[DX] Real DX

[J Dyer]

Fifty years ago today, a beeping little box was launched into space by the
Russians and the world was changed forever. As a fourteen year old boy, I had
little concern for all of the political and scientific ramifications of Sputnik
I, but as a fourteen year old Short Wave Listener....this was about as exciting
as it gets.  The satellite's beacon transmitted on 20.005 and 40.002 Megacycles
(Yes, that was Megacycles). Now my Hallicrafters S-40B would tune up to 43
Megacycles  but it was pretty deaf at that end of the spectrum. I was able to
hear Sputnik's 20.005 Mhz transmissions several times as it passed over the USA.
Somewhere in my packrat junk room is a cassette recording of the little
satellite going beep-beep as it passed over Texas. I know it is in there, I just
have not seen it in a few years.

Amsat has some audio recordings of those early satellites. Skip down to play the
Sputnik I audio. Needless to say, my tape was not this good.

http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/sounds/index.php

Any more Sputnik stories out there?

John
AE5B