This may have been discussed previously but just in case it has not.
I purchased an interesting radio that might be an inexpensive way to operate full duplex on the FM sats. The radio cost $65 including shipping and all accessories. It runs 2W on both 2M and 70cm. It has almost all the bells and whistles you would expect on a dual band handi. 99 memories - tone squelch ...
In addition to the low cost the radio is very small. See pic - I have fairly normal size hands so you can see how small it is.
http://www.tomdoyle.org/UV-X4.jpg
I purchased it expecting the worst. Much to my surprise it actually works quite well. The menu system is the most intuitive I have found on any radio. The only negatives I could find were
- no channel lockout when scanning - I put the local weather station in one of the memories. Since it is always on you can not use the scan function.
- I fully expected a radio of such a small size would not have adequate sound from the speaker. In fact the sound from the speaker is really loud. Everything is set using a rotary digital switch with detents. This works great for selecting channels and using the menu functions. There are only 9 detent positions for the volume. The lowest volume setting is mute, one click up and it is loud and it keeps getting louder as you go up. There was nothing wrong with my radio - they all do it.
- no DTMF pad
None of these negatives affect the use of the radio with an FM sat. You could buy a pair of these for $130 including shipping. Add a diplexer and Elk/Arrow antenna and I think you would be good to go with a very compact low cost full duplex portable FM station.
I bought mine from http://www.maintradingcompany.com and received excellent service. In case you were wondering what the goofy looking LED between the switch and the antenna is - it is for the flashlight function the radio offers as a feature. The flashlight feature is invaluable :-)
Sent from my computer.
W9KE Tom Doyle
Excellent idea and post, Tom.
I have posted two YouTube videos of the Baeofeng UV-3R being used for satellite work. I would suspect performance of the UV-X4 to be similar in nature. AC0RA and I have made a few "Baofeng to Baofeng" contacts to test the performance on several of the LEO FM satellites. Timing and antenna orientation is key and I would recommend two the radios be used for full-duplex, as in your suggestion Tom.
Here's a video of receiving AO-27 using the stock rubber duck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYZyC_vkew0
here's a video of receiving AO-51 using an Arrow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRN4uJXvnK0
(I did make a contact on this AO-51 pass, though I wouldn't recommend it because of the semi-duplex limitation)
73, Clayton W5PFG
On Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 9:49 AM, Thomas Doyle tomdoyle1948@gmail.com wrote:
This may have been discussed previously but just in case it has not.
I purchased an interesting radio that might be an inexpensive way to operate full duplex on the FM sats. The radio cost $65 including shipping and all accessories. It runs 2W on both 2M and 70cm. It has almost all the bells and whistles you would expect on a dual band handi. 99 memories - tone squelch ...
In addition to the low cost the radio is very small. See pic - I have fairly normal size hands so you can see how small it is.
http://www.tomdoyle.org/UV-X4.jpg
I purchased it expecting the worst. Much to my surprise it actually works quite well. The menu system is the most intuitive I have found on any radio. The only negatives I could find were
- no channel lockout when scanning - I put the local weather station in one
of the memories. Since it is always on you can not use the scan function.
- I fully expected a radio of such a small size would not have adequate
sound from the speaker. In fact the sound from the speaker is really loud. Everything is set using a rotary digital switch with detents. This works great for selecting channels and using the menu functions. There are only 9 detent positions for the volume. The lowest volume setting is mute, one click up and it is loud and it keeps getting louder as you go up. There was nothing wrong with my radio - they all do it.
- no DTMF pad
None of these negatives affect the use of the radio with an FM sat. You could buy a pair of these for $130 including shipping. Add a diplexer and Elk/Arrow antenna and I think you would be good to go with a very compact low cost full duplex portable FM station.
I bought mine from http://www.maintradingcompany.com and received excellent service. In case you were wondering what the goofy looking LED between the switch and the antenna is - it is for the flashlight function the radio offers as a feature. The flashlight feature is invaluable :-)
Sent from my computer.
W9KE Tom Doyle _______________________________________________ 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
Looks like a knock off of Yaesu VX-3. For $65 not bad
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 12, 2012, at 12:49 PM, Clayton Coleman W5PFG kayakfishtx@gmail.com wrote:
Excellent idea and post, Tom.
I have posted two YouTube videos of the Baeofeng UV-3R being used for satellite work. I would suspect performance of the UV-X4 to be similar in nature. AC0RA and I have made a few "Baofeng to Baofeng" contacts to test the performance on several of the LEO FM satellites. Timing and antenna orientation is key and I would recommend two the radios be used for full-duplex, as in your suggestion Tom.
