RF power required for linear satellites?

Ken M

20 Jun 2018 20 Jun '18

7:18 a.m.

Hello AMSATers,

I’m wondering if 5 watts is generally sufficient RF output to work the common linear satellites using a handheld satellite antenna (Arrow or Elk)?

For example, would an FT-817ND (or the new FT-818) suffice for the uplink radio, or would you need an amplifier with those 5 (6) watt radios, or just a more powerful radio such as the FT-857D?

Thanks & 73, Ken VA7KBM

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Bryan KL7CN

20 Jun 20 Jun

10:53 p.m.

New subject: [amsat-bb] RF power required for linear satellites?

Five watts is definitely sufficient for the common linear satellites.

There are circumstances when it is nice to have a little more -- maybe 10 watts -- such as on a very low pass from a high location.

But, there are so many who use the 5-watt FT-817ND that you will soon hear a chorus. :)

-- bag

Bryan KL7CN/W6 Location: CM98, usually E-Mail: bryan@KL7CN.net Telephone/SMS: 408-836-7279

...

On Jun 20, 2018, at 00:18, Ken M va7kbm@outlook.com wrote:

Hello AMSATers,

I’m wondering if 5 watts is generally sufficient RF output to work the common linear satellites using a handheld satellite antenna (Arrow or Elk)?

For example, would an FT-817ND (or the new FT-818) suffice for the uplink radio, or would you need an amplifier with those 5 (6) watt radios, or just a more powerful radio such as the FT-857D?

Thanks & 73, Ken VA7KBM _______________________________________________ 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

Stephen E. Belter

11:35 p.m.

New subject: [amsat-bb] RF power required for linear satellites?

Ken,

I agree with Bryan, for 364 of the days of the year. 5 watts is usually fine and sometimes too much for the linear satellites.

This is really a function of how busy the satellite is, and how much power the other operators are using. On a quiet pass, some operators report success with only 50 milliwatts.

The one day of the year that you may have trouble with is Field Day, with lots of traffic, and a few QRO stations.

I'm not encouraging you to use more power, as that can cause real problems on AO-7 (usually causing it to crash or reset to Mode A) or FO-29 (usually causing severe FM'ing of the entire passband). But be aware that your experience on Field Day may be different than the rest of the year.

I do encourage you to use a good antenna (e.g., Arrow or Elk), a relatively short length of quality coax (6-10 feet of LMR-240 Ultraflex, not RG-8), and no connector adapters.

73, Steve N9IP -- Steve Belter, seb@wintek.com

On 6/20/18, 5:57 PM, "AMSAT-BB on behalf of Bryan KL7CN" <amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org on behalf of bryan@kl7cn.net> wrote:

Five watts is definitely sufficient for the common linear satellites.

There are circumstances when it is nice to have a little more -- maybe 10 watts -- such as on a very low pass from a high location.

But, there are so many who use the 5-watt FT-817ND that you will soon hear a chorus. :)

-- bag

Bryan KL7CN/W6 Location: CM98, usually E-Mail: bryan@KL7CN.net Telephone/SMS: 408-836-7279

> On Jun 20, 2018, at 00:18, Ken M va7kbm@outlook.com wrote: > > Hello AMSATers, > > I’m wondering if 5 watts is generally sufficient RF output to work the common linear satellites using a handheld satellite antenna (Arrow or Elk)? > > For example, would an FT-817ND (or the new FT-818) suffice for the uplink radio, or would you need an amplifier with those 5 (6) watt radios, or just a more powerful radio such as the FT-857D? > > Thanks & 73, > Ken VA7KBM

_______________________________________________ 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

Peter Goodhall (2M0SQL)

10:54 p.m.

New subject: [amsat-bb] RF power required for linear satellites?

5w is plenty!

Peter, 2M0SQL

On Wed, 20 Jun 2018, 23:50 Ken M, va7kbm@outlook.com wrote:

...

Hello AMSATers,

I’m wondering if 5 watts is generally sufficient RF output to work the common linear satellites using a handheld satellite antenna (Arrow or Elk)?

