On 06/01/12 19:54, Daniel Schultz wrote:
Keep in mind that any ham radio transponder on the moon will not be an "easy sat". You will need an EME class station to work it.
If we build a lunar transponder, we can expect to see many, many postings on Amsat-BB about how Amsat only cares about elite hams and is not interested in building satellites for the common ham.
I'm not saying it wouldn't be fun to have a transponder on the moon, and we in the USA might even be able to help you build it if they get ITAR fixed in time, but we better put on the flame proof trousers when we announce the project to the masses.
Dan Schultz N8FGV
Are you sure about that, Dan? I'm hardly an expert on EME, still looking to get there, but based on numbers I worked with some time ago, even 500mW from the Moon should be copyable with a good radio, with a yagi and possibly a preamp. This is not to say that a random HT would work, but I don't think we're talking of the classic EME-capabile station.
--STeve Andre' wb8wsf en72