Here's a video of receiving AO-27 using the stock rubber duck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYZyC_vkew0
here's a video of receiving AO-51 using an Arrow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRN4uJXvnK0
(I did make a contact on this AO-51 pass, though I wouldn't recommend it because of the semi-duplex limitation)
73, Clayton W5PFG
On Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 9:49 AM, Thomas Doyle tomdoyle1948@gmail.com wrote:
This may have been discussed previously but just in case it has not.
I purchased an interesting radio that might be an inexpensive way to operate full duplex on the FM sats. The radio cost $65 including shipping and all accessories. It runs 2W on both 2M and 70cm. It has almost all the bells and whistles you would expect on a dual band handi. 99 memories - tone squelch ...
In addition to the low cost the radio is very small. See pic - I have fairly normal size hands so you can see how small it is.
http://www.tomdoyle.org/UV-X4.jpg
I purchased it expecting the worst. Much to my surprise it actually works quite well. The menu system is the most intuitive I have found on any radio. The only negatives I could find were
- no channel lockout when scanning - I put the local weather station in one
of the memories. Since it is always on you can not use the scan function.
- I fully expected a radio of such a small size would not have adequate
sound from the speaker. In fact the sound from the speaker is really loud. Everything is set using a rotary digital switch with detents. This works great for selecting channels and using the menu functions. There are only 9 detent positions for the volume. The lowest volume setting is mute, one click up and it is loud and it keeps getting louder as you go up. There was nothing wrong with my radio - they all do it.
- no DTMF pad
None of these negatives affect the use of the radio with an FM sat. You could buy a pair of these for $130 including shipping. Add a diplexer and Elk/Arrow antenna and I think you would be good to go with a very compact low cost full duplex portable FM station.
I bought mine from http://www.maintradingcompany.com and received excellent service. In case you were wondering what the goofy looking LED between the switch and the antenna is - it is for the flashlight function the radio offers as a feature. The flashlight feature is invaluable :-)
Sent from my computer.
W9KE Tom Doyle _______________________________________________ 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
You can find them for $46 shipped on ebay.
73s John AA5JG
On Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 12:22 PM, KP4TR (Ramon Gonzalez) < kp4tr.ramon@gmail.com> wrote:
Looks like a knock off of Yaesu VX-3. For $65 not bad
Sent from my iPhone
On Jan 12, 2012, at 12:49 PM, Clayton Coleman W5PFG kayakfishtx@gmail.com wrote:
Excellent idea and post, Tom.
I have posted two YouTube videos of the Baeofeng UV-3R being used for satellite work. I would suspect performance of the UV-X4 to be similar in nature. AC0RA and I have made a few "Baofeng to Baofeng" contacts to test the performance on several of the LEO FM satellites. Timing and antenna orientation is key and I would recommend two the radios be used for full-duplex, as in your suggestion Tom.
Here's a video of receiving AO-27 using the stock rubber duck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYZyC_vkew0
here's a video of receiving AO-51 using an Arrow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRN4uJXvnK0
(I did make a contact on this AO-51 pass, though I wouldn't recommend it because of the semi-duplex limitation)
73, Clayton W5PFG
On Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 9:49 AM, Thomas Doyle tomdoyle1948@gmail.com
wrote:
This may have been discussed previously but just in case it has not.
I purchased an interesting radio that might be an inexpensive way to operate full duplex on the FM sats. The radio cost $65 including shipping and all accessories. It runs 2W on both 2M and 70cm. It has almost all the bells and whistles you would expect on a dual band
handi. 99
memories - tone squelch ...
In addition to the low cost the radio is very small. See pic - I have fairly normal size hands so you can see how small it is.
http://www.tomdoyle.org/UV-X4.jpg
I purchased it expecting the worst. Much to my surprise it actually
works
quite well. The menu system is the most intuitive I have found on any radio. The only negatives I could find were
- no channel lockout when scanning - I put the local weather station in
one
of the memories. Since it is always on you can not use the scan function.
- I fully expected a radio of such a small size would not have adequate
sound from the speaker. In fact the sound from the speaker is really loud. Everything is set using a rotary digital switch with detents. This works great for selecting channels and using the
menu
functions. There are only 9 detent positions for the volume. The lowest volume setting is mute, one click up and it is loud and it keeps getting louder as you go up. There was nothing wrong with my radio - they all do it.
- no DTMF pad
None of these negatives affect the use of the radio with an FM sat. You could buy a pair of these for $130 including shipping. Add a diplexer and Elk/Arrow antenna and I think you would be good to go with a very compact low cost full duplex portable FM station.
I bought mine from http://www.maintradingcompany.com and received
excellent
service. In case you were wondering what the goofy looking LED between the switch and the antenna is - it is for the flashlight function the radio offers as a feature. The flashlight
feature
is invaluable :-)
Sent from my computer.
