Re: [amsat-bb] Best HT for satellite operation?
Clayton,
An ICOM-910H is a HT .... Really (ha ha)? I suppose a few of you know that is a 100w desktop/mobile radio and hardly "portable". But it is a pretty good satellite radio for multi-mode use. A nearby friend uses one (actually has two) with az-el mounted yagis and full auto-track.
A few months ago I was looking at adding a dual-band FM mobile to my hamshack and kinda groaning at the the $350+ cost for a new mobile, I decided spending just a little more would get me a nice used multi-mode VHF/UHF satellite desktop/mobile radio. Used prices on the Icom-910H and the FT-847 both ran $900-1200 which I could not justify. Then Looked for used FT-736R and bought one for $550 (including ctcss encoder board option) with basic 2m/70cm (no 220 or 1.2G options).
I'm quite pleased with the "old" radio and a bit surprised in its Rx sensitivity without preamps, running 144 and 432 SSB with a vertical for contacts out to 70-miles. I have not yet restored use of my satellite antennas as yet (probably be next summer as I want to move the short sat tower which requires new concrete base). You can look on my website for some info: http://www.kl7uw.com/sat.htm
Two Baefong with appropriate filters should make an inexpensive portable sat setup with full duplex (not computer controlled). A single Baefong plus a Funcube Rx would also work pretty good though you would need a notepad or equivalent. I did some simplex FM-sat ops with a FT-817 in early 2000's with an Arrow but missed having duplex. I also had a 1998 FT-847 but sold both in 2012. Now have K3 and KX3, a Baefong UV5-RA, plus the venerable FT-736R.
73, Ed - KL7UW
Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2017 12:15:31 -0600 From: Clayton Coleman kayakfishtx@gmail.com To: AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Best HT for satellite operation? Message-ID: CAPovOwfU3hBafuauUyykDMmh49xdeTS1VjV_DK5iwf1yBED16Q@mail.gmail.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
I've seen a lot of great recommendations for satellite HT's. I really prefer the Icom IC-910h. Since it is a little heavy for neck straps, and the belt clip is made of 3/8" steel plate, I'd probably recommend the BABYBJ?RN carrier approach. You can buy a 15 year old one at a bargain price of $1000-1500 at most hamfests.
TGIF
Clayton W5PFG
73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com Dubus-NA Business mail: dubususa@gmail.com
Hello all, The suggestions in this thread omitted some current Yaesu models, specifically th VX-8DR, FT-1XDR and FT-2DR. Are these not viable in-production options, in addition to the Kenwood TH-D72? Or were they omitted from the earlier suggestions because perhaps they don't offer built-in TNC capability? They claim to offer dual-band simultaneous-receive capability at least.
73 - Ken - VA7KBM
On 2017-03-10 2:39 PM, Edward R Cole wrote:
Clayton,
An ICOM-910H is a HT .... Really (ha ha)? I suppose a few of you know that is a 100w desktop/mobile radio and hardly "portable". But it is a pretty good satellite radio for multi-mode use. A nearby friend uses one (actually has two) with az-el mounted yagis and full auto-track.
A few months ago I was looking at adding a dual-band FM mobile to my hamshack and kinda groaning at the the $350+ cost for a new mobile, I decided spending just a little more would get me a nice used multi-mode VHF/UHF satellite desktop/mobile radio. Used prices on the Icom-910H and the FT-847 both ran $900-1200 which I could not justify. Then Looked for used FT-736R and bought one for $550 (including ctcss encoder board option) with basic 2m/70cm (no 220 or 1.2G options).
I'm quite pleased with the "old" radio and a bit surprised in its Rx sensitivity without preamps, running 144 and 432 SSB with a vertical for contacts out to 70-miles. I have not yet restored use of my satellite antennas as yet (probably be next summer as I want to move the short sat tower which requires new concrete base). You can look on my website for some info: http://www.kl7uw.com/sat.htm
Two Baefong with appropriate filters should make an inexpensive portable sat setup with full duplex (not computer controlled). A single Baefong plus a Funcube Rx would also work pretty good though you would need a notepad or equivalent. I did some simplex FM-sat ops with a FT-817 in early 2000's with an Arrow but missed having duplex. I also had a 1998 FT-847 but sold both in 2012. Now have K3 and KX3, a Baefong UV5-RA, plus the venerable FT-736R.
