July 2010 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

Droid Sat Apps
by Clint Bradford 28 Jul '10

28 Jul '10

HamSat Droid! http://sites.google.com/site/hamsatdroid/ Folks (Droid-ers?) have shown it to me at my presentations - works great! Clint, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com

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Yaesu G-5400 vs G-5500
by John Kopala 27 Jul '10

27 Jul '10

There are two versions of the G-5400. If you plan to interface it for computer controlled tracking, you will want the G-5400B. This model has an 8 pin DIN jack on the rear of the controller for a computer interface, such as the LVB Tracker, TAPR track box, etc. The G-5400B provides the transistor drivers and relays necessary for the interface. The G-5500 and G-5600 also have this interface. The Yaesu G-5400B, G-5500, and G-5600 are basically the same rotors with minor differences. The elevation rotor has changed very little since the Ken-Pro R-500 elevation rotor. The same goes for the G-400 Azimuth Rotor. The units are NOT interchangeable though, because Yaesu has added limit switches to the rotors in various models and has relocated the motor run capacitors from the control unit to the rotor housing. The biggest difference I see between the G-5400B and the G-5500 are additions of a limit switch and a set of Pricy connectors which replaced the terminal strips and weather proof housings for attaching the control cables. It is possible to interface to rotors, such as the G-500 elevation rotor, the G-400 Azimuth rotor, and the Hy-Gain rotors, but you have to create the relay board to do so. I have done interfaces for an R-500 and Hy-Gain HAM-IV that is compatible with the G-5400B. I am currently using the R-500 and HAM-IV and a G-5400B for field day setup. Everything is plug compatible between my home station and my portable setup. Check the field day pictures on QRZ. John Kopala N7JK > Is there any reason why the 5400 would be a very poor choice as opposed to > the 5500? > The Yaesu site no longer references the 5400.does anyone know when they > stopped manufacturing them? If anyone has the manual for the 5400 in > electronic format, could you send it to me? > Thanks, > David > K6CDW

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was Re: Duplex HTs, radios with embedded APRS
by Edward R. Cole 27 Jul '10

27 Jul '10

>This often requested list suggests another: In addition to the D700, D710, TH-D7A (out of production), what other radios are similarly equipped with APRS texting GPS. I have seen recent advertisements suggesting this and some day will upgrade to nice dual-band, duplex, APRS radio. Has such a list been made? Maybe someone can do one? 73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 ====================================== BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 144-QRT*, 432-100w, 1296-QRT*, 3400-fall 2010 DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa(a)hotmail.com ====================================== *temp

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HT,s
by Dads 27 Jul '10

27 Jul '10

Hi: It was a few months ago they talked about HT,s for days about best HT,s for satellite use. Jerry w0sat

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Droid apps and HyGain parts
by Bob Schmidt 27 Jul '10

27 Jul '10

I have two questions. Is there a Droid app for satellite tracking? I have the HyGain Oscar Beams that are about 20 years old. It appears that one of the relays is shorted. Does anyone know a repair for this or do I have to get the $65 replacement from HyGain? Thanks Bob, WA9JDR

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Duplex HTs vs 2 Simplex HTs
by John Kopala 27 Jul '10

27 Jul '10

Another thought about Duplex HT for Satellite. A few full duplex HTs are equipped with 2 tuning knobs which allow tuning either the primary band or the secondary without having to change bands. This is a great feature for satellite doppler tuning with a UHF downlink. Alternatively, I have chosen to use 2 HTs for satellite work to enable tuning the doppler on the downlink and uplink without any extra steps. This also eliminates the need for a duplexer. In my case, this is somewhat of an overkill, because I am using 2 Full Duplex Yaesu FT-470 radios, each on a single band. But this also allows me to be tuning the downlink doppler while transmitting on the uplink. Most radios will only allow you to tune the active band, requiring you to switch back and forth every time you need to tune the UHF downlink. Typically, AO-51 requires 5 tuning steps on the downlink for many passes. With satellites such as AO-51, I have found that with a good antenna and no obstructions, you can pretty much work the satellite from horizon to horizon. I have made a home brew version of the arrow antenna (with arrows for easy assembly / disassembly for travel and storage) with 4 elements on 2 meters and 9 elements on 70 cm. That being the case, I have also chosen to use a tripod and constructed a tripod mount to hold the 2 HTs, a voice recorder, and mount the antenna on a hinged support so that it can be rotated to allow for satellite polarity. For anyone who hasn't already discovered it, the downlink works best with vertical polarization for most satellites. A picture of my portable satellite setup can be seen on QRZ at N7JK. Good luck on the birds, John Kopala N7JK > From: Randy Hall <listk7age(a)gmail.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Duplex HTs > To: AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org > Message-ID: > <AANLkTi=t-aK6AYop2sEqyrhkwT2bR3wcgVWZENjQu4uR(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > Hi > I receive emails all time from guys looking for HTs to use on AO-51. > Many want duplex HTs to allow them to hear themselves coming back from > the satellite. > So, what of the current HTs provide duplex operation? > Which of the older HTs do duplex. I know my trusty FT-51 does! > Plus as a bonus, any of these come with BNC connector anymore? I > really do not like SMAs on my radios. > Thanks > Randy > K7AGE

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Re: Duplex HTs
by Clint Bradford 27 Jul '10

27 Jul '10

Gordon West and I are setting up a test/demo of the latest firmware version of the Alinco DJ-G7 at the Orange County Fair later this week. It is the only currently-produced true full-duplex amateur handheld radio. Clint Bradford, K6LCS

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Duplex HTs
by Randy Hall 27 Jul '10

27 Jul '10

Hi I receive emails all time from guys looking for HTs to use on AO-51. Many want duplex HTs to allow them to hear themselves coming back from the satellite. So, what of the current HTs provide duplex operation? Which of the older HTs do duplex. I know my trusty FT-51 does! Plus as a bonus, any of these come with BNC connector anymore? I really do not like SMAs on my radios. Thanks Randy K7AGE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HfvmU_utI8

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Heroic Space video
by andy thomas 27 Jul '10

27 Jul '10

Heroic Space Video at: http://www.sick-solutions-tour.com/ take the Trailer (right hand button) 73 de andy G0SFJ

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Re: Duplex HTs
by Andrew Glasbrenner 27 Jul '10

27 Jul '10

-----Original Message----- >From: John Geiger <aa5jg(a)yahoo.com> >Sent: Jul 26, 2010 9:35 PM >To: AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org, Glenn AA5PK <aa5pk(a)suddenlink.net> >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Duplex HTs > >A couple on his list are not full duplex, like the Icom 24AT, and I don't think the IC-32AT is either. > >73s John AA5JG > Check out page 3 of the IC-24at manual, page 6 of the PDF http://www.repeater-builder.com/icom/pdfs/icom-ic-24at-et-inst-manual.pdf I owned a 32AT for many years, it is also full duplex. 73, Drew KO4MA

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