My first satellite contact!

Ham's have been involved with the space program for a long time. With the first OSCAR satellite, repeaters in orbit and on the space station...the use of satellites is second nature. On 3 Feb 2011 I tried my hand at the technology and made my first satellite contact using the AO-51 Echo satellite. It was exciting to be able to use a satellite over 100 miles high to contact a ham in New Orleans from my base station in Tucson using modest equipment...crossband mode transceiver at 50 watts output to a 1/4 wave ground plane antenna.

Low Tide,High Tide

Here is a short clip showing the effect of low and high tide on a dock ramp. Notice not only the change in the incline of the ramp but the water level to the left of the ramp.