having tried all of these different antennas, if you are willing to go commercial I’d get an Arrow with handle duplexer, or an Elk. The arrow has better reception on 70cm, but the Elk doesn’t need a duplexer. That’s up to you to decide which is more important for your operating style!
If you intend to use 2 radios for full duplex (recommended), then the arrow with no duplexer will work fine. Be aware that using a second baofeng as a receiver for SO50 will not give you a good experience. The receiver on the baofengs tend to overload when you are transmitting on 2m on another rig. An FT-60R or similar as a receiver won’t have this problem.
Alternatively, if you’re handy the cheap yagis (diy) that others mentioned work well, similar to the arrow. I’d steer away from a tape measure yagi or whip. These are very frustrating to use, especially if you haven’t done much sat wrk before. They do not have good reception, especially on SO50.
I have made a few hundred sat QSOs with an Elk and kenwood TH-D72, and a couple thousand using an Arrow and various radios...hopefully all that time and money I spent will help you make your decision! ;-)
73,
- Matthew nj4y
Sent from my iPhone
On Oct 22, 2017, at 16:55, Paul Andrews w2hro.fn20@gmail.com wrote:
The Arrow with the integrated diplexer is your best bet if you only have a single HT radio.
You can build a simple 3 element 2M and 5 element 70cm antenna for almost nothing. Google the term "tape measure antenna" and you'll find plans to build an antenna using a metal flexible tape measure.
You can use wood or PVC pipe for the boom. I've seen one of these work nicely with the SO-50 FM satellite.
I would recommend buying a second HT radio so you can operate full duplex and hear your voice on the downlink.
The 2nd radio is more important than buying a commercial made antenna.
I worked SO-50 with a long wipp antenna on a 5W HT. It doesn't take much when the satellite is directly overhead.
Good luck.
73 - Paul - W2HRO
On Oct 22, 2017 16:29, "David Taylor" davidtaylorjr1985@gmail.com wrote:
I am just getting interested in Satellite work and I don't really have any money at all for antennas.
What is the easiest/chepest way to get into this part of the hobby as far as an antenna goes?
I have a Wouxun UV8D for a HT radio that I will use so I only plan to do FM work at the moment.
Thanks and 73
David N4DCT _______________________________________________ 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: http://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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb