The magnetorquing procedures are always done near perigee. Transponder scheduling is based on sun angles, power budget, and mean anomaly. A mean anomaly value of 0 indicates the spacecraft is located at perigee, beginning a new orbit. A mean anomaly of 128 occurs half way through the orbit when the spacecraft is at apogee, its farthest point from the earth's surface. Uplink antennas with at least 15dBc gain will enable solid Mode B communications with 50-watts or less transmitter power.
Users can also participate in a number of nets carried on the various transponders.
Start by getting a 2-Meter receiving system in operation so the Mode B transponder downlink can be received.