My first AO-40 downlink antenna (or attempt at one) was a 16' foot TVRO dish I found on the side of the road in rural FL (couldn't beat the price, they were happy to see it go). Making a mount for it was no small accomplishment.With a small helix feed, an AIDC downconverter, and my TS-700A, I could hear the images from the IF in the sat! Well, for about 10 seconds, then I had to repoint the dish.. I had intended to mount the down converter at the feed point but it eventually occured to me that I had enough gain that my converter's LO might make a great transmitter, so fortunately I avoided that problem ahead of time.
I eventually concluded the dish was much better for watching C-Band satellite TV and used a 90cm Primestar dish for AO-40 after that :)
I used to have a picture of myself napping in the dish like it was a hammock on qrz.com.. It did lend a sort of "Green Bank" atmosphere to my yard as well.
73, Jason N1XBP
P.S. - Gunther, you might consider that you've got 4 antenna's available as Bob suggested in an earlier post.. smaller, lighter, and easier to ship.
John Champa wrote:
Wow, Gunther! That is a lot of antenna. How are you going point that monster? Auto-tracking will be required, and when you do that, it had better be right on the money, and update about every minute or so. Well, whatever floats your boat. Enjoy!
Remember, once you can hear the noise floor of the transponder, then additional gain is, well, not needed very much, let's say (HI).
I, on the other hand, plan to use the smallest antenna pair I can get away with. I thought that was the advantage of satellite operating: 140 foot towers with a stack of monobanders not needed? (HI).
73, John - K8OCL
From: "Gunther Meisse" [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] 10' Dish available Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2006 11:02:24 -0400
With the coming of the next group of HEO satellites I am checking if there is any interest in a 10' Weingard mesh dish. It has been taken out of service by a local manufacturing company here in central Ohio and has been taken apart and will be created, ready to be shipped. If you have an interest, please contact me at [email protected]
Regards,
Gunther Meisse
W8GSM
Gunther (Gog) Meisse
WVNO / WRGM / WMFD
2900 Park Avenue West
Mansfield, OH 44906
Ph: 419-529-5900
Cell: 419-544-8622
Fax: 419-529-2319
www.NorthcentralOhio.com
Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb