You could always cut off the internal mic and use the PTT as a crude CW key since an on/off keyed unmodulated FM carrier is theoretically identical to a CW signal. I think some people have done this, or at least have contemplated it.

The TH-F6A works fine for receiving the linear satellites. A few weeks ago, I listened to an FO-29 pass and was able to copy signals horizon-to-horizon with an Arrow. The receiver bandwidth is quite wide, so you can often hear multiple signals at once. This isn't always a bad thing, because you can understand a SSB or CW signal without tuning for Doppler over the wider range.

I have only managed one QSO on the linear birds using the TH-F6A and FT-817 (on VO-52), but I hope to try again soon.

73,

Paul, N8HM

On Thu, Jan 10, 2013 at 3:29 PM, WILLIAMS MICHAEL [email protected] wrote:

My mind is running wild.

I received an email some time back from a ham (I think it was Jarred) who said he copied my CW on FO-29 using the TH-F6A or similar hand held.

My immediate thought was that Kenwood could add a miniature CW jack and turn this rig into a rig that operates on both the linear and FM birds.

Very little engineering cost to implement this.

Just Thinking,

Mike K9QHO

Message: 6 Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2013 09:14:11 -0700 From: KERRY LA*DUKE [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] new station cn87 Message-ID: [email protected] Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

All, Had a great qso and first contact for WA7GNP this morning on SO-50. Jarred is running a Kenwood TH-F6A and home brew yagi's on a tripod. Jarred has also been listening on the analog birds. 73 WC7V Kerry _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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 the early days of satellites, this was a popular way to work CW... split band with a cw receiver on the downlink and keying an FM rig (usually on 2 meters) on the uplink. The resulting synthesizer generated signal tended to "swing" on each element of of a character giving it a distinct "bird chirp" sound.

QSLs with signal reports of 569 or 559 were common but well accepted as access to 2 meter CW rigs was somewhat limited.

I'm not sure how today's purists would accept such going's on but with the limited number of CW artists on the satellites I myself would readily respond to a chirpy CQ.

My last chirpy CW contact was during a Field Day contest 440 up and 2meters down. We were having no luck on FM and I secured the 100 points on CW for the club.

Roger WA1KAT

On 1/10/2013 6:10 PM, Hector, CO6CBF wrote:

Hello all!

...

You could always cut off the internal mic and use the PTT as a crude CW key since an on/off keyed unmodulated FM carrier is theoretically identical to a CW signal. I think some people have done this, or at least have contemplated it.

Yes, it works!! I had my first contact on the analog birds (AO-7A) running a modified Yaesu FM transceiver.

I disconnected the MIC preamplifier circuit, I kept the Tx activated and switched the PA drive transistor by a switch circuit added and commanded by the CW key. Despite the tone was FMing a bit, I had some contacts.

73!

Hector, CO6CBF EL92sd