I got a surprise gift of a Kenwood TH-F6A and look forward to giving it a try on the satellites. I know there are a few owners on the list -- Drew, Patrick, others -- and wonder if folks have any tips to share (I've read through the eham reviews). I'm especially interested in experiences with speaker/mics and headsets, headphones with 2.5mm plugs, quality of after-market programming cables, etc. I'll typically be using the F6A as one of two radios -- the receiver for the easy sats -- and want to record passes while listening or operating. Thanks in advance for any ideas that will make its use more effective and enjoyable.
73, Scott N1AIA
Hi Scott,
I haven't used my F6 much for satellites (my D7 is better, but mostly I use my FT-736r. Warm, in side the shack.
The F6 is an interesting beast. I have used it with an after-market speaker mike, the kind that clips over your ear and has a short boom for mike pickup. It works ok, I suppose. The audio volume (from the mike pickup) wasn't all that good. It's kind of short, and as I don't like talking loudly into thin air, I kind of cup my hand over the boom and mouth, which kind of defeats the whole purpose of it. Also the VOX didn't work, and I think one of the PTT buttons (the one on the speaker mike cord, or maybe the one on the rig itself, would key up the rig but no audio would come through. I just use the other one. The volume in the ear piece itself is fine.
You're going to ask me what the make/model is, and I really don't recall. It was from one of those vendors you see at swap mets year after year. Nothing is written on the unit itself.
"Fortunately", one of the wires got run over by something and it's in need of repair. Instead of doing that, I picked up a Pryme SPM-301B at a recent club white elephant sale. Seems to work in a quick "smoke test", but I don't have any on-air results yet. The ear bud doesn't clip over the ear like the other one does, so I'm concerned it might keep falling out, but the price was right.
The F6 itself, at least mine, is somewhat deaf on the "B" side. If you're on an FM bird, use "A" for receive, and if you want to transmit, do that on "B". For SSB/CW, you will have to use the B side, of course. Note that it is a half-duplex rig, so you will not be able to hear yourself without a second radio. Also, the B side is pretty wide banded and weakly filtered, so you're going to get some imaging effects and "intermod" in high RF areas.
If you haven't yet, do invest in some sort of protective cover for the keys. The lettering on mine is almost totally gone, just from sitting in the side pocket of my backpack/laptop case.
If you find, one day, that the rig doesn't power up, take the battery off and give the two spring power clips a little tug. Mine seem to not make good contact sometimes.
That's all I can think of, off the top of my head. Definitely a cute little rig, with lots of uses. The B side's wide range and SSB/CW capability makes it a portable instrument, an IF receiver (for on-roof tuneup of my AO-40 downlink), and the AM/FM radio comes in handy from time to time. Once I even checked into the regional SSB Net on 2 meters, receiving SSB on "B", and using the PTT on A for crude CW. (Hey, it worked!) Pity we can't listen to TV-audio anymore. The Li-Ion battery has very little self-discharge, so it's always ready to go.
Enjoy,
Greg KO6TH
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2011 16:29:24 -0500 From: scott.xot@gmail.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] TH-F6A tip request
I got a surprise gift of a Kenwood TH-F6A and look forward to giving it a try on the satellites. I know there are a few owners on the list -- Drew, Patrick, others -- and wonder if folks have any tips to share (I've read through the eham reviews). I'm especially interested in experiences with speaker/mics and headsets, headphones with 2.5mm plugs, quality of after-market programming cables, etc. I'll typically be using the F6A as one of two radios -- the receiver for the easy sats -- and want to record passes while listening or operating. Thanks in advance for any ideas that will make its use more effective and enjoyable.
73, Scott N1AIA _______________________________________________ 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
Hello Scott and all,
I've used my TH-F7E (european version of the TH-F6A) to work satellites in many ways:
-As a portable HT station for the FM birds using either an AL-800 telecoping whip or a dual-band beam antenna (Arrow, IOio...). Although full-duplex is the best way to go, You can work fine using half-duplex. See video for details: http://eb4dka.laserenadigital.com/Videos%20AMSAT/VIDEO_EB4DKA%20portable%20v...
