Thanks for reading this. I am considering buying an HT for AO-51 and SO-50 as well as AO-27 (hopefully!). I have been using a Yaesu FT-817 and either an Arrow or Elk antenna and this has worked very well; however, an HT would be easier to carry around. I am looking for recommendations / warnings / etc. specific to the Kenwood TH-F6A. I would like some advice from those who have used the radio for satellite work before I shell out $320.00. I seriously considered a used IC-W32A on e-bay but it went for over $150.00 and I couldn't see paying that much for something that may or may not work properly. Any insights would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Guy
N3SCR
Finksburg, MD
The F6 is a great radio and I have one that I use a lot. However...it's not full duplex. The D7 can be had for a similar cost, and is full duplex and has the built in TNC for packet ops.
Full duplex operation really makes the FM satellites easy to operate, and results in less of a logjam on the uplink because you know if you are doubling with another station. When using it with an antenna like the arrow or elk, you can also change the antenna orientation while transmitting to peak your uplink signal at the satellite. All of the FM satellites use linear receive whips, and adjusting the arrow for max signal will yield more gain than the beam itself! (20 db cross polarization versus maybe 6db from the 3 element yagi)
Now...if you use the F6 with the 817, you get full duplex on the FM AND SSB satellites, because of the all mode receiver in the F6.
73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT-NA VP Operations
----- Original Message ----- From: "Guy Brauning" guyjeanbraun@comcast.net To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2008 12:06 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Kenwood TH-F6A for AO-51 / SO-50??
Thanks for reading this. I am considering buying an HT for AO-51 and SO-50 as well as AO-27 (hopefully!). I have been using a Yaesu FT-817 and either an Arrow or Elk antenna and this has worked very well; however, an HT would be easier to carry around. I am looking for recommendations / warnings / etc. specific to the Kenwood TH-F6A. I would like some advice from those who have used the radio for satellite work before I shell out $320.00. I seriously considered a used IC-W32A on e-bay but it went for over $150.00 and I couldn't see paying that much for something that may or may not work properly. Any insights would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Guy
N3SCR
Finksburg, MD
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
You also cannot store cross band memories so when adjusting for doppler you have to switch to the A or B vfo, whichever you are using for the downlink, adjust frequency, then switch back. Shouldn't be a problem once you are used to it since it's only one button turn the vfo hit the same button, but will take some coordination.
On Sun, Dec 7, 2008 at 12:32 PM, Andrew Glasbrenner < glasbrenner@mindspring.com> wrote:
The F6 is a great radio and I have one that I use a lot. However...it's not full duplex. The D7 can be had for a similar cost, and is full duplex and has the built in TNC for packet ops.
Full duplex operation really makes the FM satellites easy to operate, and results in less of a logjam on the uplink because you know if you are doubling with another station. When using it with an antenna like the arrow or elk, you can also change the antenna orientation while transmitting to peak your uplink signal at the satellite. All of the FM satellites use linear receive whips, and adjusting the arrow for max signal will yield more gain than the beam itself! (20 db cross polarization versus maybe 6db from the 3 element yagi)
Now...if you use the F6 with the 817, you get full duplex on the FM AND SSB satellites, because of the all mode receiver in the F6.
73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT-NA VP Operations
----- Original Message ----- From: "Guy Brauning" guyjeanbraun@comcast.net To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2008 12:06 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Kenwood TH-F6A for AO-51 / SO-50??
Thanks for reading this. I am considering buying an HT for AO-51 and SO-50 as well as AO-27 (hopefully!). I have been using a Yaesu FT-817 and either an Arrow or Elk antenna and this has worked very well; however, an HT would be easier to carry around. I am looking for recommendations / warnings / etc. specific to the Kenwood TH-F6A. I would like some advice from those who have used the radio for satellite work before I shell out $320.00. I seriously considered a used IC-W32A on e-bay but it went for over $150.00 and I couldn't see paying that much for something that may or may not
work
properly. Any insights would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Guy
N3SCR
Finksburg, MD
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
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
I have used my Kenwood TH-F6A along with an Arrow antenna, and IMHO it works just fine. You do need to get it programmed right and you need to get used to switching between VFOs as you track the satellite and the Doppler effect on frequency. It is NOT a full duplex radio like the W32A, and you will not be able to hear yourself, but I have never felt that's been a problem.. I programmed mine to transmit on one VFO (uplink) and be able to receive on several different frequencies (downlink) on the other VFO. On the transmit VFO, the squelch is closed all the way, while on the receive VFO, it's open all the way. So, VFO A is set for uplink of 145.920 on memory channel 150 and on memory channels 152-153 I have them programmed for 435.290 and 435.295 (downlink which is in VFO B). 154 is center frequency of 435.300 and of course 155 and 156 are set to 435.305 and 435.310. By switching between VFOs I can change downlink channels/frequencies to fit the Doppler shift. A little cumbersome, but that little radio works very well. You can follow a similar scheme on the QRP channel of AO51 (mine is 160-166) and SO50 (mine is 170-176-get the picture). I have made several contacts with it on the QRP channels but have had no luck on SO50, which is a lot more difficult satellite to hear. I'm using it because it's what I had, and I'm happy to say with a little use and practice you quickly get the hang of it. Of course, either the W32A or the Kenwood TH-D7A do FULL duplex, but both are no longer in production. Hearing yourself is nice, but not necessary.
