Hi,
Would like to use my 530 to work the sats and have encountered a couple of problems.
* First tried full duplex with the left hand VFO set to uplink frequency and the right hand VFO set to downlink. To transmit, the left side must be active. But it's necessary to change the downlink frequency to account for doppler, and I can't figure out how to do this except by pressing ALT, changing the frequency, then pressing ALT again. Is there a better way? Some HTs have a button that allows tuning on the sub VFO, but if the 530 has it I have not yet found it.
* Next tried half duplex by setting a memory on the left VFO with the 2 meter uplink and the 70cm downlink. Problem is that the left VFO can't be set to tune in 5 khz steps on 70 cm (it can be set to 5 khz on 2m), and 5 khz tuning is needed for the sats. Is there any way to tune 70cm in 5 khz steps on the left VFO? The right hand VFO can be set to tune in 5 khz steps on 70 cm, but it will not transmit on 2m, so only the left VFO can be used for this purpose.
I have heard the 530 is a great satellite HT but it will not be satisfactory unless I can resolve the tuning problem somehow.
Thanks for any advice and 73, Bill NZ5N
On the first scenario you describe, start with the left vfo selected, press the function key, then the key labeled sub. A flashing arrow should appear next to the right vfo, and the tuning dial will tune the right side. The PTT will still control the left side.
I've had several of those over the years and always regret selling them.
73, Drew KO4MA
----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Dzurilla" billdz.geo@yahoo.com To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2008 5:17 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Working the sats with FT-530 HT
Hi,
Would like to use my 530 to work the sats and have encountered a couple of problems.
- First tried full duplex with the left hand VFO set to uplink frequency
and the right hand VFO set to downlink. To transmit, the left side must be active. But it's necessary to change the downlink frequency to account for doppler, and I can't figure out how to do this except by pressing ALT, changing the frequency, then pressing ALT again. Is there a better way? Some HTs have a button that allows tuning on the sub VFO, but if the 530 has it I have not yet found it.
- Next tried half duplex by setting a memory on the left VFO with the 2
meter uplink and the 70cm downlink. Problem is that the left VFO can't be set to tune in 5 khz steps on 70 cm (it can be set to 5 khz on 2m), and 5 khz tuning is needed for the sats. Is there any way to tune 70cm in 5 khz steps on the left VFO? The right hand VFO can be set to tune in 5 khz steps on 70 cm, but it will not transmit on 2m, so only the left VFO can be used for this purpose.
I have heard the 530 is a great satellite HT but it will not be satisfactory unless I can resolve the tuning problem somehow.
Thanks for any advice and 73, Bill NZ5N
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participants (2)
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Andrew Glasbrenner -
Bill Dzurilla