-As the receiver side of my mobile station using a CJU antenna to work FM and SSB birds (FO-29, HO-68). I use an old Kenwood TM-255 all mode VHF transceiver and a 1/4 wave mag mount VHF whip for the uplink. This setup allows me to work full-duplex. See video for details: http://eb4dka.laserenadigital.com/Videos%20AMSAT/VIDEO_EB4DKA%20via%20FO29%2...
-As IF receiver for my AO-40 base (and mobile!) station: http://eb4dka.laserenadigital.com/Videos%20AMSAT/VIDEO_Kenwood%20THF7%20reci... http://eb4dka.laserenadigital.com/Imagenes/EB4DKA_AO40_MOBILE.jpg
I found the B receiver as sensitive as A receiver in FM. In SSB I've compared it with a TS-790 and a PCR-1000 and the sensitivity is almost equal. The big downside is the bandwith filters in SSB (they're pretty wide), but you can work quite well if you stay away strong adjacent stations.
Just my two cents...
73 de Pedro EB4DKA http://eb4dka.laserenadigital.com
----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg D." ko6th_greg@hotmail.com To: scott.xot@gmail.com; amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 7:17 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: TH-F6A tip request
Hi Scott,
I haven't used my F6 much for satellites (my D7 is better, but mostly I use my FT-736r. Warm, in side the shack.
The F6 is an interesting beast. I have used it with an after-market speaker mike, the kind that clips over your ear and has a short boom for mike pickup. It works ok, I suppose. The audio volume (from the mike pickup) wasn't all that good. It's kind of short, and as I don't like talking loudly into thin air, I kind of cup my hand over the boom and mouth, which kind of defeats the whole purpose of it. Also the VOX didn't work, and I think one of the PTT buttons (the one on the speaker mike cord, or maybe the one on the rig itself, would key up the rig but no audio would come through. I just use the other one. The volume in the ear piece itself is fine.
You're going to ask me what the make/model is, and I really don't recall. It was from one of those vendors you see at swap mets year after year. Nothing is written on the unit itself.
"Fortunately", one of the wires got run over by something and it's in need of repair. Instead of doing that, I picked up a Pryme SPM-301B at a recent club white elephant sale. Seems to work in a quick "smoke test", but I don't have any on-air results yet. The ear bud doesn't clip over the ear like the other one does, so I'm concerned it might keep falling out, but the price was right.
The F6 itself, at least mine, is somewhat deaf on the "B" side. If you're on an FM bird, use "A" for receive, and if you want to transmit, do that on "B". For SSB/CW, you will have to use the B side, of course. Note that it is a half-duplex rig, so you will not be able to hear yourself without a second radio. Also, the B side is pretty wide banded and weakly filtered, so you're going to get some imaging effects and "intermod" in high RF areas.
If you haven't yet, do invest in some sort of protective cover for the keys. The lettering on mine is almost totally gone, just from sitting in the side pocket of my backpack/laptop case.
If you find, one day, that the rig doesn't power up, take the battery off and give the two spring power clips a little tug. Mine seem to not make good contact sometimes.
That's all I can think of, off the top of my head. Definitely a cute little rig, with lots of uses. The B side's wide range and SSB/CW capability makes it a portable instrument, an IF receiver (for on-roof tuneup of my AO-40 downlink), and the AM/FM radio comes in handy from time to time. Once I even checked into the regional SSB Net on 2 meters, receiving SSB on "B", and using the PTT on A for crude CW. (Hey, it worked!) Pity we can't listen to TV-audio anymore. The Li-Ion battery has very little self-discharge, so it's always ready to go.
Enjoy,
Greg KO6TH
Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2011 16:29:24 -0500 From: scott.xot@gmail.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] TH-F6A tip request
I got a surprise gift of a Kenwood TH-F6A and look forward to giving it a try on the satellites. I know there are a few owners on the list -- Drew, Patrick, others -- and wonder if folks have any tips to share (I've read through the eham reviews). I'm especially interested in experiences with speaker/mics and headsets, headphones with 2.5mm plugs, quality of after-market programming cables, etc. I'll typically be using the F6A as one of two radios -- the receiver for the easy sats -- and want to record passes while listening or operating. Thanks in advance for any ideas that will make its use more effective and enjoyable.
