I've been thinking about adding the 1200 MHz band unit to my 910 radio. My dilemma is foremost that will this band be used on any of the new satellites? The rumor is that the 910 radio may be discontinued. The question I have is whether to quickly obtain the module in the event that this is also discontinued. I would really appreciate any thoughts on what action I should take. I do like ICOM products but find it difficult to get information about this type of situation. Thanks for any input. Jack WA1ZDV
Hello Jack, A few points:
1. Yes, there are existing active satellites on 1.2 GHz, activated on occasion.
2. There are always conventional terrestrial communications on 1.2 GHz (1296 MHz) Contests, sporadic openings, EME, repeaters, ATV, etc. Roving or at the base station.
3. 1.2 GHz is the most popular microwave band, 10 GHz is a close second.
4. The IC-910H is a great radio, 3 bands in one box with 100W on 2M. I love mine.
5. Whatever radio you get today will be obsoleted in a few years and logistically unsupportable a few years after that. That has always been true....
6. The real question is if you have the time and $$ to set up a 1.2 GHz station now, AND operate it.
7. Having a 1.2 GHz capability today only allows you to have more ham radio fun.
Stan, W1LE Cape Cod FN41sr
Jack Barbera wrote:
I've been thinking about adding the 1200 MHz band unit to my 910 radio. My dilemma is foremost that will this band be used on any of the new satellites? The rumor is that the 910 radio may be discontinued. The question I have is whether to quickly obtain the module in the event that this is also discontinued. I would really appreciate any thoughts on what action I should take. I do like ICOM products but find it difficult to get information about this type of situation. Thanks for any input. Jack WA1ZDV _______________________________________________ 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
In addition:
A transverter is always possible to get on the 1.2 GHz band. Use a IC-706 MK2/G or similar radio as a 28 MHz IF.
Transverters are available from DEMI and DB6NT and others, or homebrew ala W1GHZ.ORG
Use the building block approach instead of the one box doing all.
Of course, integrating your system with different building blocks is more complex than a "one box does all" approach.
Stan, W1LE
Jack Barbera wrote:
I've been thinking about adding the 1200 MHz band unit to my 910 radio. My dilemma is foremost that will this band be used on any of the new satellites? The rumor is that the 910 radio may be discontinued. The question I have is whether to quickly obtain the module in the event that this is also discontinued. I would really appreciate any thoughts on what action I should take. I do like ICOM products but find it difficult to get information about this type of situation. Thanks for any input. Jack WA1ZDV _______________________________________________ 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
Another consideration for installing 1296 into a radio that will be desk located is the feedline loss at 1296. If your antenna is a long coax run from the radio, you may lose too much RF power and suffer too much deterioration of noise figure using an inside unit. The advantage of separate 1296 units is that one can run the IF over the coax to the tower-mounted 1296 converter/amplifier and only a short run to the antenna for 1296.
I have one of the very rare DEMI 144/1268 Tx converters (15w out) and will be mounting it on the crossboom of my satellite array. This means I can run cheap RG-213 on 144 from my radio and about 10-foot of 1/2-inch hardline from the DEMI to the antenna (losing only 1-2w of output). For AO-51 this is way more than needed power, but for a MEO or HEO one needs much more power than 1-2w. I should have about 1300w ERP. My satellite tower is 150-feet from the shack. You would need 1-5/8 inch hardline to get any useful RF on 1296 over that long a run.
In fact I have just installed a 120-foot run of 1-5/8 inch hardline for my eme tower and I have a 1296 loop-yagi (for terrestrial use) that I feed with 60w. I will be lucky to get 30w to the 1296 antenna with this hardline (coupled to 45-foot of 7/8 hardline running up the 50-foot tower). I have a GasFet preamp at the antenna so that coax losses don't affect receiver NF.
The trick that many mw hams use is to locate the mw equipment close to the antenna and avoid coax line losses.
73, Ed
At 08:07 AM 11/22/2009, Stan, W1LE wrote:
In addition:
A transverter is always possible to get on the 1.2 GHz band. Use a IC-706 MK2/G or similar radio as a 28 MHz IF.
Transverters are available from DEMI and DB6NT and others, or homebrew ala W1GHZ.ORG
Use the building block approach instead of the one box doing all.
Of course, integrating your system with different building blocks is more complex than a "one box does all" approach.
Stan, W1LE
Jack Barbera wrote:
I've been thinking about adding the 1200 MHz band unit to my 910
radio. My dilemma is foremost that will this band be used on any of the new satellites? The rumor is that the 910 radio may be discontinued. The question I have is whether to quickly obtain the module in the event that this is also discontinued. I would really appreciate any thoughts on what action I should take. I do like ICOM products but find it difficult to get information about this type of situation. Thanks for any input. Jack WA1ZDV
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
I concur with all of the comments that have been forth coming. I recently bought my IC-910H not knowing that the unit was going out of production. However, its replacement appears to be a Kenwood TS2000 type which includes HF as well as the satellite bands. Since I already have multiple HF capabilities, I wanted something that would be more satellite specific. I also have the old Kenwood TS711/811 units that I might sell but I have found them still good units even being over 25 years old.
I have seen more and more 1.2Ghz activities in satellites and terrestrial and suspect that it will continue. In the meantime, HRO (Ham Radio Outlet) has reduced the price of the IC-UX910 unit to a nice value, and with their free shipping and no sales tax, I found it to be a good deal and bought one. It only took less than 5 minutes to install. I doubt if you would go wrong in the additional investment.
Reid, W4UPD
Jack Barbera wrote:
I've been thinking about adding the 1200 MHz band unit to my 910 radio. My dilemma is foremost that will this band be used on any of the new satellites? The rumor is that the 910 radio may be discontinued. The question I have is whether to quickly obtain the module in the event that this is also discontinued. I would really appreciate any thoughts on what action I should take. I do like ICOM products but find it difficult to get information about this type of situation. Thanks for any input. Jack WA1ZDV
participants (4)
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Edward Cole -
Jack Barbera -
Stan, W1LE -
w4upd