----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob- W7LRD" w7lrd@comcast.net To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 8:40 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-51 L band requirements
Reading the AO-51 book by Gould where he discuses the L band requirements. For occasional contact 150 W EIRP is needed. For superior performance 1 Kw EIRP needed. Assuming I start out with 10W to a 16 turn helix 40 feet away.Guesstimating- 5-8 W at the antenna, helix gain 8-12db. Guestimated EIRP about 40W (worst case). Am I figuring this correct? If so then AO-51 is performing better than what the book says. I am trying to "fine tune" what I have.
Thanks 73 Bob W7LRD
Seattle
Hi Bob ,W7LRD
The gain of a 16 turn helix is much more than 8 - 10 dBi .Supposing that the circunference of a turn = Lambda or one wavelenght = 23 cm and the pich angle between turns is Alpha = 12.5 ° then the half-power beamwidth can be calculated using the following formula from Kraus book "ANTENNAS" Half-power beamwidth = 52° / SQR ( n x tan alpha ) where n= numbar of turns and so for 16 turns helix we have:
Half power beamwidth = 52° / SQR ( 16 x tan 12.5° ) = 27.6°
An antenna having a lobe large as 27.6° at the -3dB points in 1268 MHz is corresponding to a parabolic dish with 70 cm in diameter and has a gain of 16 dBi corresponding to 40 time in power ratio.
If the power reaching your 16 turns helix antenna is only 5 watt then your EIRP=5 x 40=200 watt and if the power is 8 watt your EIRP= 8x40=320 watt
It seems that the book by Gould is correct.
73" de
i8CVS Domenico