73, Scott N1AIA _______________________________________________ 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
On Wed, 2011-02-02 at 16:29 -0500, Scott Richardson wrote:
I got a surprise gift of a Kenwood TH-F6A and look forward to giving it a try on the satellites. I know there are a few owners on the list -- Drew, Patrick, others -- and wonder if folks have any tips to share (I've read through the eham reviews). I'm especially interested in experiences with speaker/mics and headsets, headphones with 2.5mm plugs, quality of after-market programming cables, etc. I'll typically be using the F6A as one of two radios -- the receiver for the easy sats -- and want to record passes while listening or operating. Thanks in advance for any ideas that will make its use more effective and enjoyable.
73, Scott N1AIA
When the Wouxuns came out and had no accessories I used to tell people to just pick up Kenwood ones. Now that Wouxun ones are cheap on eBay, I'd say get those - the programming leads are identical and the only difference between headsets/RSMs etc is that the "real" Kenwood amateur ones have an extra ring for the remote control pin - which I never use anyway. Kenwood PMR stuff uses the same kind of plugs with the same spacing, so if you can program a TK-3160 with your cable you can program your TH-F7E/F6A.
It's a great rig for the FM sats. Some would say its lack of true duplex operation is a problem, but I don't. Just set the transmit side to the frequency and tone you want, then set the receive side 10kHz high until you find the bird - maybe even 15kHz, check your prediction software for the Doppler shift. Remember to flip between the A and B VFO when you tune, and back when you transmit.
You don't have small enough steps to tune the VHF side to match. Make sure you can hear the downlink before you transmit - you can't hear yourself, so you've no idea if you'll hear *anything*. If you can hear the downlink, then if you transmit they'll hear you.
Buy, borrow or make an "Arrow"-type antenna. I used a crossed pair of WA5VJB "Cheap Yagi" designs on a wooden boom with a homebrew diplexer, and it worked just great. Bit hard to fold up and put in the car, though. The one I built was 5 elements on 70cm and 3 on 2m, and provided more than enough gain to hear AO-51 from horizon to horizon.
This is a great setup for portable operation, or if you don't want all the hassle of a computer-controlled rotator and CAT cable and all that push-button-go-chat stuff that people get into. I wonder if they're the same crowd that only ever use macros on PSK31 - "YOUR RST 599 599 HOW COPY? MNY THX FER QSO" - you may as well use Skype...
Gordon MM0YEQ
On 3 Feb 2011 at 7:53, Gordon JC Pearce wrote:
Date sent: Thu, 03 Feb 2011 07:53:56 +0000 From: Gordon JC Pearce gordonjcp@gjcp.net Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: TH-F6A tip request To: amsat-bb@amsat.org
I wonder if they're the same crowd that only ever use macros on PSK31 - "YOUR RST 599 599 HOW COPY? MNY THX FER QSO" - you may as well use Skype...
Gordon MM0YEQ
"you may as well use Skype..."
You can add also MSN chat, Twitter, Face Book all are related to the internet and many Hams leave amateur radio and they are now on the internet.
On a LEO sat with a 10 minute window you are normally restrain to this kind of exchange and also here you can add "MY GRID IS XX##ZZ PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR GRID" On some occasion you can have a less crowded pass usually the very early one 0300 to 0600 am but there is a catch 22 here you are often alone on the birds with the exception of those who are living on the north eastern coast of North America who can reach europe or those who can use AO-7
There is here a GRID frenzy with not some DXpedition but Girdexpedition. A new trend who was not there in the AO-40 era as the demand was not there at that time.
The focus put on KISS station in a way to recruit new satellite operator is not bad if this new operator goes beyond his KISS station IMHO.
What is the motivation for some to operate on LEO satellite? The "exotic" mode and bands? The pleasure to achieve an OSCAR class station?
There is one thing the internet cannot provided "exoticism" be able to feel something and being able to have a direct relation with something we build and something we can directly use and watch performing at the same time.
