Joel. For the 847, try this method to hear your down-link without using the CAT menu. With good reception of the satellite, pick a clear receive spot on the transponder, i.e. 148.885 MHz on VO-52. Put 847 in CW mode with SatPC32(select C+). Press "VFO/M" button ( this will switch your up-link (transmit)VFO to the center tuning dial. Hold the CW key down and start tuning the Transmit VFO (Large dial) usually downward. You should hear your up-link signal cross the downlink frequency. When you find it note the frequencies of both VFOs. When you zero beat your downlink, usually the VFOs are synced by the software at this point and your up-link and down-link will stay together for the remainder of the pass. Press "HOME" button on the 847. this will move your receiver to the large dial. Send a test "V." If you can hear your signal you are good for the entire pass. You can now tune your receiver anywhere in the pass band and the software will sync your receive/transmit with Doppler correction. This method can be used manually (without SatPC32) to find your down-link. However, you will have to manually tune your up-link VFO (with the Sub-Tune) to maintain a constant down-link frequency. But in the end, the proper way is to use the CAT menu to sync your up-link/down-link together. See the instructions how to do this, once this is done, you are set up permanently no matter how many times your computer is booted or the 847 is turned off. For SatPC32 to work properly, make sure your computer clock is accurate to the exact time and your Keps are kept up to date. If I can be of any help, please email. Mike K9QHO AMSAT 33589 ------------------------- Message: 8 Date: Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:15:03 -0500 From: Joel Black [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] What Are Others Using To: [email protected] Message-ID: [email protected] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Years ago, when I first started operating the satellites, I used an IC-821. I "graduated" up to an FT-847. I don't ever remember using software to tune the rig (the IC-821 or FT-847) only software to steer the antennas.
For the life of me, I cannot seem to find my downlink using the FT-847 and *any* tuning software with the linear birds (AO-7 and VO-52). It works fine with the "fixed" freq FM birds which, understandably, is easier for it to track. I am just wondering, does *anyone* use tuning software with the linear birds or do you just tune it manually?
73, Joel, W4JBB