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Talking to Satellites When new hams (amateur radio operators) get their licenses, they generally purchase a handheld transceiver (HT) and get on the local repeaters. This is fun for a while, but don't get stuck just talking on the repeaters. Ham radio has much more to offer. For example, one of the other cool things you can do with a Technician Class license is work the "birds," otherwise known as amateur radio satellites. Did you know that amateur radio operators have been sending satellites into space since the early 1960s? The Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio, or OSCAR I for short, was successfully launched into a low Earth orbit on Dec. 12, 1961. It carried a small beacon transmitter whose purpose was to study radio propagation through the ionosphere. It only lasted a few weeks before it dropped into Earth's atmosphere and burned up, but it secured amateur radio's place in space. Now, there are dozens of amateur radio satellites in space, and as a Technician (beginners' level amateur radio licenses) you can make contacts by bouncing your signals off of them. Think of them as repeaters in space. TRIVIA ANSWER FOR NOVEMBER: Question: Using a HT or "walkie-talkie", some hams can talk with another amateur that is 100 miles away by utilizing what device? The use of a radio repeater will extend the range of an HT. A repeater receives a signal and re-transmits it, usually with higher power and from a better location, to provide a greater communications range. Often located atop a tall building or high mountain, VHF and UHF repeaters greatly extend the operating range of amateurs using mobile and hand-held transceivers The large antennas on top of the clubhouse is an indication of the presence of a radio repeater. Yes, Solera has a radio repeater and it is accessible by all residents and office personnel. Our repeater is in place for rapid and widespread communications in Solera. Such communication is useful during urgent situations like a natural disaster. Learn more by attending our meetings at the Clubhouse every Friday between 9 and 11 am. TRIVIA QUESTION THIS MONTH (Answered next month) When listening to various radio frequencies, I will occasionally hear a series of electronic sounds; what is that noise? "When All Else Fails – Think Radio Communications." ~ Ray C. Gayton-Jacob (N6KZM), ray.n6kzm@gmail.com and http://www. soleraradio.com RADIO CLUB 46 | LIFE IN SOLERA | JANUARY 2023 |