There is new modes actually growing DSTAR, DRM, DIGITAL VOICE (FDMDV) is this can be an alternative to those who wants something else? or will we be facing with this alternative, overcrowded single channel satellite pass? Where is the place for experimenting on the actual LEO fleet? Our licence was not created for "experimenting"?
Gordon your "you may as well use Skype..." take now a new sense not a non sense!
P.S. i'm on skype and DSATR on VE2FCT repeater and on reflector REF016 B when the repeater is "busy" i just make a mobile QSO last Sunday with Gerard PA1AT with a 599 Q5 signal on DSTAR If communicating is the goal there is a way to mixed internet with the radio Is this is possible on the satellite YES on AO-27 and possibly on some other sat commanding team wise... "-"
Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe DSTAR urcall VE2DWE WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE
On Thu, Feb 03, 2011 at 04:10:12AM -0500, Luc Leblanc wrote:
On 3 Feb 2011 at 7:53, Gordon JC Pearce wrote:
...
same crowd that only ever use macros on PSK31 - "YOUR RST 599 599 HOW COPY? MNY THX FER QSO" - you may as well use Skype...
Gordon MM0YEQ
"you may as well use Skype..."
You can add also MSN chat, Twitter, Face Book all are related to the internet and many Hams leave amateur radio and they are now on the internet.
...
The focus put on KISS station in a way to recruit new satellite operator is not bad if this new operator goes beyond his KISS station IMHO.
Yes, but when I innocently asked if anyone had done a survey to see if this was happening, I was flamed unmercifully on amsat-bb. The answer I did get was "of course it does!". It would be nice to see a proper survey proving this is happening.
What is the motivation for some to operate on LEO satellite? The "exotic" mode and bands? The pleasure to achieve an OSCAR class station?
My initial motivation to getting on satellite was AO-40. That was exciting, very neat and a fun technical challenge. I did make it on AO-40 btw, I think I made at least one cw QSO before you folks broke it. ;-)
There is new modes actually growing DSTAR, DRM, DIGITAL VOICE (FDMDV) is this can be an alternative to those who wants something else? or will we be facing with this alternative, overcrowded single channel satellite pass? Where is the place for experimenting on the actual LEO fleet? Our licence was not created for "experimenting"?
The reality is, LEO is all we are going to be able to afford. I do not see the thousands upon thousands of amateurs willing to put up the $$ to put another HEO like AO-40, in the near future anyway. And yes AO-7 is still going, but is really sick sounding. The only short term realistic answer is more LEOs as I see it. But please, not another FM bird please. There is absolutely no reason we couldnt put a simple linear translator up and allow FM on one frequency, such as India does.
- 73 Diane VA3DB
At 05:49 AM 2/4/2011, Diane Bruce wrote:
What is the motivation for some to operate on LEO satellite? The
"exotic" mode and bands? The pleasure to achieve an OSCAR class station?
My initial motivation to getting on satellite was AO-40. That was exciting, very neat and a fun technical challenge. I did make it on AO-40 btw, I think I made at least one cw QSO before you folks broke it. ;-)
AO-40 was an incentive for me, though I never got beyond monitoring the 2m beacon in the early days after launch and before the incident with the 400N motor. I did collect a lot of good telemetry though
There is new modes actually growing DSTAR, DRM, DIGITAL VOICE
(FDMDV) is this can be an alternative to those who wants something else? or
will we be facing with this alternative, overcrowded single
channel satellite pass? Where is the place for experimenting on the actual LEO
fleet? Our licence was not created for "experimenting"?
The reality is, LEO is all we are going to be able to afford. I do not see the thousands upon thousands of amateurs willing to put up the $$ to put another HEO like AO-40, in the near future anyway. And yes AO-7 is still going, but is really sick sounding. The only short term realistic answer is more LEOs as I see it. But please, not another FM bird please. There is absolutely no reason we couldnt put a simple linear translator up and allow FM on one frequency, such as India does.
