AO-7 was launched on November 15 1974 from Vandenberg, California, that is, recently “celebrated” twenty-eighth birthday. In year 1981 became silent after the failure of the accumulators and was marked as non-functional by the management team. Until June 2002, when her beacon was picked up by Pat, G3IOR. The satellite works perfectly, the only condition is solar panel lighting.
The AO-7 can operate in three modes:
A: linear non - inverting
Uplink: 145,850 – 145,950 MHz
Downlink: 29,400 – 29,500 MHz
kHz with a power of 5W: 29,502 MHz
Performance: 1,3W PEP B, C: linear inverting
Uplink: 432,125 – 432,175 MHz
Downlink: 145,975 – 145,925 MHz
kHz with a power of 5W: 145,975 MHz
Performance: 8W PEP (B) a 2,5W PEP (C)
You can recognize mode A by the active beacon at 29.502MHz. In addition to telemetry data, it also transmits an identification group of letters “HEHE”. Stations after the silence of RS12 / 13 workers 145/29 it's not much, on weekends but it is especially possible around 29,450 hear both SSB and CW calls from various stations.
I listened to the AO-7 myself. Although the income is quite difficult, but even with average equipment and a little patience, you have a real chance to work through the transponder.
