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{ "url": "https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/api/list/[email protected]/email/EXH6NPPTW5UW4OXKPLS7WFEVM3MW5WMF/?format=api", "mailinglist": "https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/api/list/[email protected]/?format=api", "message_id": "4F6FA6DBFDF5489CADAA92231CE9CBA8@parents", "message_id_hash": "EXH6NPPTW5UW4OXKPLS7WFEVM3MW5WMF", "thread": "https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/api/list/[email protected]/thread/5QJSFMM4TAAMGIANXY3NLJBN34YEHBZP/?format=api", "sender": { "address": "ka3hsw (a) att.net", "mailman_id": "afface7d7e8049fda539552165bdde78", "emails": "https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/api/sender/afface7d7e8049fda539552165bdde78/emails/?format=api" }, "sender_name": "George Henry", "subject": "[amsat-bb] Re: New To Satellites", "date": "2009-12-29T20:01:56Z", "parent": "https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/api/list/[email protected]/email/5QJSFMM4TAAMGIANXY3NLJBN34YEHBZP/?format=api", "children": [ "https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/api/list/[email protected]/email/AINKQPV5AYO2ZNS7VW4NTT57MR2URSND/?format=api" ], "votes": { "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "status": "neutral" }, "content": "Answers inserted below...\n\n\n----- Original Message ----- \nFrom: \"Rupert Hamblin\" <[email protected]>\nTo: <[email protected]>\nSent: Tuesday, December 29, 2009 12:09 PM\nSubject: [amsat-bb] New To Satellites\n\n\n> Hi All,\n>\n> I've had a good look round the forums and on the net generally, I'm\n> coming into satellites as a newcomer, having spent\n> my past 15 ham years on HF/6M CW/DIGI modes. (with a bit of DSTAR\n> recently..!!)\n>\n> So a few questions I hope you can answer and update me....\n>\n> i) Generally what power levels are needed to access the birds...?\n>\n\nIt depends on the mode. With the current crop of low earth orbiting \nsatellites (LEOs), only a few watts into a beam will do the job. There are \nthose who routinely make contacts with 500 mW, but most are probably in the \n5 to 25 watt range (there IS a lot of competition). There's no harm in \nusing more power with the FM satellites, but on the linear birds, use the \nminimum necessary to hear yourself on the downlink (obvious caveat: \nfull-duplex operation is called for), because stronger signals cause the AGC \nto kick in, locking out weaker stations. It's common courtesy (and an FCC \nrule here in the States) to use the minimum power necessary. And rule \nnumber one is, maximize your RECEIVE capability before worrying about your \nuplink. As the old adage says, \"you can't work 'em if you can't hear 'em!\"\n\n> ii) Antenna's - I've read a lot about the arrow antenna - how good is\n> this antenna would you recommend for a new comer ?\n>\n\nThe Arrow (2-meter and 70 cm antennas on the same boom) and the Elk antenna \n(a log periodic design) are both very good for portable operations. I don't \nthink the Arrow is recommended for permanent installation, though. Most \nportable ops on here use one or the other.\n\n\n> iii) HT or Base Transceiver - How realistic is working satellites on an\n> HT with 5W ? & is base transceiver preferred ?\n>\n\nMany use a 5 watt HT with great success, either with one of the antennas \nabove, or the Pryme AL-800 telescoping whip. The most important requirement \nin an HT for satellite use is the ability to hear yourself on the downlink \nwhile you are transmitting on the uplink. If you search back thru the \narchives here, you will find a list of suitable HT's posted within the last \ncouple of months. Base installations have their own obstacles to \novercome... coax length & routing, lightning protection, and antenna \ninstallation (size, azimuth rotor only vs.full az-el, etc.) among them. \nMost of the \"base\" satellite rigs will operate from 12 volts, so they make \nnice mobile/rover/Field Day/demo satellite stations as well.\n\n\n> iv) Following on from the above - I've read about the FT-2000 or FT-847\n> which would be better suited to satellites or another rig ?\n>\n\nYou'll get as many different opinions on the \"best\" satellite rig as there \nare rigs out there. Many like the HF/VHF/UHF \"all-in-one\" boxes, others \nprefer dedicated satellite radios like the Icom 910H (myself included). \nMany dual-band FM mobiles are quite suitable for operating the FM-only LEOs, \nas well. I used to make lots of mobile contacts using a Yaesu FT-8100R \nmobile. Some like to go cheap, building their station with older rigs like \nthe IC-271 or 275 and IC-471 or 475. I started out on the old RS-series \nRussian birds (2M up/10M down, 15M up/10M down, and 15M up/2M down) with a \nDrake T-4XB, R-4B, and the matching TC-2/RC-2 2-meter transmit & receive \nconverters, all for less than $600 US...\n\n> v) Obviously a rotator / elevator with a beam(s) will give a better\n> performance, but what sort of performance could I expect out of an arrow\n> on a tripod with an HT & 5W ?\n>\n\nAgain, quite respectable performance can be had with that combination. \nUnless you want to hunt for the signal, it's a good idea to print out a \ntable of the desired satellite's azimuth and elevation throughout the pass, \nor get a small computer (Netbook) or tracking app for your cell phone/PDA. \nI've made many portable contacts using a 5W HT and a 2-meter beam made of \nsteel measuring tape (see the picture on my QRZ.com profile page)\n\n> vi) On the HT subject - is it necessary to use 2 HT (one TX / one RX) or\n> will just one do ?\n>\n\nYou can do it either way... with a full-duplex HT, the Arrow antenna must \nhave a diplexer installed to combine the VHF and UHF signals, while the Elk \nhas a single feedline and does not require a diplexer. With 2 HTs, the \nArrow can provide separate feedlines, while the Elk would require a diplexer \nto combine the VHF and UHF signals\n\n> vii) ....and finally...some have mentioned that not all the sats listed\n> on the AMSAT page are live - where can I get the most upto date list of\n> satellites that are active & their frequencies / modes..?\n>\n\nThe AMSAT pages are the best source of frequency/mode information, while \nhttp://oscar.dcarr.org is probably the best site for activity information.\n\n> Thats it for now - hope you can help...chances are I may have some more\n> questions soon.....\n>\n> Cheers\n>\n> RH / G0TKZ\n\nYou came to the right place to get your answers... there are a lot of very \nknowledgeable operators here! Just remember, your station \"needs\" may not \nbe the same as anyone else's, so feel free to experiment!\n\nGood luck!\n\n\nGeorge, KA3HSW \n\n", "attachments": [] }