Ron,
I have an ICOM IC-820 All-Mode rig that I have been using as a portable/rover for over 6 years. My antenna, like yours, is an Arrow on a camera tripod. The rig is powered from whatever vehicle I'm using at the time. All the Satellite info I need is from my Phone using the AmsatDroidFree App and I control the Rig and Antenna completely manually. Logging is done with a Digital Recorder with the Mic placed in one of the earpieces of my headphones to record both sides of the QSOs. I transcribe the info later for uploading to LoTW.
To date, I've roved in 115 Grids in 3 Countries and made thousands of Satellite QSOs. This is a very minimal straightforward setup that works very well. I've never felt the need for having any kind of automated control of a rig or antenna while out in the hinterlands. It just creates more things to set up and take down and have go wrong when you're plugging/unplugging a bunch of things over and over again. My theory is the "KISS" principle for portable operating.
GL/73, Bob K8BL
________________________________ From: Mike Diehl diehl.mike.a@gmail.com To: ronald mosher rfmosher@cox.net Cc: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2018 3:00 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Portable, Full-Duplex Transceiver
I’m unaware of a QRP HF rig that can do full duplex satellite as well. However, since yaesu doesn’t make an official FT-1634 you can make one with 2 FT-817’s, one for the uplink and the other for down. If you’re buying new it would be two FT-818’s so I guess that would make it an FT-1636.
There are some rigs that do HF and satellite like the TS-2000 and IC-9100 but they’re not QRP rigs.
73, Mike Diehl W8LID/VE6LID
On Oct 24, 2018, at 12:59, ronald mosher rfmosher@cox.net wrote:
I am new to satellite communication and this is my first post. My setup so far includes an Arrow antenna on a camera tripod, an SDR (RSP) and SatPC32 software on a Surface Pro. I would like to buy a portable, HF/VHF/UHF, Full-Duplex transceiver that I can use for both portable HF QRP and for satellite work. So far, I have not been able to find such a radio. Any recommendations would be much appreciated.
Also, I would like to buy or build an AZ-EL rotator that is suitable for a portable setup. I am leaning toward building as a less expensive alternative. I have been studying the WRAPS version by WA8SME and the Mini Mk-2 by VK3FOWL and VK3YSP. Both look to be of about equal construction complexity. Any thoughts on either if these rotators, or any other inexpensive rotator would also be very much appreciated.
It is exciting to be learning a new phase of ham radio and to be a part of this group. Thank you for any suggestions.
73,
Ron K0PGE
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_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb