Programming a Kenwood TH-D72A for ISS Digi Contacts
Just purchased a used Kenwood TH-D72A HT. Hoping to use it along with an Arrow antenna to make more satellite contacts while traveling. While I primarily expect to use it to make voice contacts on the FM birds, I’m also interested in making packet contacts through the International Space Station.
Could someone point me towards a programming guide for this type of application? Any other pointers in using the radio to make packet QSOs through the ISS?
Grateful for all suggestions.
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL EM63nf
Member WTFDA, IRCA, NRC, ARLL, and AMSAT. Former CPC Chairman for NRC & IRCA.
Elad FDM-S2 SDR, AirSpy SDR, Quantum Phaser, Wellbrook ALA1530 Loop, Wellbrook Flag, Clifton Labs Active Whip.
Grateful as always.
Les,
You may want to have a look at the post by Patrick WD9EWK here http://www.amsat.org/pipermail/amsat-bb/2016-November/061066.html
73's
Mike Diehl - AI6GS
On Nov 8, 2016, at 2:03 PM, Les Rayburn les@highnoonfilm.com wrote:
Just purchased a used Kenwood TH-D72A HT. Hoping to use it along with an Arrow antenna to make more satellite contacts while traveling. While I primarily expect to use it to make voice contacts on the FM birds, I’m also interested in making packet contacts through the International Space Station.
Could someone point me towards a programming guide for this type of application? Any other pointers in using the radio to make packet QSOs through the ISS?
Grateful for all suggestions.
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL EM63nf
Member WTFDA, IRCA, NRC, ARLL, and AMSAT. Former CPC Chairman for NRC & IRCA.
Elad FDM-S2 SDR, AirSpy SDR, Quantum Phaser, Wellbrook ALA1530 Loop, Wellbrook Flag, Clifton Labs Active Whip.
Grateful as always.
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
You need to store the memories as split frequencies or as the manual calls them, "Odd-split Repeater Frequencies." It's in the full electronic manual. See page 2 in file 'TH-D72_02_MEMORY CHANNEL_E.pdf'
The basics of it are this. You program a simplex receive frequency like normal and then go to the VFO and set the transmit frequency and then store it like normal to the same memory channel, except in addition to pressing >OK to store it at the final step, you hold down the PTT button before hand and while you press >OK.
To compensate for doppler you need to store the following memories:
# Receive Transmit 1. 437.560 437.540 2. 437.555 437.545 3. 437.550 (same, don't set split here) 4. 437.545 437.550 5. 437.540 437.560
When the bird is coming toward you start at 1. and as the pass progresses move towards 5. You should be at 3. at max elevation.
Let me/us know if you have more questions.
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On Tue, Nov 8, 2016 at 5:03 PM, Les Rayburn les@highnoonfilm.com wrote:
Just purchased a used Kenwood TH-D72A HT. Hoping to use it along with an Arrow antenna to make more satellite contacts while traveling. While I primarily expect to use it to make voice contacts on the FM birds, I’m also interested in making packet contacts through the International Space Station.
Could someone point me towards a programming guide for this type of application? Any other pointers in using the radio to make packet QSOs through the ISS?
Grateful for all suggestions.
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL EM63nf
Member WTFDA, IRCA, NRC, ARLL, and AMSAT. Former CPC Chairman for NRC & IRCA.
Elad FDM-S2 SDR, AirSpy SDR, Quantum Phaser, Wellbrook ALA1530 Loop, Wellbrook Flag, Clifton Labs Active Whip.
Grateful as always.
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
Cannot thank you enough John, and many others on the group. Very helpful!
73,
Les N1LF
Les Rayburn, director High Noon Media Services 130 1st Avenue West Alabaster, AL 35007-8536 205-621-7500 205-621-7505 FAX 205-253-4867 CELL highnoonfilm.com
[This message and any attached documents contain information from the sender that may be confidential and/or privileged. If you are not the intended recipient please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and then delete this message. Thank you.]
On Nov 8, 2016, at 4:56 PM, John Brier johnbrier@gmail.com wrote:
You need to store the memories as split frequencies or as the manual calls them, "Odd-split Repeater Frequencies." It's in the full electronic manual. See page 2 in file 'TH-D72_02_MEMORY CHANNEL_E.pdf'
The basics of it are this. You program a simplex receive frequency like normal and then go to the VFO and set the transmit frequency and then store it like normal to the same memory channel, except in addition to pressing >OK to store it at the final step, you hold down the PTT button before hand and while you press >OK.
To compensate for doppler you need to store the following memories:
# Receive Transmit
- 437.560 437.540
- 437.555 437.545
- 437.550 (same, don't set split here)
- 437.545 437.550
- 437.540 437.560
When the bird is coming toward you start at 1. and as the pass progresses move towards 5. You should be at 3. at max elevation.
Let me/us know if you have more questions.
73, John Brier KG4AKV
On Tue, Nov 8, 2016 at 5:03 PM, Les Rayburn les@highnoonfilm.com wrote:
Just purchased a used Kenwood TH-D72A HT. Hoping to use it along with an Arrow antenna to make more satellite contacts while traveling. While I primarily expect to use it to make voice contacts on the FM birds, I’m also interested in making packet contacts through the International Space Station.
Could someone point me towards a programming guide for this type of application? Any other pointers in using the radio to make packet QSOs through the ISS?
Grateful for all suggestions.
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL EM63nf
Member WTFDA, IRCA, NRC, ARLL, and AMSAT. Former CPC Chairman for NRC & IRCA.
Elad FDM-S2 SDR, AirSpy SDR, Quantum Phaser, Wellbrook ALA1530 Loop, Wellbrook Flag, Clifton Labs Active Whip.
Grateful as always.
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
Les,
As AI6GS mentioned, you can program a group of 5 memory channels that will compensate for Doppler on both the uplink and downlink for the 437.550 MHz frequency now being used for the ISS packet digipeater. That list is available at:
http://amsat.org/pipermail/amsat-bb/2016-November/061066.html
I also pinned my tweet from last week on my @WD9EWK Twitter profile page with the same chart, which you can see at:
As for using your TH-D72A for making QSOs using the ISS packet digipeater, you can use APRS messages to do that. You can define some messages in advance, so you aren't having to enter those messages on the HT's keypad, or you can do that. Typing on the keypad is just like sending SMS messages on a flip-phone or other "non-smart" mobile phone.
APRS messages are the way anyone working the digipeater can send and receive text that shows up on the screens of any station. The Kenwood APRS-ready radios will not display freeform text that someone using a simple terminal program types. APRS messages are sent in a format that contains the call signs of the two stations, along with a line of text intended for the receiving station.
Using APRS messages, you are able to make the same types of exchanges you would on any other satellite. Grid locators are the most common item exchanged, but with the prepared messages you might also send your name and/or location along with the grid locator. You could skip sending your location in the APRS message, if you are using the APRS functionality to beacon your location during the ISS pass.
More stations are giving the ISS digipeater on 70cm a try, and many are finding success using the 5-channel setup like I mentioned on this list last week. If you are set up to work the ISS 70cm digipeater by the end of the week, I will be on there from a hamfest near Tucson this Saturday (12 November) morning.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK
On Tue, Nov 8, 2016 at 10:03 PM, Les Rayburn les@highnoonfilm.com wrote:
Just purchased a used Kenwood TH-D72A HT. Hoping to use it along with an Arrow antenna to make more satellite contacts while traveling. While I primarily expect to use it to make voice contacts on the FM birds, I’m also interested in making packet contacts through the International Space Station.
Could someone point me towards a programming guide for this type of application? Any other pointers in using the radio to make packet QSOs through the ISS?
Grateful for all suggestions.
73,
Les Rayburn, N1LF
participants (4)
-
John Brier -
Les Rayburn -
Mike Diehl -
Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)