After receiving lots of help--especially from Howard, G6LVB--I got the newly modified RHCP 10el cheap yagi up on the mast this morning.

Previously, using the original 10el linear antenna, I was unable to make a QSO on SO-50. I could hear stations but not well enough to work. Well, first try out of the gate on SO-50 this afternoon, I made several contacts 5x9. So it works better than I had hoped.

The really interesting part of this story is that I dont have any way to check this antenna or its matching stubs, etc. Just built them carefully, made the stubs carefully, and followed directions. I'm still working on acquiring some basic tools that will work at this frequency.

So, it is possible, with little or no extra equipment, to get the job done. This system is still running barefoot--no preamp--and no elevation control--but it works pretty well considering.

Thanks for all your help gentlemen.

Curt KU8L

Mike,

The TS-2000 is a very capable satellite rig, and the 1.2 gig module will get you on mode L. According to the sales sites, you need to have the module installed by a dealer or from the factory. So in one sense, the installation is easy. Let somebody else do it. ;) At about $500-600 plus installation, it is probably comparable in cost to a good external transverter and avoids all the quirks of interfacing and deciding which IF to use. Note that 10 watts out is really marginal, and you need an amplifier in the 50-100 watt range along with a good antenna to make satellite operating more than a chore.

The FT-847 works well with a transverter. I regularly operate AO-51 in the various modes using mode L as an uplink, and with a little recabling worked the ISS in mode LV about as well as could be done. There is a brief note in the July/August AMSAT Journal about using TX transverters with 2 meter IFs when you need to be able to RX on 2 meters.

One thing to consider whether you are talking about amplifiers or transverters, is that terrestrial communication centers around 1296 MHz, while space communication centers around 1269 MHz. Almost all equipment is designed for the higher and much more common frequency. The amps often need retuning for the lower frequency, and are less efficient. Likewise, transverters will require significantly different crystals to get the IF where you can use it.

Going with the TS-2000 and adding a brick amp is the easiest and cleanest way, but if you are a good scrounger, not necessarily the cheapest.

Alan WA4SCA

If you like to build a transverter, Paul, W1GHZ, has designed a bunch of CHEAP to build units and has poted the information on his web pages at www.w1ghz.org.

Here's the direct link to the Multi band Microwave Transverter project that he gave a talk at Microwave Update about this past year: http://www.w1ghz.org/MBT/multiband.htm

I am currently building the 900Mhz version and still have to acquire the MMICs for it as I have found that I have misplaced the bag that I had from years ago.

BTW, I do have a extra DEMI board model number 1296-144 that I would be willing to part with if your interested. Just the PCB board. The cost of acquiring parts on my own cost me about 75 dollars ten years ago though and I don't know how 'unobtainiam' some of the parts used are now a days though. It could be used for 1260 Sat or 1296 Terrestrial depending on what crystal was installed.

James W8ISS =====

On Sat, 2009-01-03 at 14:01 -0500, Michael J. Wolthuis wrote:

I am excited with all the late use of 1.2ghz and want to get involved. I have an FT-847, which doesn't have a 1.2ghz option. So what are others doing?

Here were my thoughts....

1. Add a 910 for 1.2ghz - expensive
2. Utilize my TS-2000 (currently HF) for 1.2ghz by adding UT-20 - not

sure how hard the add-on is to do 3) Buy another radio (?????) for 1.2ghz use 4) Is there some way to use the FT-847?

If there is references out there to this, Google did not do me well, please send links and pointers.

Thanks and hopefully I'll be on 1.2ghz soon. I have an antenna and 50ft of inch and a quarter to the shack on the Sat rotator, but just never hooked it too anything.

Mike kb8zgl

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