Hi,
Thanks to everyone for all of your responses. It looks like I have found a downconverter. Next question... Does anyone have any ideas on a cheap and easy homebrew antenna? Would a "cantenna" work for a small portable setup? I'm trying to do this as cheaply as possible as AO-51 isn't in this mode very often.
73 Matt W5LL
Matt Patterson wrote:
Hi,
Thanks to everyone for all of your responses. It looks like I have found a downconverter. Next question... Does anyone have any ideas on a cheap and easy homebrew antenna? Would a "cantenna" work for a small portable setup? I'm trying to do this as cheaply as possible as AO-51 isn't in this mode very often.
73 Matt W5LL
Hi Matt,
Which downconverter did you find? Do you intend to work the satellite portable, or mount the 2.4Ghz antenna on a rotor? Let me know, and I'll make a recommendation or two.
73, Drew KO4MA
Hi Drew,
It's a California Microwave unit that has already been modified. The plan right now is for portable use. Two HTs, a 5/8 wave mag mount on my truck for the uplink and whatever antenna I can come up with for the downlink. I have a small gell cell battery that will power the downconverter.
73 Matt W5LL
On 9/10/2010 9:15 AM, Andrew Glasbrenner wrote:
Matt Patterson wrote:
Hi,
Thanks to everyone for all of your responses. It looks like I have found a downconverter. Next question... Does anyone have any ideas on a cheap and easy homebrew antenna? Would a "cantenna" work for a small portable setup? I'm trying to do this as cheaply as possible as AO-51 isn't in this mode very often.
73 Matt W5LL
Hi Matt,
Which downconverter did you find? Do you intend to work the satellite portable, or mount the 2.4Ghz antenna on a rotor? Let me know, and I'll make a recommendation or two.
73, Drew KO4MA
Matt,
Try Kent Britain's (WA5VJB) Site. I made my 144/435 Antenna from his plans for under $20.00. Works like a charm & easy to build.
He's got plans for various bands including 1296Mhz. A good resource.
http://www.wa5vjb.com/yagi-pdf/cheapyagi.pdf
73 Rick K7TEJ
---- Matt Patterson mattpatt@1starnet.com wrote:
Hi,
Thanks to everyone for all of your responses. It looks like I have found a downconverter. Next question... Does anyone have any ideas on a cheap and easy homebrew antenna? Would a "cantenna" work for a small portable setup? I'm trying to do this as cheaply as possible as AO-51 isn't in this mode very often.
73 Matt W5LL
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 Rick,
I know Kent's site very well. Used to do a lot of VHF rovering and just about all my antennas were "cheap" yagis. They work great and you can't beat the cost. Anyway, I'm in need of a 2.4GHz antenna for S mode downlink on AO-51. Kent's cheap yagi antenna designs don't go up that high.
73 Matt W5LL
On 9/10/2010 10:28 AM, saguaroastro@cox.net wrote:
Matt,
Try Kent Britain's (WA5VJB) Site. I made my 144/435 Antenna from his plans for under $20.00. Works like a charm& easy to build.
He's got plans for various bands including 1296Mhz. A good resource.
http://www.wa5vjb.com/yagi-pdf/cheapyagi.pdf
73 Rick K7TEJ
---- Matt Pattersonmattpatt@1starnet.com wrote:
Hi,
Thanks to everyone for all of your responses. It looks like I have found a downconverter. Next question... Does anyone have any ideas on a cheap and easy homebrew antenna? Would a "cantenna" work for a small portable setup? I'm trying to do this as cheaply as possible as AO-51 isn't in this mode very often.
73 Matt W5LL
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 recently purchased the HyperGain® HG2409PCR flat-panel 8-dBic RHCP 2.4 GHz antenna from L-com to use for s-band Leo sats. I got a good price but now they are listed for $28.99. I have a 0.8 dBNF DEMI preamp to use with my Drake downconverters (left-over from AO-40 era).
http://www.l-com.com/productfamily.aspx?id=6299
73, ED - KL7UW
At 07:42 AM 9/10/2010, Matt Patterson wrote:
Hi Rick,
I know Kent's site very well. Used to do a lot of VHF rovering and just about all my antennas were "cheap" yagis. They work great and you can't beat the cost. Anyway, I'm in need of a 2.4GHz antenna for S mode downlink on AO-51. Kent's cheap yagi antenna designs don't go up that high.
73 Matt W5LL
On 9/10/2010 10:28 AM, saguaroastro@cox.net wrote:
Matt,
Try Kent Britain's (WA5VJB) Site. I made my
144/435 Antenna from his plans for under $20.00. Works like a charm& easy to build.
He's got plans for various bands including 1296Mhz. A good resource.
http://www.wa5vjb.com/yagi-pdf/cheapyagi.pdf
73 Rick K7TEJ
---- Matt Pattersonmattpatt@1starnet.com wrote:
Hi,
Thanks to everyone for all of your responses. It looks like I have found a downconverter. Next question... Does anyone have any ideas on a cheap and easy homebrew antenna? Would a "cantenna" work for a small portable setup? I'm trying to do this as cheaply as possible as AO-51 isn't in this mode very often.
73 Matt W5LL
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
73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 ====================================== BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 144-QRT*, 432-100w, 1296-QRT*, 3400-fall 2010 DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa@hotmail.com ====================================== *temp
Hi Matt,
I recommand a tomato can antenna.
Get an empty can with diameter 3.25" and length 4.25" (i.e. a tomato can)
Solder a piece of #14 wire to single-hole mount N-connector so that the total length above the connector is 1.25"
Cut a hole for the connector centered 2-5/8" from the bottom and mount it to the can.
I have used this with an AIDC 3731 connected directly at the antenna and feeding an FT-817 to receive AO-51 V/S. It works for me and it is pretty cheap.
73, Tony AA2TX ---
At 09:13 AM 9/10/2010, Matt Patterson wrote:
Hi,
Thanks to everyone for all of your responses. It looks like I have found a downconverter. Next question... Does anyone have any ideas on a cheap and easy homebrew antenna? Would a "cantenna" work for a small portable setup? I'm trying to do this as cheaply as possible as AO-51 isn't in this mode very often.
73 Matt W5LL
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
participants (5)
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Andrew Glasbrenner -
Anthony Monteiro -
Edward R. Cole -
Matt Patterson -
saguaroastro＠cox.net