I do agree, more linear birds would be a good thing, and the idea of "sharing" with FM might work well in these parts, where it can be hard to find anyone else on, and FM might be the difference between having someone to talk to, and enjoying a conversation with yourself! :) Traffic density over VK/ZL can get very low at times, so for us, FM is often a plus, although I'm interested in playing around with SSB too. A "hand me down" and recent upgrades now mean I have more than enough gear for the SSB birds.
Unfortunately, LEOs can't solve the problem of vast distances meaning little chance of variety - all I've ever worked on satellite is VK, ZL, P29 and 3D2, but we have to make do with what is practical. :-/
73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com
Hm, that sounds as if taking an HT and Arrow/Elk to the postponed DX0DX would be worthwhile (if I go).
73, doug
Date: Fri, 04 Feb 2011 10:37:28 +1100 From: Tony Langdon vk3jed@gmail.com
At 05:49 AM 2/4/2011, Diane Bruce wrote:
What is the motivation for some to operate on LEO satellite? The
"exotic" mode and bands? The pleasure to achieve an OSCAR class station?
My initial motivation to getting on satellite was AO-40. That was exciting, very neat and a fun technical challenge. I did make it on AO-40 btw, I think I made at least one cw QSO before you folks broke it. ;-)
AO-40 was an incentive for me, though I never got beyond monitoring the 2m beacon in the early days after launch and before the incident with the 400N motor. I did collect a lot of good telemetry though
There is new modes actually growing DSTAR, DRM, DIGITAL VOICE
(FDMDV) is this can be an alternative to those who wants something else? or
will we be facing with this alternative, overcrowded single
channel satellite pass? Where is the place for experimenting on the actual LEO
fleet? Our licence was not created for "experimenting"?
The reality is, LEO is all we are going to be able to afford. I do not see the thousands upon thousands of amateurs willing to put up the $$ to put another HEO like AO-40, in the near future anyway. And yes AO-7 is still going, but is really sick sounding. The only short term realistic answer is more LEOs as I see it. But please, not another FM bird please. There is absolutely no reason we couldnt put a simple linear translator up and allow FM on one frequency, such as India does.
I do agree, more linear birds would be a good thing, and the idea of "sharing" with FM might work well in these parts, where it can be hard to find anyone else on, and FM might be the difference between having someone to talk to, and enjoying a conversation with yourself! :) Traffic density over VK/ZL can get very low at times, so for us, FM is often a plus, although I'm interested in playing around with SSB too. A "hand me down" and recent upgrades now mean I have more than enough gear for the SSB birds.
Unfortunately, LEOs can't solve the problem of vast distances meaning little chance of variety - all I've ever worked on satellite is VK, ZL, P29 and 3D2, but we have to make do with what is practical. :-/
73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com
_______________________________________________ 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
AO-40 was an incentive for me, though I never got beyond monitoring the 2m beacon in the early days after launch and before the incident with the 400N motor. I did collect a lot of good telemetry though
Unfortunately, LEOs can't solve the problem of vast distances meaning little chance of variety - all I've ever worked on satellite is VK, ZL, P29 and 3D2, but we have to make do with what is practical. :-/
73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com
I logged 762 QSO on AO-40 from 2001 to 2003 here is some of them:
VK4UBM VK3KOS VK3BVM
ZL2MN ZL2AWD ZL1DU
FR7SAT
JA6QTJ JA3THL JA1CG JA5CU JA1IRH JA3SGR JA5DVR/5 JA1COU
I was the last station in the world who get the WAC award on satellite:
SAT#9 May 1984 EN70 W4CKD Bob - SAT 02 Apr 1985 JN47 HB9CRQ Dan now HB9Q SAT 28 May 1985 JO30 DC8TS Hardy - SAT 07 Jun 1985 JO30 DC9ZP Manfred - SAT 27 Jul 1995 IO91 G0MRF David - SAT 17 Dec 1985 EN61 N2BJ Barry - SAT 06 Nov 1990 IO81 GW8TIX Gerald - SAT 13 Dec 1995 FN41 WA1QXR Ken - SAT 07 Feb 1997 FN34 N1JEZ Mike - SAT 12 Mar 1999 JO65 OZ1MY Ib - SAT 18 Dec 1998 JN52 IK0WGF ? ex-IW0DAL SAT 14-Jul-2000 DL81 XE2AT Al ex-XE2YVW SAT 31 Oct 2003 PM96 JN1BPM Hide - SAT 06 Sep 2006 FN36 VE2DWE Luc -
Complete list on http://www.qsl.net/ve2pij/vhfwac.html
If DX means something for you you should push for the last HEO actual project from AMSAT-DL but no fresh new from them since a long time now?
