My First Satellite QSO

I finally managed to work my first satellite QSO today. Over the last week I’ve been working with my Icom IC-910H and cheap yagis to make a contact. But no luck. This weekend when visiting the Jamboree on the Air station at the National Scouting Museum, I paid particular attention to their satellite efforts.

When I got back home, I discovered that during a lightning storm some time ago, I had disconnected my 70 cm antenna. Afterwards, I’d connected it to the omni directional antenna. That certainly didn’t help at all. My other efforts have been around trying to hear my own signal. Haven’t quite achieved that yet.

But today as I wandered into the ham shack, I found that satellite FO-29, see nearby photo, was in range. Turned on the rig and used SatPC32 to help point azimuth (no elevation control here) and track frequencies. As the pass was coming to an end, I heard Clayton, W5PFG, end a QSO. So I called.

Oh my goodness, Clayton came right back to me. We exchanged grids and I let him know it was my first satellite QSO. Fantastic!

Afterwards, Clayton sent me a recording of the QSO. You can listen in below. You can tell that my frequency was off and realize I need to work on that aspect of my station. What a nice gesture from W5PFG, who’s a real expert on satellites. One more sterling example of the fraternity of amateur radio operators.

Well, that was fun. I will try it again and soon. Maybe I’ll even get it right. It’s all part of my ham radio adventures.