[amsat-bb] Re: Equipment/Software

-- David KG4ZLB www.kg4zlb.com David - KG4ZLB wrote: > Hi Mike, > > Well I am sure that my set-up is very similar to a lot of other op's > on this board but here goes! > > 1) Radio is an Icom 910HX, Rotator is the G5500 and SatPC32 to do the > tracking! > > Why SatPC32? Because its a dedicated program that does exactly what it > says on the tin (unlike Ham Radio Deluxe which is a jack of all trades > and master of none, IMHO, and still has Icom issues), has great > customer service, all sale proceeds go to AMSAT and a lot of people on > the BB use it so there is no shortage of help when needed (Thanks to > Alan, WA4SCA!) > > 2) Interface between 910 and PC is a CI-V clone cable available on > e-bay for less than $20 > > 3) Interface between PC and G5500 is an LVB Tracker - why? > Again, profits to AMSAT, super after sales service, it works and works > well and it really looks nice in my shack! If you have the money then > sure, go buy the Yeasu alternative but you can buy an awful lot of > other goodies with the change that an LVB will give you! > > 4) Because I do not have the "proper" Icom CI-V unit, I can only > control one radio at a time with SatPC32 so when AO-51 is in Mode S, I > use the 910 for the receive side allowing SatPC 32 to calculate the > doppler. For transmitting, say on 2m (When in Mode V/S) I use my Icom > 706MKIIG and just leave the transmit frequency alone - works like a > charm. When AO-51 is in Mode L/S then SatPC32 can do everything I need > through the 910. The 706 is only used when Mode S is on as it ties up > the 2m band. > > 5) 1.2Ghz antenna is the helical antenna built and sold by Bob, W7LRD > - its solid, performs excellently, Bob is on hand in the event of > problems and he donates 20% of each sale to AMSAT. > > 6) Currently I have a BBQ dish feeding a downconverter but I spoke to > Bob (W7LRD) about ordering a 2.4ghz helical antenna which will replace > the BBQ dish as its rather heavy and cumbersome. but again, it works > and as I paid $15 for it and the downconverter, I really can't > complain. But with Dayton next week, I am saving my pennies so I will > order the antenna when I get back. > > Now one thing that I did not see on your list was pre-amps! > > Again in my opinion, you really can not do without them. A lot of > people will steer you towards SSB Electronics or ARR as sources and > yes, they are great pre-amps but if you are putting a station together > and you have the 910 have a think about the much maligned Icom > pre-amps - yes, I know they do not publish noise figures and everyone > says they are crap etc, etc but you can not blow them up by > transmitting through them, they do not need a separate DC feed, they > are readily available and they do work. Last evening I had an SO-50 15 > degree pass out over the Atlantic and I worked a station and then > turned the pre-amp off afterwards and I could not hear him. That > pre-amp made the difference between a successful QSO or not one at all. > > Now I know that people reading this will say, "hang on, 15 degrees, > why the big problem?" but let me explain that currently I live in an > HOA community that does not like you painting the front door or > changing the brand of toilet tissue without having written permission > from the Board of very old people with far too much time on their > hands. So my antennas are probably no more than 6 feet off of the > ground within the confines of a pool cage. Whilst that sounds very > restrictive, and to an extent it is, I work all of the analogue birds, > the ISS and I get pictures from the weather sats. Last month I worked > 171 stations. So it can be done. > > I hope that some of the above is of use, if you want any pictures of > what I have here then please e-mail me off the BB and I would be happy > to send you some. > > 73's for now > > David > -- David KG4ZLB www.kg4zlb.com