W9KE Tom Doyle _______________________________________________ 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
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
Main drawback appears to be that they are not full duplex... but at those prices, why not buy TWO?
George, KA3HSW
----- Original Message ----
From: Clayton Coleman W5PFG kayakfishtx@gmail.com To: Thomas Doyle tomdoyle1948@gmail.com Cc: AMSAT-BB@amsat.org Sent: Thu, January 12, 2012 11:49:11 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Very Interesting Radio - Possible Sat Use
Excellent idea and post, Tom.
I have posted two YouTube videos of the Baeofeng UV-3R being used for satellite work. I would suspect performance of the UV-X4 to be similar in nature. AC0RA and I have made a few "Baofeng to Baofeng" contacts to test the performance on several of the LEO FM satellites. Timing and antenna orientation is key and I would recommend two the radios be used for full-duplex, as in your suggestion Tom.
Here's a video of receiving AO-27 using the stock rubber duck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYZyC_vkew0
here's a video of receiving AO-51 using an Arrow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRN4uJXvnK0
(I did make a contact on this AO-51 pass, though I wouldn't recommend it because of the semi-duplex limitation)
73, Clayton W5PFG
You might want to take a quick look at the posting that started this thread.
73 W9KE tom ...
On Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 1:01 PM, George Henry ka3hsw@att.net wrote:
Main drawback appears to be that they are not full duplex... but at those prices, why not buy TWO?
George, KA3HSW
----- Original Message ----
From: Clayton Coleman W5PFG kayakfishtx@gmail.com To: Thomas Doyle tomdoyle1948@gmail.com Cc: AMSAT-BB@amsat.org Sent: Thu, January 12, 2012 11:49:11 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Very Interesting Radio - Possible Sat Use
Excellent idea and post, Tom.
I have posted two YouTube videos of the Baeofeng UV-3R being used for satellite work. I would suspect performance of the UV-X4 to be similar in nature. AC0RA and I have made a few "Baofeng to Baofeng" contacts to test the performance on several of the LEO FM satellites. Timing and antenna orientation is key and I would recommend two the radios be used for full-duplex, as in your suggestion Tom.
Here's a video of receiving AO-27 using the stock rubber duck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYZyC_vkew0
here's a video of receiving AO-51 using an Arrow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRN4uJXvnK0
(I did make a contact on this AO-51 pass, though I wouldn't recommend it because of the semi-duplex limitation)
73, Clayton W5PFG
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
Hmmm... the review on QRZ says they're not full duplex. Guess they actually ARE.
Oops. My bad.
From: Thomas Doyle tomdoyle1948@gmail.com To: George Henry ka3hsw@att.net Cc: AMSAT amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thu, January 12, 2012 1:40:25 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Very Interesting Radio - Possible Sat Use
You might want to take a quick look at the posting that started this thread.
73 W9KE tom ...
On Thu, Jan 12, 2012 at 1:01 PM, George Henry ka3hsw@att.net wrote:
Main drawback appears to be that they are not full duplex... but at those
prices, why not buy TWO?
George, KA3HSW
----- Original Message ----
From: Clayton Coleman W5PFG kayakfishtx@gmail.com To: Thomas Doyle tomdoyle1948@gmail.com Cc: AMSAT-BB@amsat.org Sent: Thu, January 12, 2012 11:49:11 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Very Interesting Radio - Possible Sat Use
Excellent idea and post, Tom.
I have posted two YouTube videos of the Baeofeng UV-3R being used for satellite work. I would suspect performance of the UV-X4 to be similar in nature. AC0RA and I have made a few "Baofeng to Baofeng" contacts to test the performance on several of the LEO FM satellites. Timing and antenna orientation is key and I would recommend two the radios be used for full-duplex, as in your suggestion Tom.
Here's a video of receiving AO-27 using the stock rubber duck: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYZyC_vkew0
here's a video of receiving AO-51 using an Arrow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRN4uJXvnK0
(I did make a contact on this AO-51 pass, though I wouldn't recommend it because of the semi-duplex limitation)
73, Clayton W5PFG
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 from my computer.
tom ...
At 06:01 AM 1/13/2012, George Henry wrote:
Main drawback appears to be that they are not full duplex... but at those prices, why not buy TWO?
All of my full duplex sat operation has been with 2 radios, so why not. :) There are some advantages of running two radios, especially where the uplink is on UHF, as with some radios, adjusting the uplink for Doppler can be fiddly. With 2 radios, you simply tweak the relevant VFO knob. :)
73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com
participants (6)
-
Clayton Coleman W5PFG -
George Henry -
John Geiger -
KP4TR (Ramon Gonzalez) -
Thomas Doyle -
Tony Langdon