"-"
Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe DSTAR urcall VE2DWE WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE
On Fri, 4 Feb 2011 08:04:47 pm Luc Leblanc wrote:
I logged 762 QSO on AO-40 from 2001 to 2003 here is some of them:
VK4UBM VK3KOS VK3BVM
Logged, but not accurately perhaps. I made several contacts with you Luc via A0-40.
On 5 Feb 2011 at 9:46, Phil wrote:
Date sent: Sat, 05 Feb 2011 09:46:19 +1000 From: Phil phillor@telstra.com Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: ""you may as well use Skype..." To: amsat-bb@amsat.org
On Fri, 4 Feb 2011 08:04:47 pm Luc Leblanc wrote:
I logged 762 QSO on AO-40 from 2001 to 2003 here is some of them:
VK4UBM VK3KOS VK3BVM
Logged, but not accurately perhaps. I made several contacts with you Luc via A0-40.
-- Regards, Phil (VK4BVM)
Hi Phil
I sometime logged my QSO live between radio/rotor/doppler adjustment and i cannot say my Lux LOG first version was 100% error free but i have to correct them when the card arrive as i can filter all VK'S and sorted them.
AO-40 was a wonder full experience with U/S and L/S mode i was just making my first L/S QSO the day before he goes silent signal was extremely strong as i used a 7.5' dish with a L patch feed for the uplink on L band. and a 2.4GHZ patch feed on the same dish my web site still show this antenna cannot convince myself to scrap them :(
For the record a rumour float around me and two other EU stations a DL and an i that we where involved in the satellite issues as we where using too much power and LEILA was not operating on the L uplink the day before AO-40 goes silent!!! if i remember correctly...
It was proven wrong afterwards as it was related to the batteries only.
"-"
Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe DSTAR urcall VE2DWE WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE
On Thu, 2011-02-03 at 13:49 -0500, Diane Bruce wrote:
The focus put on KISS station in a way to recruit new satellite operator is not bad if this new operator goes beyond his KISS station IMHO.
Yes, but when I innocently asked if anyone had done a survey to see if this was happening, I was flamed unmercifully on amsat-bb. The answer I did get was "of course it does!". It would be nice to see a proper survey proving this is happening.
It doesn't in my case. I have *no interest at all* in operating satellites that require a complex fixed station with computer tracking and tuning. None. Doesn't interest me one bit.
The fun part is communicating via simple inexpensive satellites, with simple inexpensive hardware that you can make at home. Really, you could probably make the satellites at home too. I've got some scrap GP340s around here that I could gut and stick in a box. Lob that out of the ISS at an opportune moment and it would work. Not for long, maybe not very well, but it would work.
There is new modes actually growing DSTAR, DRM, DIGITAL VOICE (FDMDV) is this can be an alternative to those who wants something else? or will we be facing with this alternative, overcrowded single channel satellite pass? Where is the place for experimenting on the actual LEO fleet? Our licence was not created for "experimenting"?
The reality is, LEO is all we are going to be able to afford. I do not see the thousands upon thousands of amateurs willing to put up the $$ to put another HEO like AO-40, in the near future anyway. And yes AO-7 is still going, but is really sick sounding. The only short term realistic answer is more LEOs as I see it. But please, not another FM bird please. There is absolutely no reason we couldnt put a simple linear translator up and allow FM on one frequency, such as India does.
Exactly. No-one is going to fly your HEO satellite unless you pay them a *shitload* of money. You can get away with cheap (sub-£20,000) flights to orbit because there is a certain amount of "wasted space" on things that fly "proper" satellites up so you can squeeze in a thing the size and weight of a sugar bag very nearly for free. The satellites used for satellite TV broadcasting are roughly the size and weight of a Volvo. How much do you think it costs to park a Volvo 22,000 miles away, when the gravity well is working against you?
