[SMCARA] First Contact

[Dave Q]

Congrats on the contacts.  I bought the Diamond antenna a while ago after
AJ gave a demo at one of the club meetings and have made a few contacts
using my handheld.

I have an iPhone and iPad.  There is a great app called ProSat.  Gives all
the info for the pass and has a graphic that shows the pass.  Also shows
the "foot print" of the satellite over the earth so at a glance you can
tell if the pass will be overhead or not.

It also has a database of thousands of satellites.  Have mine showing the
ISS and SO-50.  Last time we were at the beach was very easy to find and
point out the ISS as it went overhead.  Impressed the heck out of my
grandsons.  Who knew how fast it travels across the sky.

Much better than having to print out info.  Not sure if there is an Android
version or but would bet there is.

Keep looking Southwest!

73s,
--Dave  W3DLQ

On Thu, Apr 14, 2016 at 3:48 PM, <jbr13 at md.metrocast.net> wrote:

>
>    As Ham operators we have firsts several, if not many more, times in our
> hobby.  Last night was another one of those for me.  I picked up my first
> contact working a satellite, on SO-50.  I started this venture Monday with
> just using my HT with a diamond whip antenna and listening for the
> satellite pass.  That night I heard guys during a pass but what down in the
> noise, and could not make out any callsigns.  Tuesday I did more research
> and reading, also called HRO and ordered a Arrow 2M/440 handheld beam.  I
> wanted to make an antenna for this but the Arrow fit the bill well and I
> can use it for some other plans. So yesterday I looked at satellite passes
> and printed them out, programed my Yaesu FT1XD HT with the Uplink and
> Downlink Freq's and waited for my antenna.  First pass was at 6pm and no
> UPS guy yet, so I listed with the Diamond whip antenna and made out some
> callsigns on that pass, but did not transmit.  I walked back in the house
> and the UPS guys was just there. So I put together the Arrow antenna, and I
> am ready for the next pass, at 7:30pm. IT is a nice long pass over head,
> and I hear all kinds of guys in there. I through out my call 4 or 5 times,
> but no one comes back to me, oh well.  Take everything inside for the night
> and as I think on what I could do better or may be doing wrong. I remember
> that the SO-50 satellite needs a PL tone that I forgot to load into the
> memories on my HT.  Next pass is late, at 10:57pm and I am back outside for
> about a 8 minute pass.  I listen for a couple minutes for a place, and then
> through my callsign out.  I get a K6FW in California as my first contact
> over a satellite. Right behind him is a KM4H in TN calls me, next is KI4RO,
> and then W4DTA.  All this in about 2 minutes.  Crazy but so much fun on a
> budget setup!
>
>
> Jason Rearick
> N3YUG
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