suitable omni antenna for FM sats?
We have a newly licenced amateur in DP79. Because they fell a few points of getting their Basic with Honours they do not have HF privileges, their only way to communicate with the outside world is via satellite. Anticipating this possible outcome, that they may not get access to the HF bands, I sent them a hard copy, (no home internet, and its slow and expensive there if you do have it), of the current copy of "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites". As we're heading into the time of year to do any outside work, the most pressing question is what is the best compromise antenna for a base station. Keeping in mind their location, in order to work anyone they'll have to get into the satellites while the satellite is close to their horizon, otherwise the satellite footprint will not cover areas with any satellite operators.
Ron VE8RT in DP22
As was stated multiple times in a very recent thread - omnis for sat work are a poor compromise!! Even a small beam at a 15-degree angle will generally blow most omnis off the roof! Even better would be a pair of beams (one for uplink, one for downlink) on an azimuth/elevation rotor! But handheld can work almost as good!!
7 3 Jeff Moore --- KE7ACY CN94
On Fri, May 10, 2019 at 10:08 PM Ron VE8RT via AMSAT-BB [email protected] wrote:
We have a newly licenced amateur in DP79. Because they fell a few points of getting their Basic with Honours they do not have HF privileges, their only way to communicate with the outside world is via satellite. Anticipating this possible outcome, that they may not get access to the HF bands, I sent them a hard copy, (no home internet, and its slow and expensive there if you do have it), of the current copy of "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites". As we're heading into the time of year to do any outside work, the most pressing question is what is the best compromise antenna for a base station. Keeping in mind their location, in order to work anyone they'll have to get into the satellites while the satellite is close to their horizon, otherwise the satellite footprint will not cover areas with any satellite operators.
Ron VE8RT in DP22
-- Ron VE8RT [email protected] _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
And if he is only needing to work Birds close to the horizon, I would not even bother with the elevation rotor. or even tilt the beam up any.
From what it sounds like the beam is not going to be very gigh at all, so just from ground reflections the main lobe will already be elevated.
so shoot for the horizion with any beam you can muster.
Maybe make up a pair of the "Cheap Yagis"
My wonder is without internet, how is he going to keep up with the ever changing Keps?
Joe WB9SBD Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com On 5/11/2019 12:34 AM, Jeff Moore via AMSAT-BB wrote:
As was stated multiple times in a very recent thread - omnis for sat work are a poor compromise!! Even a small beam at a 15-degree angle will generally blow most omnis off the roof! Even better would be a pair of beams (one for uplink, one for downlink) on an azimuth/elevation rotor! But handheld can work almost as good!!
7 3 Jeff Moore --- KE7ACY CN94
On Fri, May 10, 2019 at 10:08 PM Ron VE8RT via AMSAT-BB [email protected] wrote:
We have a newly licenced amateur in DP79. Because they fell a fewpoints of getting their Basic with Honours they do not have HF privileges, their only way to communicate with the outside world is via satellite. Anticipating this possible outcome, that they may not get access to the HF bands, I sent them a hard copy, (no home internet, and its slow and expensive there if you do have it), of the current copy of "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites". As we're heading into the time of year to do any outside work, the most pressing question is what is the best compromise antenna for a base station. Keeping in mind their location, in order to work anyone they'll have to get into the satellites while the satellite is close to their horizon, otherwise the satellite footprint will not cover areas with any satellite operators.
Ron VE8RT in DP22-- Ron VE8RT [email protected] _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Thanks for the comments,
not without internet entirely, it is available in town but not at home. So keps could be updated.
A beam and rotator might be possible, they may be challenged by the set-up both with the hardware and software (if it is computer tracking), and alignment.
Myself, I found the previous discussion very helpful, and here I was worried when I lost a bird within 2 degrees of the horizon (8 element quad on 2M, helix on 70 cm, but manual rotator control and fixed elevation).
So I appreciate your experience, if you were in their position what would you if you didn't have the time (summer is short), and you were going to do this on a reasonable budget without it being too complex. This new amateur does not have a technical background, they're a city administrator in Cambridge Bay, NU.
Whatever I can get into Yellowknife I should be able to get onto a company aircraft to Cambridge Bay. I'll be going over radio options too, from time to time they pass through Yellowknife and we can get some time for training. Last month their job took them to Colorado and then Alaska, but they didn't have their call sign yet, it might help and be encouraging if on a future trip they could meet up with a local club and experienced operators.
Ron VE8RT
On Sat, 11 May 2019 08:19:57 -0500 Joe via AMSAT-BB [email protected] wrote:
And if he is only needing to work Birds close to the horizon, I would not even bother with the elevation rotor. or even tilt the beam up any.
From what it sounds like the beam is not going to be very gigh at all, so just from ground reflections the main lobe will already be elevated.
so shoot for the horizion with any beam you can muster.
Maybe make up a pair of the "Cheap Yagis"
My wonder is without internet, how is he going to keep up with the ever changing Keps?
Joe WB9SBD Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com On 5/11/2019 12:34 AM, Jeff Moore via AMSAT-BB wrote:
As was stated multiple times in a very recent thread - omnis for sat work are a poor compromise!! Even a small beam at a 15-degree angle will generally blow most omnis off the roof! Even better would be a pair of beams (one for uplink, one for downlink) on an azimuth/elevation rotor! But handheld can work almost as good!!
