AO-51 operations update

Gould, WA4SXM, AO-51 command station noted this week that the transmitter power on AO-51 has been down due to the length of eclipse that peaked about 2 weeks ago.

AO-51 eclipse periods will continue to get shorter until September when we will see a no eclipse period for about 8 months.

Gould has been testing the charge/discharge rate. If any of
the transmitters are off or have changed, he reminds users to the status message on the digital downlink.

At present AO-51 is operating TXA at 430 mW (digital downlink) and TXB at 470 mW (analog downlink). During the peak of the eclipse periods both transmitters were operating in the 340 mW range.

Gould, WA4SXM