Hi Bill,
I use this exact same setup. I originally bought the preamp for mobile use, but I have enjoyed using it for the Arrow as well. I carry it in a camera bad (that fits it perfect) on my waist powered by 8AA batteries inside thee pack. How did you mount yours? I don't use a tripod, but I am curious if you have a better way to mount it on the Arrow itself.
Nice work on the low passes! AO51 is one of the easiest birds to work at low elevations - especially when it is putting out high power. I have heard (and made contacts on) 3 degree passes before - without the preamp! Give it a listen!
73!
Zack KD8KSN
-----Original Message----- From: Bill Acito W1PA Sent: Thursday, July 14, 2011 4:26 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] So close.... almost my full reach....
I've been able to fit up a pre-amp to my Arrow. I have a ARR 432 switched pre-amp with it's own battery pack on the 432-side of the arrow to hear better on low (<10 deg) passes. Still using the FT-530 HT with a headset.
There were two low Atlantic passes this morning, one each on AO-27 and AO-51. From FN42IO I heard EA1QS on the first (5 deg), and worked a GW0 on the second -- 3050 miles, on a 8 deg pass.
Went back out later in the afternoon for a mid-US pass, and low and behold, there's a San Diego station on (2550 miles)... listen to the last 10 secs of this recording for the punch line:
http://www.papays.com/sat/AO-27_14Jul2011_191720z.mp3
Almost....
Bill W1PA
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