VE4ISS Preliminary Test

1. First test on simplex frequency on Primary System.

• VE4TTH received signals from VE4ISS Primary, S0 with good modulation
•  VE4ISS Primary did not hear VE4TTH respond, no carrier was detected

2. Second Test on simplex frequency Secondary System.

• VE4ISS switched to secondary unit, and heard VE4TTH clear.
•  VE4TTH only received a carrier signal, no modulation.
•  It was determined that the audio mixer settings at VE4ISS were not correct for  the secondary system.
•  VE4TTH receives clear audio from VE4ISS after adjustment made to audio mixer.
•  VE4ISS starts to experience drop out of signals from VE4TTH, very similar to what was experienced with the ISS contact attempt.

3. Third Test on simplex frequency Primary System.

• VE4ISS Switches back to primary.
• VE4TTH receives good audio from VE4ISS
• VE4ISS receives no audio from VE4TTH
• VE4ISS turns off Preamp
• VE4ISS receives good audio from VE4TTH signal levels at S9+30
• VE4ISS increases power from 5% to 50%, and VE4TTH reports signal strength now at S2
• VE4ISS increases power to 100%, and VE4TTH reports signal strength of S3.
• VE4ISS copies VE4TTH at S9+30 with full audio, and preamp turned off.

4. Forth Test on simplex Secondary System.

• VE4ISS reports heavy static and intermittent audio from VE4TTH. Preamp is turned on.
• VE4TTH reports good audio, but weak signal from VE4ISS.
• VE4ISS turns off preamp.
• VE4ISS reports good audio from VE4TTH and an S5 signal.
• VE4ISS increases power to 50%, VE4TTH reports signal now at S2
• VE4ISS increases power to 100%, VE4TTH reports signal now at S3
• VE4ISS reports signal still at S5 for VE4TTH

5. Fifth Test on simplex Primary System.

• VE4ISS has preamp disabled.
• VE4ISS has power output set to 100%
• VE4ISS has clear signal at S9+30 from VE4TTH
• VE4TTH reduces power to 50%
• VE4ISS has clear signal at S9+30
• VE4TTH reduces power to 5%
• VE4ISS has clear signal at S8
• VE4TTH has clear signal at S3 from VE4ISS at all times. Power output at VE4ISS is set to 100%.

Test Summary

It appears that the preamps for both the primary and secondary systems have failed. When the preamps are turned off, the primary system receives a very strong signal from VE4TTH, which is located 34 kilometres away, with a vertically polarized antenna (comet GP-15 vertical, 18 meters elevation). Operating 100 watts maximum, using a Kenwood TS-2000 radio. When the secondary system is activated, the signal strength from VE4TTH drops dramatically to S5 at the VE4ISS site. Likewise the signals from the primary is noticeably stronger on the primary, as opposed to the secondary, from the perspective of VE4TTH. This needs to be investigated as well.