Satellite Operations

Base Satellite Operations

"The Birds" are my favorite part of Amateur Radio. This is why I became involved and got a license. Since then, I have become interested in many other aspects of the hobby, but I still bring up WISP every time I sit down and fire up the shack computers and check out what's coming "up".

I am active on AO-40, FO-20, FO-29 SSB Voice, and AO-27 which is FM voice birds. I'm also sometimes on UO-22, KO-23 and KO-25, the 9600 baud Pacsats. The station is completely computer controlled. The radio is tuned, and the beams move and remain pointed at the bird continuously via computer tracking software and serial interfacing to the ham gear. I use a "Trackbox", which is a stand alone computer control and interface that connects to the Yeasu 5400 rotator, and the Yeasu 847 rig. For Schedule Tracking & Pacsat work I use NOVA and WISP (from AMSAT), which is a Windows tracking, scheduling, and messaging program that handles talking the Trackbox, and the TNC's to forward all my traffic with the birds. I still run Instant Track, which is an old DOS tracking program (available from AMSAT), but still has a very nice graphic display (well, I like it!).

I am an AMSAT Area 9 Representative (Field Op.). What that means is simply that I have volunteered to help others who are interested in Satellite operation, and AMSAT has "put me on their list" for Wisconsin as a contact person. I have also made many presentations to area groups and clubs about AMSAT and Sat operation. If you would like a club meeting speaker... give me a call and we'll see what we can arrange.

Currently I have worked (and have QSL card to confirm) about 310 seperate Grid Squares via OSCAR. Here is a map showing my North America Girds.