7 3 Jeff Moore --- KE7ACY CN94
On Fri, May 10, 2019 at 10:08 PM Ron VE8RT via AMSAT-BB [email protected] wrote:
We have a newly licenced amateur in DP79. Because they fell a fewpoints of getting their Basic with Honours they do not have HF privileges, their only way to communicate with the outside world is via satellite. Anticipating this possible outcome, that they may not get access to the HF bands, I sent them a hard copy, (no home internet, and its slow and expensive there if you do have it), of the current copy of "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites". As we're heading into the time of year to do any outside work, the most pressing question is what is the best compromise antenna for a base station. Keeping in mind their location, in order to work anyone they'll have to get into the satellites while the satellite is close to their horizon, otherwise the satellite footprint will not cover areas with any satellite operators.
Ron VE8RT in DP22-- Ron VE8RT [email protected] _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
I just do not want him to looose interest.
If all I had was like an eggbeater for the Birds i'd try for a few weeks then quit out of frustration.
Joe WB9SBD Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com On 5/11/2019 8:46 AM, Ron VE8RT wrote:
Thanks for the comments,
not without internet entirely, it is available in town but not athome. So keps could be updated.
A beam and rotator might be possible, they may be challenged by theset-up both with the hardware and software (if it is computer tracking), and alignment.
Myself, I found the previous discussion very helpful, and here I wasworried when I lost a bird within 2 degrees of the horizon (8 element quad on 2M, helix on 70 cm, but manual rotator control and fixed elevation).
So I appreciate your experience, if you were in their position whatwould you if you didn't have the time (summer is short), and you were going to do this on a reasonable budget without it being too complex. This new amateur does not have a technical background, they're a city administrator in Cambridge Bay, NU.
Whatever I can get into Yellowknife I should be able to get onto acompany aircraft to Cambridge Bay. I'll be going over radio options too, from time to time they pass through Yellowknife and we can get some time for training. Last month their job took them to Colorado and then Alaska, but they didn't have their call sign yet, it might help and be encouraging if on a future trip they could meet up with a local club and experienced operators.
Ron VE8RTOn Sat, 11 May 2019 08:19:57 -0500 Joe via AMSAT-BB [email protected] wrote:
And if he is only needing to work Birds close to the horizon, I would not even bother with the elevation rotor. or even tilt the beam up any.
From what it sounds like the beam is not going to be very gigh at all, so just from ground reflections the main lobe will already be elevated.
so shoot for the horizion with any beam you can muster.
Maybe make up a pair of the "Cheap Yagis"
My wonder is without internet, how is he going to keep up with the ever changing Keps?
Joe WB9SBD Sig The Original Rolling Ball Clock Idle Tyme Idle-Tyme.com http://www.idle-tyme.com On 5/11/2019 12:34 AM, Jeff Moore via AMSAT-BB wrote:
As was stated multiple times in a very recent thread - omnis for sat work are a poor compromise!! Even a small beam at a 15-degree angle will generally blow most omnis off the roof! Even better would be a pair of beams (one for uplink, one for downlink) on an azimuth/elevation rotor! But handheld can work almost as good!!
7 3 Jeff Moore --- KE7ACY CN94
On Fri, May 10, 2019 at 10:08 PM Ron VE8RT via AMSAT-BB [email protected] wrote:
We have a newly licenced amateur in DP79. Because they fell a fewpoints of getting their Basic with Honours they do not have HF privileges, their only way to communicate with the outside world is via satellite. Anticipating this possible outcome, that they may not get access to the HF bands, I sent them a hard copy, (no home internet, and its slow and expensive there if you do have it), of the current copy of "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites". As we're heading into the time of year to do any outside work, the most pressing question is what is the best compromise antenna for a base station. Keeping in mind their location, in order to work anyone they'll have to get into the satellites while the satellite is close to their horizon, otherwise the satellite footprint will not cover areas with any satellite operators.
Ron VE8RT in DP22-- Ron VE8RT [email protected] _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
On 05/11/19 08:46, Ron VE8RT via AMSAT-BB wrote:
not without internet entirely, it is available in town but not athome. So keps could be updated.
Speaking of beams, he might want to invest in something like this:
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B008Z4I7WQ/ref=psdc_3015438011_t1_B00VK0FFKO
If he can point that toward the town, he might be able to pick up WiFi at the house.
(Nice that it also works for the 13cm allocation -- useful even after he gets proper Internet access to the home.)
--- Zach N0ZGO
Hi Zach,
to be honest, I don't know if Cambridge Bay, NU, has any open WiFi, and the internet access is, I've been told, slow and expensive for those who do have it.
Ron VE8RT
On Sat, 11 May 2019 11:22:24 -0500 Zach Metzinger via AMSAT-BB [email protected] wrote:
On 05/11/19 08:46, Ron VE8RT via AMSAT-BB wrote:
not without internet entirely, it is available in town but not athome. So keps could be updated.
Speaking of beams, he might want to invest in something like this:
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B008Z4I7WQ/ref=psdc_3015438011_t1_B00VK0FFKO
If he can point that toward the town, he might be able to pick up WiFi at the house.
(Nice that it also works for the 13cm allocation -- useful even after he gets proper Internet access to the home.)
--- Zach N0ZGO _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (4)
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Jeff Moore -
Joe -
Ron VE8RT -
Zach Metzinger