Hi All,
I've been inactive for several years now and have started to get the itch again to get back into doing some Amateur Radio related. I've often thought about trying to get on some of the linear and FM sats as apparently I live in a somewhat rare grid. EM23? Anyway I have a FT-897 and FT-857 that I plan to use along with a dual band arrow antenna that I used several years ago during field day one time. I have CAT cables for the radios on order for rig control. I will probably go with SATPC32 for software unless someone has an idea on something better but it needs to be PC based. Maybe free? Right now the plan is to either hold the arrow antenna or mount to a tri-pod. I need all of this to be as portable as possible as I am currently unable to setup a station at my QTH. Am I missing anything? Any suggestions?
73 Matt W5LL
Hello, Matt!
Since you mentioned an Arrow and a tripod, I think you mean to use the setup in a portable situation! Excellent!
I use an FT-897 for uplink, an FT-817 for downlink, and an Arrow -- similar to your situation.
May I suggest that you consider trying it out manually first without CAT control. It is fairly straightforward -- with some practice -- to learn how to manually adjust for Doppler. And, since you use the FT-897, it has the spotting function that I find handy from time to time and that I found especially handy while learning to tune Doppler manually.
As for the Arrow, a tripod is a great way to start but you will find that most of the very active operators hold it by hand. The chief reason for this is to be able to control the axial rotation -- some tripods can also do this but many don't. You really need to be able to quickly rotate the Arrow on its axis to maximize downlink signals -- like flicking your wrist.
Lastly, consider using an inline MP3 recorder so that logging takes less effort during operation. Since you have separate radios, you will be able to hear (and record) your downlink just fine.
So, to the point of being as portable as possible: imagine me grabbing iPhone (for GoSatWatch), MP3 Recorder, iPod headset, extra male-to-male audio cable, Yaesu mic, FT-897, and FT-817 and racing through the house to the garage. While I wait for the garage door to open I grab the Arrow. I set up everything on a flat surface outside -- talk to Patrick WD9EWK about the special features offered by pink trash bins -- and track the Arrow by hand. So much fun!
-- bag
Bryan KL7CN/W6 Location: CM98, usually E-Mail: bryan@KL7CN.net Telephone/SMS: 408-836-7279
On Jul 11, 2018, at 12:20, mattpatt@1starnet.com wrote:
Hi All,
I've been inactive for several years now and have started to get the itch again to get back into doing some Amateur Radio related. I've often thought about trying to get on some of the linear and FM sats as apparently I live in a somewhat rare grid. EM23? Anyway I have a FT-897 and FT-857 that I plan to use along with a dual band arrow antenna that I used several years ago during field day one time. I have CAT cables for the radios on order for rig control. I will probably go with SATPC32 for software unless someone has an idea on something better but it needs to be PC based. Maybe free? Right now the plan is to either hold the arrow antenna or mount to a tri-pod. I need all of this to be as portable as possible as I am currently unable to setup a station at my QTH. Am I missing anything? Any suggestions?
73 Matt W5LL _______________________________________________ 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
Just wanted to add that smart-phones are pretty handy audio recorders. So, if you plan to do everything by hand, I recommend using the iPhone for both the tracking app as well as a audio recording app.
I use AmsatDroid and EasyVoiceRecorder on an old discarded smart-phone. A simple audio splitter cable I made helps records the downlink audio including my own too ! Here is a sample: AO-91 20180328 N6REK Yosemite Nat Park.mp3
| | | | AO-91 20180328 N6REK Yosemite Nat Park.mp3
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Just a thought... 731Umesh
On Wednesday, July 11, 2018, 1:13:15 PM PDT, Bryan KL7CN bryan@kl7cn.net wrote:
Hello, Matt!
Since you mentioned an Arrow and a tripod, I think you mean to use the setup in a portable situation! Excellent!
I use an FT-897 for uplink, an FT-817 for downlink, and an Arrow -- similar to your situation.
May I suggest that you consider trying it out manually first without CAT control. It is fairly straightforward -- with some practice -- to learn how to manually adjust for Doppler. And, since you use the FT-897, it has the spotting function that I find handy from time to time and that I found especially handy while learning to tune Doppler manually.
As for the Arrow, a tripod is a great way to start but you will find that most of the very active operators hold it by hand. The chief reason for this is to be able to control the axial rotation -- some tripods can also do this but many don't. You really need to be able to quickly rotate the Arrow on its axis to maximize downlink signals -- like flicking your wrist.
Lastly, consider using an inline MP3 recorder so that logging takes less effort during operation. Since you have separate radios, you will be able to hear (and record) your downlink just fine.
So, to the point of being as portable as possible: imagine me grabbing iPhone (for GoSatWatch), MP3 Recorder, iPod headset, extra male-to-male audio cable, Yaesu mic, FT-897, and FT-817 and racing through the house to the garage. While I wait for the garage door to open I grab the Arrow. I set up everything on a flat surface outside -- talk to Patrick WD9EWK about the special features offered by pink trash bins -- and track the Arrow by hand. So much fun!
-- bag
Bryan KL7CN/W6 Location: CM98, usually E-Mail: bryan@KL7CN.net Telephone/SMS: 408-836-7279
On Jul 11, 2018, at 12:20, mattpatt@1starnet.com wrote:
Hi All,
I've been inactive for several years now and have started to get the itch again to get back into doing some Amateur Radio related. I've often thought about trying to get on some of the linear and FM sats as apparently I live in a somewhat rare grid. EM23? Anyway I have a FT-897 and FT-857 that I plan to use along with a dual band arrow antenna that I used several years ago during field day one time. I have CAT cables for the radios on order for rig control. I will probably go with SATPC32 for software unless someone has an idea on something better but it needs to be PC based. Maybe free? Right now the plan is to either hold the arrow antenna or mount to a tri-pod. I need all of this to be as portable as possible as I am currently unable to setup a station at my QTH. Am I missing anything? Any suggestions?
73 Matt W5LL
_______________________________________________ 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
participants (3)
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Bryan KL7CN -
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mattpatt＠1starnet.com