More experience is necessary to see just how much of a handicap 10 kHz steps are, but both VE4AMU and KE4AL made QSOs using Kenwood mobiles limited to 10 kHz steps during the open testing pass over North America. Of course, if you're too far off frequency to get in due to the limited steps, you won't have to wait long to be back in! In a 500 km orbit, that Doppler shift is fast!
I understand some older 23 cm radios are limited to 25 kHz steps. You would likely be very handicapped trying to use one of those. It's an important issue to research when making a purchasing decision. I was impressed with the performance of my Alinco DJ-G7T 1 watt HT on TX. It's just too bad the RX is almost useless for satellite operations!
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Mon, Jan 22, 2018 at 1:32 PM, Bill Acito w1pa@hotmail.com wrote:
If someone puts this into a list, they should be very clear where a radio requires an optional module (e.g. The UT-10 for the TS-790 is nearly un-obtainium).
Also, Didn't I see in passing that testing the L-band uplink indicated that the radios really should have 5khz tuning steps? Not all of these rigs can do that.
Bill W1PA
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