I'll second what Tony says, especially if you use the omni antenna's he has designed (which I also use and highly recommend - and they're really easy to build).
While Tony is modest, you can get his design and construction details for both his 146 and 435 MHz antenna's in the 2006 AMSAT Symposium Proceedings (available on the AMSAT website - I know a callous plug!!).
What? No AMSAT Proceedings handy?? Then try the current August 2007 issue of QST where Tony describes his 2 Meter EZ-Lindenblad. (Tony - will the 70cm antenna be in next month's QST??)
Regards...Bill - N6GHz
Anthony Monteiro wrote:
At 11:37 AM 8/7/2007, Gould Smith wrote:
Hello Bruce and Scott,
My experience and testing has shown me that small yagis, at a fixed elevation AND a preamp at the antenna will more than adequately work all the current LEOs. ...
Dear Friends,
Just a few comments on omni's.
The key to working the LEOs is really just a decent mast mounted preamp. A Yagi is nice but I have worked 49 states and around 40 countries using just omni antennas on the LEOs. It really isn't that hard, you just have to be able to HEAR the satellite and that means a mast mounted preamp. I have worked AO-51 even on Field Day with just an EZ Lindenblad on 2m and parasitic Lindenblad on 70cm.
The coax is not that important as long as you get at least 5 watts or so at the antenna for the uplink. On AO-51, of course, the more power the better because of the QRM but the satellite would be full quieting at 5 watts into an omni.
73, Tony AA2TX
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. 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