OH3KAV via satellite
Back in mid-80s, I had lots of fun with the Soviet RS-satellites. They were very easy to access even with a very modest station.
Using an Yaesu FT-290R, a small 20 watt linear amp and a 7-element yagi for 144 MHz uplink and an Icom IC-730 with a dipole for 29 MHz
downlink, I had QSOs all over Europe and even to North America. I also had some QSOs with the onboard Robot on these birds.
Recently, I have tried the FM satellites, mainly AO-51. The traffic on these FM birds is one terrible mess, but with
a reasonably simple setup and some luck, you may be able to get some QSOs.
My current satellite setup consists of an Yaesu FT-60R handheld (5 watts) and an Arrow II antenna on a camera tripod.
I have also had some QSOs via AO-51 from my car, using an Yaesu FT-8900R (50 watts) and a mobile whip.
OH3KAV: Locator Grid Squares worked via AO-51 and HO-68
Map generated with Great Circle Maps V3.1.6 by SM3GSJ. Updated: 20.10.2010
OH3KAV Satellite Log
| Date | Call | Grid | Satellite | Confirmed | Comment |
| 21.02.2009 | UR3QLZ | KN77 | AO-51 | - | Op. Grigory |
| 21.02.2009 | ES8SW | KO28 | AO-51 | QSL | - |
| 21.02.2009 | LA4FPA | JP20 | AO-51 | QSL | - |
| 21.02.2009 | RA2FGG | KO04 | AO-51 | - | Op. Alexandr |
| 21.02.2009 | PA2JWN | JO22 | AO-51 | - | - |
| 22.02.2009 | SV3EXT | KM08 | AO-51 | QSL | - |
| 22.02.2009 | UR4LRH | KN89 | AO-51 | - | - |
| 11.04.2009 | UR3CTB | KN59 | AO-51 | - | - |
| 11.04.2009 | SP5MG | KO02 | AO-51 | QSL | - |
| 11.04.2009 | UA9FFF | LO88 | AO-51 | - | - |
| 24.06.2009 | UT4QU | KN77 | AO-51 | - | - |
| 08.07.2009 | SW6KRV | KM09 | AO-51 | - | - |
| 15.07.2009 | DG0ER | JO60 | AO-51 | - | Op. Juergen |
| 29.09.2009 | RK4SWF | LO45 | AO-51 | - | - |
| 01.10.2009 | ON3LX | JN29 | AO-51 | QSL | - |
| 01.10.2009 | SP9XZA | JN99 | AO-51 | - | Op. Zibi |
| 02.10.2009 | OH2LAK/m | KP20 | AO-51 | - | Op. Erik |
| 02.10.2009 | OZ1MY | JO65 | AO-51 | - | Op. Ib |
| 25.03.2010 | RW3XL | KO84 | AO-51 | - | - |
| 25.03.2010 | RW9SL | LO63 | AO-51 | - | - |
| 25.03.2010 | ES8DH | KO28 | AO-51 | - | - |
| 01.04.2010 | PE0SAT | JO21 | HO-68 | - | - |
| 10.04.2010 | OH7FES | KP53 | AO-51 | - | - |
| 11.04.2010 | DH8SL | JN49 | AO-51 | - | - |
| 12.04.2010 | OK1DNT | JO60 | AO-51 | - | Op. Denis |
| 13.04.2010 | G0FGX | IO70 | AO-51 | - | - |
| 15.04.2010 | UR5HVR | KN98 | AO-51 | - | - |
| 06.10.2010 | SV2KGA | KN10 | AO-51 | - | - |
| 08.10.2010 | F1UQK | IN96 | AO-51 | - | - |
| 08.10.2010 | F0FVK | JN18 | AO-51 | - | - |
| 11.10.2010 | LA2QAA | JP33 | AO-51 | - | - |
| 18.10.2010 | DK3WN | JN49 | AO-51 | - | - |
| 18.10.2010 | ON5NY | JO10 | AO-51 | - | - |
| 20.10.2010 | YT3N | KN04 | AO-51 | - | - |
Current position of AO-51, HO-68 and SO-50 courtesy of N2YO
OH3KAV 01.04.2011
