I started with an Icom Z1A and a handheld Arrow antenna on my deck in Fairbanks, AK (BP64). Even in the cold. Good contacts to the Pacific NW.....and a guy in Deadhorse. I printed out the passes for the week and got on the air at the appropriate times and dates.
Pretty straightforward.
On Sat, May 11, 2019 at 1:42 PM Stephen E. Belter via AMSAT-BB < amsat-bb@amsat.org> wrote:
Thanks for sending them the Getting Started With Amateur Satellites book.
Chapter 4, Your Antenna System covers both omni and directional antennas. There is additional information in Appendix B, Upgrading Your Antenna System.
For grid DP79, I’d look hard at a dual band Yagi with a fixed elevation (maybe 10-20 degrees) with an azimuth rotor, *if* a handheld antenna isn’t practical.
I’ve operated satellites with a standard Arrow Antenna from BP40/50-53/61/64/83 and CP04/20/30/40. Not quite as far north as DP79, but still a fair distance from the lower 48 states.
73, Steve N9IP
Steve Belter, seb@wintek.com
On May 11, 2019, at 4:13 PM, John Kludt via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org
wrote:
Ron,
Everything Jeff days is true. But some of us live in covenant
restricted settings and an omni is much easier to sneak in under the radar. I have switched back and forth between eggbeaters and various verticals. So far 88 grids. Three points:
- Pay attention to ERP. You are going to need a little more uplink
power to make up for the lack of Tx antenna gain.
- Always, always use a preamp at the antenna on 435 down links
- Be patient. This is a compromise solution and you are not going to
knock them down every pass.
If it is all you can do go ahead. Better to be on the air working the
birds as best you can than doing nothing at all.
John
Sent from my Verizon Motorola Smartphone
On May 11, 2019 00:34, Jeff Moore via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org
wrote:
As was stated multiple times in a very recent thread - omnis for sat
work
are a poor compromise!! Even a small beam at a 15-degree angle will generally blow most omnis off the roof! Even better would be a pair of beams (one for uplink, one for downlink) on an azimuth/elevation rotor! But handheld can work almost as good!!
7 3 Jeff Moore --- KE7ACY CN94
On Fri, May 10, 2019 at 10:08 PM Ron VE8RT via AMSAT-BB <
amsat-bb@amsat.org>
wrote:
We have a newly licenced amateur in DP79. Because they fell a fewpoints of getting their Basic with Honours they do not have HF privileges, their only way to communicate with the outside world is
via
satellite. Anticipating this possible outcome, that they may not get access to the HF bands, I sent them a hard copy, (no home internet,
and
its slow and expensive there if you do have it), of the current copy
of
"Getting Started with Amateur Satellites". As we're heading into the time of year to do any outside work, the most pressing question is
what
is the best compromise antenna for a base station. Keeping in mind their location, in order to work anyone they'll have to get into the satellites while the satellite is close to their horizon, otherwise
the
satellite footprint will not cover areas with any satellite operators.
Ron VE8RT in DP22-- Ron VE8RT ve8rt@yknwt.ca _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. 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 AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. 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 AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. 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 AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. 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