A beam is much more helpful pointed towards the horizon. When the satellite is right above, it's pretty close to you and anything will pick the signal up. You need more gain when the satellite is at lower elevations and furthest away from you.
A relatively low horizontal loop should work great under most circumstances. A turnstile is also a great Mode A antenna.
Caveat on this info - it's not from experience - it's from reading archives on this board, old AMSAT newsletters, and old amateur satellite books. I've only listened to a Mode A once, and that was on a 1 meter diameter portable magnetic loop!
73,
Paul, N8HM
On 11/6/2013 8:50 PM, Kevin Deane wrote:
I was thinking of making the 10m ring and trying that this weekend. (Assuming AO-7 cooperates) Also what do you think about a 3 elem beam/no boom strung between two trees pointing towards space? Think that would work ok? How far up would the reflector have to be off the ground or rather how close can I get it?
Kevin KF7MYK
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