March 2008 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Re: FT-817 use on AO16
by Mark L. Hammond 31 Mar '08

31 Mar '08

Hi Chris, While I haven't used an FT-817, I have worked AO-16 on 5 watts--through my 'short' M2 2M antenna. Of course, it's all about gain--so where you are sending that 5 watts (a mag mount or 12dB gain array??) makes all the difference in the world... The receiver on AO-16 is quite sensitive. Just now, I heard many VHF telephones from South/Central America/Caribbean coming through the bird :) 73, Mark N8MH At 01:00 PM 3/30/2008 -0700, you wrote: >Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:42:33 +0100 >From: "Chris Bloy" <chris(a)photofuture.co.uk> >Subject: [amsat-bb] FT-817 use on AO16 >To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Message-ID: <00c801c8928d$6f3111f0$4d9335d0$(a)co.uk> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" > >Hi all > >Has anyone used an FT-817 on AO-16? > >I am having issues getting into the repeater, I think partly due to the >amount of stations trying to access! But has anyone managed with 5 watts? > >Thanks, > >Chris - M0DQO Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Yaesu rotor connectors
by Gould Smith 31 Mar '08

31 Mar '08

I am checking to see if there is any interest in AMSAT carrying the Yaesu 5400/5500 rotor connector plugs [the plugs that attach the rotor cable to the rotor]. If enough interest we can have them at Dayton an carry them in the store. Reply to my callsign @amsat.org 73, Gould, WA4SXM VP User Services

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LMR 600
by Bill Bruno 31 Mar '08

31 Mar '08

I have 100' of LMR ultra flex cable with N connectors. I bought it a few years ago from cable experts and never used it. It's for sale. I anyone is interested Please contact me off list. Bill KB2RC

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Downlink issue with Icom IC-910H
by Ronald Nutter 31 Mar '08

31 Mar '08

After not having used my IC-910H for a while due to moving across country, I unpacked it tonight and setup my antennas. I was able to make contacts on SO-50 and AO-51 with one small problem. I can hear signals on the downlink but not mine. When I transmitted, all I could hear was some white noise when I was transmitting. I head several exchanges but it was like I was in half duplex. This was a working system before the move. I have good quality coax running from the IC-910H to an ICOM preamp for each side (VHF or UHF) and then running to the antennas. I believe that I have used all of the original coax but I could be wrong. The only thing I havent put in place was my mode J filter on the UHF downlink. Could this be causing my problem with not hearing my signal on the downlink but hearing those who are calling me ? Sorry for what is probably a stupid question but I am getting all the kinks worked out in my setup before Field Day. Thanks, Ron

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Re: FT-817 use on AO16
by John Marranca, Jr 31 Mar '08

31 Mar '08

Hello everyone. Working AO-16 with an '817 is exceptionally easy...and I do it daily. In fact yesterday morning, I had a very enjoyable QSO (not the quick "grid square" type contact) with Allen, N5AFV throughout the ENTIRE pass. I have even cranked my '817 back to 3 watts and done it. Good Luck! John KB2HSH -- _______________________________ John Marranca, Jr PBX Technician/Shop Steward CWA Local 1122 BN Systems, Inc Orchard Park, NY (716)972-2006

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cushcraft "416" PS-4 query
by w0dxz＠aol.com 31 Mar '08

31 Mar '08

OK, I figured out that the antenna I was given/bought is an old CushCraft 432 circularly polarized antenna...? model 416 something... it also has the optional PS-4 polarity switcher on it. What is this switcher,,, looks like a gray box , some type of connector? (8 pin?)? goes on the bottom,,,I dont have the connector/control line for the switcher. If I hook it up and use it? without using the PS-4,,, will ? have RHC only?? LHC only? or will it work at all ,just not hooking up the PS-4 ?? Any one have one of these, can tell me about the RS-4 switch? Bob W0DXZ DM33AZ

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AO-16 and 5-watts
by DeYoung James 31 Mar '08

31 Mar '08

Greetings, On AO-16 I usually can hear myself when AO-16 is above about 10-degrees using 5-watts from an IC-910H and an arrow antenna, however others appear not to hear me as well as I hear myself so I usually have to crank'er up to 10-watts... early and late in a pass. Today AO-16 was full of hets, gurgles, burbles, clicks, and off frequency signals (QRM) even more than normal when to the south as noted in another submission. Surprising to me was that SO-50 with PL tone access was full of the same, no hets, of course. I have to say these 2-m uplink satellites are rapidly becoming unusable from the RF uplink anarchy going on inside the footprints. I have always wanted to use the word anarchy in a AMSAT-BB email and there I've finally done it! Hi! 73, KG4QWC ____________________________________________________________________________________ Special deal for Yahoo! users & friends - No Cost. Get a month of Blockbuster Total Access now http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text3.com

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FT-817 use on AO16
by Chris Bloy 30 Mar '08

30 Mar '08

Hi all Has anyone used an FT-817 on AO-16? I am having issues getting into the repeater, I think partly due to the amount of stations trying to access! But has anyone managed with 5 watts? Thanks, Chris - M0DQO

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local ( AZ) satellite beams
by w0dxz＠aol.com 30 Mar '08

30 Mar '08

Anyone in the AZ area, looking for some? big satellite? beams,,, WA4SVJ@cox. net has some he would like to get rid of... can't ship them.? Brands -model unknown, I saw them, I THINK one is a KLM, circular polarized,? maybe 11 el vert, 11 horizontal??? Maybe 18 ft long???? The other is similar, but I could not tell what brand it was.? Both are for Two Meters.? Also has a long boom 432 SSB beam, maybe another beam, I can't remember. i told him I'd help him find a home for them.? He might be able to send some pics of them. Can be had cheap. Pick up only, near Phoenix?? (Sun City area) email him,,, nice guy,? his name is Bob 73 Bob W0DXZ DM33

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Re: IC-W2A as sat rig?
by Bill Dzurilla 30 Mar '08

30 Mar '08

Thanks, John. On further investigation, it seems that the W2A will not fully suit my needs, due to an odd issue with this rig. It seems that the W2A will work cross-band in full duplex mode only, not in half duplex (in contrast, the W32A allows you to choose between full duplex and half duplex). This means that a W2A can only be used for sats with headphones, or else there will be feedback. Full duplex with headphones is of course the best way to work the sats, but sometimes it's just too inconvenient and I'd prefer to at least have the option of using the HT on half duplex with the speaker. And if the W2A desenses as badly as the W32A, then full duplex with headphones will be a total waste. I'll test it out as soon as the charger arrives. 73, Bill NZ5N > * Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: IC-W2A as sat rig? > * From: John Mock KD6PAG <kd6pag@xxxxxxxxx> > * Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2008 20:39:02 -0700 > I had one for several years and it worked very nicely as a J-FM satellite rig. I think you made a good choice! Consider getting an Arrow antenna, or something comparable. Also, use a casette or voice recorder, as it's hard to hold an antenna and a radio, and still write down callsigns. If i recall correctly, the IC-W2A has an ordinary stereo mini-phone jack, with the speaker on the tip and the microphone on the ring contacts. But what you'll really need is a patch cord from the IC-W2A to the mike input of your recorder, which might need attenuation. Write to me if you need any help with this. I hope to talk to you soon on AO-27, AO-51, etc. 73's and good luck! -- KD6PAG (Networking Old-Timer, Satellite QRPer) --- Bill Dzurilla <billdz.geo(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > I had success on Swan Island with a borrowed > IC-W32A. > Today at a hamfest I saw a nice price on an IC-W2A, > apparently an earlier version of the W32A, so I > bought > it. No charger, though, ordered one for $10 from > R&L. > > Anyone used a W2A with the sats? How does it differ > from the W32A? > > I've already noticed that some of the jacks are > different. I can't use the headset mike I used with > the W32A, the jack is smaller and won't fit. The > power supply jack is also different. > > 73, Bill NZ5N > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > Special deal for Yahoo! users & friends - No Cost. > Get a month of Blockbuster Total Access now > http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text3.com > ____________________________________________________________________________________ No Cost - Get a month of Blockbuster Total Access now. Sweet deal for Yahoo! users and friends. http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text1.com

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