[SMCARA] First Contact

[A.J. Farmer]

Awesome Jason!!

A.J.

On Thursday, April 14, 2016, <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
> ______________________________________________________________
> SMCARA mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/smcara
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:SMCARA at mailman.qth.net
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to farmer.aj at gmail.com
>