No doubt someone is going to pipe up with the idea of launching APRS digipeater sats, which is fine if you want to drive around going "Here I am! Here I am! Here I am!" but not so great if you want to talk to people. It would be a start, though. I like the idea of a linear bird with an FM "slot", that would be good.
Really we all need to start backing Iran's space programme. They launched the Omid sat reasonably successfully - it flew, it worked, and we could hear it down here. You can look on wikipedia and listen to the telemetry downlink I recorded with my TH-F7E and a 3-ele yagi. Geographically they're in an okay place for launches, and I bet they could use the cash. Of course certain nearby neighbours will have a shitfit about the ZOMG TERRORIST possibilities, but even with that borne in mind I'd rather have them inside pissing out.
Gordon MM0YEQ
On Fri, Feb 04, 2011 at 08:03:59AM +0000, Gordon JC Pearce wrote:
On Thu, 2011-02-03 at 13:49 -0500, Diane Bruce wrote:
...
It doesn't in my case. I have *no interest at all* in operating satellites that require a complex fixed station with computer tracking and tuning. None. Doesn't interest me one bit.
Which is why I was interested in AO-40, for all the same reasons. However, since I had already invested in setting up an AO-40 station, I might as well use it.
The fun part is communicating via simple inexpensive satellites, with simple inexpensive hardware that you can make at home. Really, you
Well, sure no disagreement from me on that. But I would suggest a one design fits all idea. Make a simple simple satellite design that could be assembled in near mass production quantities, get them into orbit whenver opportunities prsent themselves.
The reality is, LEO is all we are going to be able to afford. I do not see the thousands upon thousands of amateurs willing to put up the $$
...
Exactly. No-one is going to fly your HEO satellite unless you pay them a *shitload* of money. You can get away with cheap (sub-??20,000)
...
Volvo. How much do you think it costs to park a Volvo 22,000 miles away, when the gravity well is working against you?
Well, instead of thinking HEO for the time being, one simple design tossed up multiple times, on the same frequency pairs, to minimise tracking efforts is the way to go.
people. It would be a start, though. I like the idea of a linear bird with an FM "slot", that would be good.
KISS
...
Gordon MM0YEQ
- Diane VA3DB
At 02:18 AM 2/5/2011, Diane Bruce wrote:
On Fri, Feb 04, 2011 at 08:03:59AM +0000, Gordon JC Pearce wrote:
On Thu, 2011-02-03 at 13:49 -0500, Diane Bruce wrote:
...
It doesn't in my case. I have *no interest at all* in operating satellites that require a complex fixed station with computer tracking and tuning. None. Doesn't interest me one bit.
Which is why I was interested in AO-40, for all the same reasons. However, since I had already invested in setting up an AO-40 station, I might as well use it.
I'm certainly not interested in automated tracking, due to the cost and mechanical complexity. I'm not good with anything mechanically complex. AO-40 offered simple antenna pointing, which was one of its attractions. Computer controlled tuning, I can manage that.
The fun part is communicating via simple inexpensive satellites, with simple inexpensive hardware that you can make at home. Really, you
Well, sure no disagreement from me on that. But I would suggest a one design fits all idea. Make a simple simple satellite design that could be assembled in near mass production quantities, get them into orbit whenver opportunities prsent themselves.
This was suggested some time back for linear transponders, to make them available to the university groups building small satellites, so more linear birds would make it to LEO.
Well, instead of thinking HEO for the time being, one simple design tossed up multiple times, on the same frequency pairs, to minimise tracking efforts is the way to go.
Worth a thought. a constellation of LEOs could be quite useful. There might be some interference issues to consider, though in some circumstances, Doppler can mitigate some of these issues. SSB also has advantages here too, no capture effect.
73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com
On Fri, 04 Feb 2011 08:03:59 +0000, Gordon JC Pearce wrote:
It doesn't in my case. I have *no interest at all* in operating satellites that require a complex fixed station with computer tracking and tuning. None. Doesn't interest me one bit.
