Rick,
I didn't review *all* HTs that would work for satellite communication, but did talk about 4 of the Chinese-made dual-band HTs that could work AO-85 (and the other upcoming Fox-1 U/V FM satellites) full-duplex, with varying levels of success. That article appeared in the March/April 2016 issue of the AMSAT Journal. If you missed that issue, you can see my article in a PDF at:
Look in the Articles folder, and go to the last article in that folder (file name starts with "Working_AO85").
As with other HTs or low-power stations, you will find more success working higher AO-85 passes, and not necessarily trying to work those higher passes near AOS or LOS. With that in mind, I'm regularly working AO-85 full-duplex with a Wouxun KG-UV9D and Elk log periodic either in my back yard or in my driveway. I make my contacts when the satellite is up at least 20 to 25 degrees above the horizon.
Other than that, the situation with HTs and satellites is still the same as before. Only one HT in current production - Kenwood TH-D72A - will work all V/U and U/V FM satellites full-duplex. There are many older HTs that have been out of production a long time that will do that. The 4 Chinese-made HTs I mention in the article are able to work AO-85 and other U/V FM satellites full-duplex, but not the V/U satellites like SO-50 or LilacSat-2.
If you need more information beyond that article, please feel free to e-mail me directly. Good luck, and 73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK
On Thu, Sep 22, 2016 at 12:55 AM, Richard Lawn rjlawn@gmail.com wrote:
Do any of you recall where in the last 6 months or so there was an article by a ham who reviewed all of the current HTs, especially the cheap ones, for use for satellite communication? I know I'm not dreaming this and I'm soon to do a presentation for our local club and wanted to refer to this article and recommendations. Hopefully one of you can jog my ever fading memory. Rick, W2JAZ
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