For example, would an FT-817ND (or the new FT-818) suffice for the uplink radio, or would you need an amplifier with those 5 (6) watt radios, or just a more powerful radio such as the FT-857D?

Thanks & 73, Ken VA7KBM _______________________________________________ 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

jim＠k6ccc.org

11:27 p.m.

New subject: [amsat-bb] RF power required for linear satellites?

Five watts should be find. If I remember right, my low power record into FO-20 or FO29 was 20 milliwatts for a perfectly usable QSO. I will point out that I was using a full Oscar 10 class station. http://members.dslextreme.com/users/k6ccc/Photo/Pics/SatAnt1.html

Jim Walls K6CCC

-----Original Message----- From: "Ken M" va7kbm@outlook.com Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2018 00:18 To: "AMSAT-BB@amsat.org" AMSAT-BB@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] RF power required for linear satellites?

Hello AMSATers,

I’m wondering if 5 watts is generally sufficient RF output to work the common linear satellites using a handheld satellite antenna (Arrow or Elk)?

For example, would an FT-817ND (or the new FT-818) suffice for the uplink radio, or would you need an amplifier with those 5 (6) watt radios, or just a more powerful radio such as the FT-857D?

Thanks & 73, Ken VA7KBM _______________________________________________ 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

Paul Stoetzer

11:31 p.m.

New subject: [amsat-bb] RF power required for linear satellites?

I have heard myself on FO-29 with 50 mW to an Arrow (at a high elevation) and made one QSO using 250 mW.

I've used 500 mW quite frequently.

73,

Paul, N8HM

On Wed, Jun 20, 2018 at 7:27 PM, jim@k6ccc.org jim@k6ccc.org wrote:

...

Five watts should be find. If I remember right, my low power record into FO-20 or FO29 was 20 milliwatts for a perfectly usable QSO. I will point out that I was using a full Oscar 10 class station. http://members.dslextreme.com/users/k6ccc/Photo/Pics/SatAnt1.html

Jim Walls K6CCC

-----Original Message----- From: "Ken M" va7kbm@outlook.com Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2018 00:18 To: "AMSAT-BB@amsat.org" AMSAT-BB@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] RF power required for linear satellites?

Hello AMSATers,

I’m wondering if 5 watts is generally sufficient RF output to work the common linear satellites using a handheld satellite antenna (Arrow or Elk)?

For example, would an FT-817ND (or the new FT-818) suffice for the uplink radio, or would you need an amplifier with those 5 (6) watt radios, or just a more powerful radio such as the FT-857D?

Thanks & 73, Ken VA7KBM _______________________________________________ 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

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

Zach Metzinger

11:34 p.m.

New subject: [amsat-bb] RF power required for linear satellites?

On 06/20/18 02:18, Ken M wrote:

...

Hello AMSATers,

I’m wondering if 5 watts is generally sufficient RF output to work the common linear satellites using a handheld satellite antenna (Arrow or Elk)?

This page has some useful tips:

https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/how-to-work-ssb-satellites/

--- Zach N0ZGO

B J

21 Jun 21 Jun

2:34 a.m.

New subject: [amsat-bb] RF power required for linear satellites?

On 6/20/18, Ken M va7kbm@outlook.com wrote:

...

Hello AMSATers,

I’m wondering if 5 watts is generally sufficient RF output to work the common linear satellites using a handheld satellite antenna (Arrow or Elk)?

For example, would an FT-817ND (or the new FT-818) suffice for the uplink radio, or would you need an amplifier with those 5 (6) watt radios, or just a more powerful radio such as the FT-857D?

<snip>

The lowest output power of my radio is 5 W and that's more than adequate for working linear satellites.

For example, I've often been on south-north FO-29 passes to the west of me. From my balcony, I've been able to hear my signal, however faintly, all the way to LOS. According to my tracking software, the grid square where that occurs is somewhere on the Arctic Ocean with the distance to the satellite usually more than 3500 km from my QTH.

73s

Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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B J
Bryan KL7CN
jim＠k6ccc.org
Ken M
Paul Stoetzer
Peter Goodhall (2M0SQL)
Stephen E. Belter
Zach Metzinger