing list by mistake. 
The AREU folks didn't get the message because of the long header 
to my BARS mailing list but I hope I have most of them on my private 
BARS mailing list anyway. 

In the message, I was making reference to a good pass of AO40 
this afternoon starting around 5:00 PM. Transponder operations 
began around 7:00 PM. I finally got out in the back yard around 
9:00 PM and set up my portable receiving station. 

Signals were GREAT! The satellite is finally coming into a good 
attitude and the orbits generally favor the afternoon. I heard 
several QSO's and they were all very loud and clear. I was using 
the R Myers BBQ grill dish which is not an optimum antenna. If I 
had the Prime Star dish with the helix feed up and running the 
signals would have been even more "arm chair" copy. They were 
fine even with the smaller antenna. I heard Canada, Nevada and 
North Carolina just to name a few. The passband was not too 
crowded but there were three QSO's going on as I tuned around. 

Looking forward to making a schedule with one of you folks on 
AO40 soon. 

73

Tony