Require? Hah. I used to run the RS birds with a TR-7, IC-251A, and a TA-33 + 17 el Cushcraft with an old CDE rotor. No computer control, fixed at 90 degrees elevation. What fun it was!
73
-Jim
-- Ham Radio NU0C Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.S.A. TR7/RV7/R7A/L7, TR6/RV6, T4XC/R4C/L4B, NCL2000, SB104A, R390A, GT550A/RV550A, HyGain 3750, IBM PS/2 - all vintage, all the time!
"Give a man a URL, and he will learn for an hour; teach him to Google, and he will learn for a lifetime."
HyGain 3750 User's Group - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HyGain_3750/ http://incolor.inetnebr.com/jshorney http://www.nebraskaghosts.org
From: jshorney@inebraska.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Date: Fri, 4 Feb 2011 21:36:54 -0600 Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: ""you may as well use Skype..."
On Fri, 04 Feb 2011 08:03:59 +0000, Gordon JC Pearce wrote:
It doesn't in my case. I have *no interest at all* in operating satellites that require a complex fixed station with computer tracking and tuning. None. Doesn't interest me one bit.
Require? Hah. I used to run the RS birds with a TR-7, IC-251A, and a TA-33 + 17 el Cushcraft with an old CDE rotor. No computer control, fixed at 90 degrees elevation. What fun it was!
73
-Jim
My second satellite QSO (ever) was from California to New York on RS-10 with 10 watts to a copper pipe J-pole on the uplink, and a wire strung out to a tree in the back yard hooked to a Radio Shack DX-440 Short Wave receiver for the downlink. How can you not get hooked on this hobby after an experience like that?
Want to top that? Then DO have that complex fixed station with computer tracking and tuning (that you built and/or assembled yourself) and talk from California to Perth, Australia via AO-40.
Greg KO6TH
At 07:27 PM 2/5/2011, Greg D. wrote:
My second satellite QSO (ever) was from California to New York on RS-10 with 10 watts to a copper pipe J-pole on the uplink, and a wire strung out to a tree in the back yard hooked to a Radio Shack DX-440 Short Wave receiver for the downlink. How can you not get hooked on this hobby after an experience like that?
Almost a duplicate setup for my first satellite QSO, which was also on RS-10. :) Uplink was 25W into an old Icom 2m all mode radio and a 2m "Ringo" antenna, and the downlink was a Yaesu FRG-7700 with some random length of wire strung across the backyard. :)
73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com
On Fri, 2011-02-04 at 21:36 -0600, Jim Shorney wrote:
On Fri, 04 Feb 2011 08:03:59 +0000, Gordon JC Pearce wrote:
It doesn't in my case. I have *no interest at all* in operating satellites that require a complex fixed station with computer tracking and tuning. None. Doesn't interest me one bit.
Require? Hah. I used to run the RS birds with a TR-7, IC-251A, and a TA-33 + 17 el Cushcraft with an old CDE rotor. No computer control, fixed at 90 degrees elevation. What fun it was!
73
-Jim
You're so far south you can get away with that, though ;-)
Gordon MM0YEQ
On Sat, 05 Feb 2011 08:41:18 +0000, Gordon JC Pearce wrote:
You're so far south you can get away with that, though ;-)
I have never thought of Nebraska as "south", y'all..... :)
73
-Jim
-- Ham Radio NU0C Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.S.A. TR7/RV7/R7A/L7, TR6/RV6, T4XC/R4C/L4B, NCL2000, SB104A, R390A, GT550A/RV550A, HyGain 3750, IBM PS/2 - all vintage, all the time!
"Give a man a URL, and he will learn for an hour; teach him to Google, and he will learn for a lifetime."
HyGain 3750 User's Group - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HyGain_3750/ http://incolor.inetnebr.com/jshorney http://www.nebraskaghosts.org
participants (10)
-
Diane Bruce -
Doug Faunt N6TQS +1-510-655-8604 -
Gordon JC Pearce -
Greg D. -
Jim Shorney -
Luc Leblanc -
Pedro A. Perez -
Phil -
Scott Richardson -
Tony Langdon