Setting Up IC 2730 for IO-86 (LAPAN A-2) Amateur Radio Satellite and Initial Contacts

Last weekend I had posted receiving LAPAN A-2 or IO-86 satellite which has a pass near the equator. This weekend I am posting the audio recording of my initial contacts on IO-86 at the end of this video. In this video I am also demonstrating how I setup my IC 2730 full duplex dual bander radio for receiving LAPAN A-2 satellite. What you are heard in the beginning was hissing sound of the open squelch on UHF or downlink side of IC 2730. The radio has been set for the nominal frequency: Uplink 145.880 MHz  with PL tone 88.5 Hz and Downlink 435.880 MHz. Both need Doppler correction during the pass.

The voice repeater on LAPAN A-2 is activated only for a short period during the pass in this region, for about 3 minutes, that too towards the end of pass, which makes it more difficult for me with a fixed elevation and azimuth Moxon Yagi. I had set the antenna towards the direction of the end of the pass as voice repeater gets activated only at that time. There are usually three or four slots of activation on Saturdays and Sundays, which is posted on their Twitter handle.

In this video clip, I am demonstrating how R-Tone is selected from the menu and 88.5 Hz CTCSS tone needed for access on the uplink frequency of LAPAN A-2 is done in IC 2730. MW button is used for entering the chosen frequency while the dial knob is used to change the tone frequency if needed. Hissing noise of the open squelch is heard in this clip as well. When the satellite audio is being recieved very strong, it will close the squelch. Otherwise open squelch is needed to receive weak satellite signals.

I use the Argentinian Amsat page for satellite pass displayed on my mobile phone for manual Doppler tuning in IC 2730 full duplex radio during the pass. As I am operating from indoors, it is quite convenient for me. This screen shot was taken more than one hour prior to the pass. You will see that the color of display will change when the satellite is in range.

This screen shot was taken when the satellite was 4 degrees above the horizon. You may note the changes in colour of the displays. Compass needle has started moving in the direction of the pass. Uplink and Downlink frequencies are also changing continuously. Distance of the satellite and altitude are also seen below the compass face.

Screen shot at 13 degrees elevation. Note that the distance has come down and the compass has changed direction along with changes in Doppler shift.

Screen shot at 16 degrees elevation.

Screen shot at 18 degrees elevation. Satellite is at 1500 km.

In this screen shot, though elevation is same, note that the satellite has started going down as indicated by the down arrow near the elevation.

Here you can see that it is at 16 degree elevation and distance has increased to 1600 km as the satellite is moving away. The Uplink frequency is above the nominal frequency and Downlink frequency below the nominal frequency, due to the Doppler shift. This was the time when the voice repeater was activated as per the published schedule.

Now the elevation is 12 degrees and distance 1800 km.

Distance has increased to 1900 km and elevation is just 10 degrees. I could not take further screen shots as I was busy replying to the call of VU2AAP at this point, my first ever contact on LAPAN A-2 satellite.

Now you can hear the curated recording of the pass of LAPAN A-2 with voice repeater activation at 6.50 am IST.

This was the next pass with voice repeater activation at 8.34 am IST.