Does one 847 equal two 817's?
I see a lot of current portable transponder ops running two rigs (most likely 817's). Folks seem to be unencumbered by the lack of tracking and Doppler coordination between the two radios. Dare I say it -- old school?
Despite the tracking and inverting capabilities, is there any reason I couldn't run my 847 in the same "mode", using the two separate VFO dials like two 817's and nothing else? Am I missing something?
Any one, from the various AMSAT portable ops, have a YouTube video showing _in detail_ how you are running two 817's?
Anyone else run your 847 this way?
Bill W1PA
I suppose you *could*, but why would you *want* to?
73, Jim KQ6EA
On 11/20/2014 08:56 PM, Bill ACITO, W1PA wrote:
I see a lot of current portable transponder ops running two rigs (most likely 817's). Folks seem to be unencumbered by the lack of tracking and Doppler coordination between the two radios. Dare I say it -- old school?
Despite the tracking and inverting capabilities, is there any reason I couldn't run my 847 in the same "mode", using the two separate VFO dials like two 817's and nothing else? Am I missing something?
Any one, from the various AMSAT portable ops, have a YouTube video showing _in detail_ how you are running two 817's?
Anyone else run your 847 this way?
Bill W1PA _______________________________________________ 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://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
I can't answer questions about how the 847 works as I've never used one, but I'd think you'd want to use the VFO tracking and inverting capabilities to navigate the passband.
Using two 817s together on the linear transponders does take a bit of practice. It's relatively easy to find a clear space, find your signal, and call CQ. It's a bit more complicated to navigate the passband since the two 817s aren't tracking each other and it takes a bit of mental arithmetic to get on frequency once you change your receive frequency. This is where the VFO tracking capabilities of a satellite radio come in handy and I've thought about designing an Arduino interface that links 2 817s (or 857/897 - same CAT protocol) together via their CAT ports (when you tune one, the other tracks). Incidentally, Icom used to make a device to do just this with two Icom radios (the CT-16 Satellite Interface Unit).
Of course this is how it was done by everyone back in the 1970s and early 1980s. Before satellite transceivers came on to the market, everyone was using two separate radios!
I'd make a video, but I'm a bit short of hands when operating the two 817s (maybe I should get a GoPro)! I could do a video simulating a pass and showing you how I tune around. I might do that tonight and I'll post the link if I do.
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Thu, Nov 20, 2014 at 3:56 PM, Bill ACITO, W1PA w1pa@hotmail.com wrote:
I see a lot of current portable transponder ops running two rigs (most likely 817's). Folks seem to be unencumbered by the lack of tracking and Doppler coordination between the two radios. Dare I say it -- old school?
Despite the tracking and inverting capabilities, is there any reason I couldn't run my 847 in the same "mode", using the two separate VFO dials like two 817's and nothing else? Am I missing something?
Any one, from the various AMSAT portable ops, have a YouTube video showing _in detail_ how you are running two 817's?
Anyone else run your 847 this way?
Bill W1PA _______________________________________________ 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://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Hummmm... interesting idea Paul...
El 20/11/14 a las 17:59, Paul Stoetzer escribió:
This is where the VFO tracking capabilities of a satellite radio come in handy and I've thought about designing an Arduino interface that links 2 817s (or 857/897 - same CAT protocol) together via their CAT ports (when you tune one, the other tracks). Incidentally, Icom used to make a device to do just this with two Icom radios (the CT-16 Satellite Interface Unit).
Not and arduino coder here, but a PIC one... I have recently playing with the Yaesu CAT protocol and made a kind of a lib for it on jal...
I do not have any of the FT-8x7 radios, but I can give a try to build a working PIC interface for the community, that can do JUST THAT...
Just need a ham with two of there radios and electronic skills to build the hardware and try the code on it for me... getting even one of these radios in Cuba is hard... Ask HLMS (CO6CBF)
The CAT command interface is not a problem, is just matter of time to understand the protocol and review the code for hamlib and code it...
I made recently a FT-747GX lib and I'm working on the interface of an FT-1000, this is for the PIC to simulate a real radio...
But the math involved on doppler calculations it's rocket science for me... any good doc/link on the subject?
Who want's to take the trip with me on the hardware side for this project?
73 from Pavel, CO7WT
PS: I have a UV-5R on the way, so wait for me on SO-50 soon... my former 70cm radio gone QRT a big time ago...
My thought would be to use an Arduino board to do it, but it's a bit out of my technical league!
This wouldn't compensate for Doppler, that would still need to be done manually. It would just link the two VFOs for moving around the transponder passband.
Look forward to hearing you on SO-50 soon and EO-80 and the Fox-1 satellites in the future!
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Thu, Nov 20, 2014 at 6:47 PM, Pavel Milanes Costa co7wt@frcuba.co.cu wrote:
Hummmm... interesting idea Paul...
El 20/11/14 a las 17:59, Paul Stoetzer escribió:
This is where the VFO tracking capabilities of a satellite radio come in handy and I've thought about designing an Arduino interface that links 2 817s (or 857/897 - same CAT protocol) together via their CAT ports (when you tune one, the other tracks). Incidentally, Icom used to make a device to do just this with two Icom radios (the CT-16 Satellite Interface Unit).
Not and arduino coder here, but a PIC one... I have recently playing with the Yaesu CAT protocol and made a kind of a lib for it on jal...
I do not have any of the FT-8x7 radios, but I can give a try to build a working PIC interface for the community, that can do JUST THAT...
Just need a ham with two of there radios and electronic skills to build the hardware and try the code on it for me... getting even one of these radios in Cuba is hard... Ask HLMS (CO6CBF)
The CAT command interface is not a problem, is just matter of time to understand the protocol and review the code for hamlib and code it...
I made recently a FT-747GX lib and I'm working on the interface of an FT-1000, this is for the PIC to simulate a real radio...
But the math involved on doppler calculations it's rocket science for me... any good doc/link on the subject?
Who want's to take the trip with me on the hardware side for this project?
73 from Pavel, CO7WT
PS: I have a UV-5R on the way, so wait for me on SO-50 soon... my former 70cm radio gone QRT a big time ago...
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://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Hi Folks,
FUNcube/AO-73 is now in continuous transponder mode with low power beacon, as at 23:15 UTC, yesterday. Change back to Auto eclipse mode planned for Sunday PM UTC.
Today is FUNcube's 1st birthday, so we have switched to continuous transponder mode one day earlier than 'normal'. You are invited to make a note of any stations worked on this day, or any other comments on the FUNcube Forum. Please use the existing "FUNcube-1's Birthday" topic, under the Welcome heading. The URL of the Forum is http://forum.funcube.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=217.
Enjoy the transponder
73s Jim G3WGM
participants (5)
-
Bill ACITO, W1PA -
Jim Heck -
Jim Jerzycke -
Paul Stoetzer -
Pavel Milanes Costa