Jim Bob Buckeye AKA **** Jim Leder**** K8CXM since 1961 IBM retiree since 1999
There are 10 types of people in this world -- those who understand binary and those who don't.
----- Original Message ----- From: "Guy Brauning" guyjeanbraun@comcast.net To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2008 12:06 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Kenwood TH-F6A for AO-51 / SO-50??
Thanks for reading this. I am considering buying an HT for AO-51 and SO-50 as well as AO-27 (hopefully!). I have been using a Yaesu FT-817 and either an Arrow or Elk antenna and this has worked very well; however, an HT would be easier to carry around. I am looking for recommendations / warnings / etc. specific to the Kenwood TH-F6A. I would like some advice from those who have used the radio for satellite work before I shell out $320.00. I seriously considered a used IC-W32A on e-bay but it went for over $150.00 and I couldn't see paying that much for something that may or may not work properly. Any insights would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Guy
N3SCR
Finksburg, MD
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
Hi Guy,
I have both the TH-F6 and TH-D7A/G radios.
The TH-F6 is a very versatile radio, but it does have its limitations. The original appeal to me was being able to receive nearly anything, and it can do that but you often need the help of a better antenna. The internal bar antenna is marginal for AM broadcast stations, and totally useless for Shortwave stations. Can't even pick up WWV on the west coast. The "B" side is somewhat deaf too, with VHF stations coming in an S-unit or two higher on the "A" side. FM broadcast is usually scratchy. It's image rejection is poor as well. TV audio receive is handy, when you can pick it up, but in any case that will expire in a few months...
All that said, being able to receive SSB/CW is unique and has come in handy more times than I would have expected. I checked into the Western States Weak Signal VHF net once or twice while out on a walk with my wife, receiving on SSB and using the PTT as a crude key for transmit. I've also noticed that the unit's VHF "extended receive" coverage is a lot wider than most HTs, and that allowed me to monitor the stage microphones at our high school's summer play, warning the stage crew when when they weren't working or had a loose connection. (The sound guy couldn't listen in during the performance without putting the mikes live into the system.) It's battery life is very good, especially for such a small unit, and being Li-ion it doesn't self-discharge much at all. The overall size and weight makes it a no-brainer for throwing in the carry-on when traveling.
I find myself using my TH-D7 more often for planned Ham activities, and when out on vacations (email from the boonies, etc), and the TH-F6 more for the unexpected need-an-HT opportunities that come up. The D7 is much larger and heavier, and the batteries are a continual source of headache. (I've switched to the Batteries America 6xAA pack with 2700 mAh batteries, but at a 3db cost in Tx power, and they still have the Ni-MH self-discharge property.) The digital side is handy, mostly for APRS, but also for the occasional try at the old fashioned Packet stuff.
I've actually used neither for satellite work, so I can't comment on their use there. But on the odd chance you're doing something other than working satellites, this might help in your choice.
Good luck,
Greg KO6TH
From: guyjeanbraun@comcast.net To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 12:06:39 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] Kenwood TH-F6A for AO-51 / SO-50??
Thanks for reading this. I am considering buying an HT for AO-51 and SO-50 as well as AO-27 (hopefully!). I have been using a Yaesu FT-817 and either an Arrow or Elk antenna and this has worked very well; however, an HT would be easier to carry around. I am looking for recommendations / warnings / etc. specific to the Kenwood TH-F6A. I would like some advice from those who have used the radio for satellite work before I shell out $320.00. I seriously considered a used IC-W32A on e-bay but it went for over $150.00 and I couldn't see paying that much for something that may or may not work properly. Any insights would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Guy
N3SCR
Finksburg, MD
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
_________________________________________________________________ You live life online. So we put Windows on the web. http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/127032869/direct/01/
Guy Brauning wrote:
be easier to carry around. I am looking for recommendations / warnings / etc. specific to the Kenwood TH-F6A. I would like some advice from those
I'm using a TH-F7E (the Europe/UK version without 220MHz) and a homebrew antenna and diplexer. As a few others have said, you need to get used to switching to the B radio and tuning for Doppler and then quickly switching back to transmit, but it's not a huge problem. I found it hard to get into AO-51 when there are more powerful stations working it. but SO-50 is suitably quiet and AO-51's QRP mode gives us HT users a fighting chance.
Gordon
participants (6)
-
Andrew Glasbrenner -
Gordon JC Pearce MM3YEQ -
Greg D. -
Guy Brauning -
Jim Leder -
Trey Brown