73, Ed - KL7UW
Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2017 12:15:31 -0600 From: Clayton Coleman kayakfishtx@gmail.com To: AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Best HT for satellite operation? Message-ID: CAPovOwfU3hBafuauUyykDMmh49xdeTS1VjV_DK5iwf1yBED16Q@mail.gmail.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
I've seen a lot of great recommendations for satellite HT's. I really prefer the Icom IC-910h. Since it is a little heavy for neck straps, and the belt clip is made of 3/8" steel plate, I'd probably recommend the BABYBJ?RN carrier approach. You can buy a 15 year old one at a bargain price of $1000-1500 at most hamfests.
TGIF
Clayton W5PFG
73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com Dubus-NA Business mail: dubususa@gmail.com _______________________________________________ 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
Hello all, The suggestions in this thread omitted some current Yaesu models, specifically th VX-8DR, FT-1XDR and FT-2DR. Are these not viable in-production options, in addition to the Kenwood TH-D72? Or were they omitted from the earlier suggestions because perhaps they don't offer built-in TNC capability? They claim to offer dual-band simultaneous-receive capability at least.
73 - Ken - VA7KBM
On 2017-03-10 2:39 PM, Edward R Cole wrote:
Clayton,
An ICOM-910H is a HT .... Really (ha ha)? I suppose a few of you know that is a 100w desktop/mobile radio and hardly "portable". But it is a pretty good satellite radio for multi-mode use. A nearby friend uses one (actually has two) with az-el mounted yagis and full auto-track.
A few months ago I was looking at adding a dual-band FM mobile to my hamshack and kinda groaning at the the $350+ cost for a new mobile, I decided spending just a little more would get me a nice used multi-mode VHF/UHF satellite desktop/mobile radio. Used prices on the Icom-910H and the FT-847 both ran $900-1200 which I could not justify. Then Looked for used FT-736R and bought one for $550 (including ctcss encoder board option) with basic 2m/70cm (no 220 or 1.2G options).
I'm quite pleased with the "old" radio and a bit surprised in its Rx sensitivity without preamps, running 144 and 432 SSB with a vertical for contacts out to 70-miles. I have not yet restored use of my satellite antennas as yet (probably be next summer as I want to move the short sat tower which requires new concrete base). You can look on my website for some info: http://www.kl7uw.com/sat.htm
Two Baefong with appropriate filters should make an inexpensive portable sat setup with full duplex (not computer controlled). A single Baefong plus a Funcube Rx would also work pretty good though you would need a notepad or equivalent. I did some simplex FM-sat ops with a FT-817 in early 2000's with an Arrow but missed having duplex. I also had a 1998 FT-847 but sold both in 2012. Now have K3 and KX3, a Baefong UV5-RA, plus the venerable FT-736R.
73, Ed - KL7UW
Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2017 12:15:31 -0600 From: Clayton Coleman kayakfishtx@gmail.com To: AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Best HT for satellite operation? Message-ID: CAPovOwfU3hBafuauUyykDMmh49xdeTS1VjV_DK5iwf1yBED16Q@mail.gmail.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
I've seen a lot of great recommendations for satellite HT's. I really prefer the Icom IC-910h. Since it is a little heavy for neck straps, and the belt clip is made of 3/8" steel plate, I'd probably recommend the BABYBJ?RN carrier approach. You can buy a 15 year old one at a bargain price of $1000-1500 at most hamfests.
TGIF
Clayton W5PFG
73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com Dubus-NA Business mail: dubususa@gmail.com _______________________________________________ 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
El 22/03/17 a las 19:07, Ken M escribió:
Hello all, The suggestions in this thread omitted some current Yaesu models, specifically th VX-8DR, FT-1XDR and FT-2DR. Are these not viable in-production options, in addition to the Kenwood TH-D72? Or were they omitted from the earlier suggestions because perhaps they don't offer built-in TNC capability? They claim to offer dual-band simultaneous-receive capability at least.
Hi Ken,
I use a FT-2DR as TX for FM satellites. It has simultaneous receive, but it can't TX and RX simultaneously, so you would need a second radio to do full-duplex.
For me the FT-2DR works fine, but I wouldn't recommend it if you're picking an HT for satellite use only (because it's expensive and most of the extra features are useless for satellite). Also, the VFO can only be tuned in 5kHz or 12.5kHz steps, which is a bit inconvenient (no 2.5kHz steps).
73,
Dani EA4GPZ.
participants (3)
-
Dani EA4GPZ -
Edward R Cole -
Ken M