No doubt that holding the Arrow by hand is best, and often easiest in the end, but there are times when a tripod is useful and there are some who experiment with portable AzEl rotators and Arrows. No question the Arrow gets heavy in the hand after a while and a tripod with a loose ball head can let you manipulate the arrow by hand while still using the tripod to bear the weight.
One problem with using an Arrow on a tripod is the lack of a counter-balance extension. (I wish that Arrow would sell one, but many have fabricated their own). With a counter-balance you can use a lighter-weight tripod, but without you need a heavier tripod that won't fall over when your antenna is pointing lower on the horizon (i.e., more horizontal).
73 Ken VA7KBM
On 2019-04-24 10:03 a.m., David Swanson via AMSAT-BB wrote:
This. One million times this. I don't know why this is still even a discussion on [AMSAT-BB] yet it comes up at least once a month. Just search through the archives and you'll find roughly 500000 topics involving 'tripods'.
If you are physically capable of holding the arrow, do it. Any other methods are compromises that will impair your ability to hear the bird, and interfere with other operators if you aren't careful.
-Dave, KG5CCI
On Wed, Apr 24, 2019 at 11:34 AM Chris Pohlad-Thomas via AMSAT-BB < [email protected]> wrote:
Guess I need to work on my antenna-holding exercises :-)
On Wed, Apr 24, 2019 at 12:26 PM Gabriel Zeifman <[email protected] wrote:
I think any successful portable operator would highly recommend you ditch the tripod and hold the antenna. It allows rapid and accurate polarity matching and tracking and it’s really not so difficult.
73, Gabe AL6D/VE6NJH
On Wed, Apr 24, 2019 at 5:27 AM Chris Pohlad-Thomas via AMSAT-BB < [email protected]> wrote:
Can anyone please provide a recommendation on a tripod to use with an Arrow II? I want to make sure I find something that can handle the weight and
do
a 90 degree turn.
Chris KC1E
-- Chris Pohlad-Thomas _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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
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-- Chris Pohlad-Thomas _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb