Using a scanner to hear the FM sats?
Due to some money issues, I had to sell all my sat gear including my beloved TS-2000X. I've been going through some of my old gear and rustled up a Radio shack VHF/UHF scanner that covers ham frequencies. Do you think it would be possible to hear the FM sats with it? I have a homebrew 11 element linearly polarized yagi and I can still track the sats via computer rotator control. I can make it where I have a short run of cable to the antennas since I don't have preamps anymore. I'm also wondering about using some 75ohm RG6 quad shield satellite TV cable for receiving. Would this be better or worse than 9913 with the scanner? Kind of grabbing at straws here but I'm wondering if anyone thinks it would work before I invest too much time into it. Tnx and 73, Michael, W4HIJ
At 10:38 AM 5/31/2007, Michael Tondee wrote:
Due to some money issues, I had to sell all my sat gear including my beloved TS-2000X. I've been going through some of my old gear and rustled up a Radio shack VHF/UHF scanner that covers ham frequencies. Do you think it would be possible to hear the FM sats with it? I have a
Depends on the scanner. You have some possible issues to contend with. Firstly, scanners are likely to be a little deaf, compared to the Kenwood, but with a decent antenna (and possibly preamp) it should have the sensitivity. Secondly, if you're in an RF heavy area, intermods and image responses might cause interference. Suck it and see. :)
homebrew 11 element linearly polarized yagi and I can still track the sats via computer rotator control.
That solves the antenna problem. I'd say your chances are good.
I can make it where I have a short run of cable to the antennas since I don't have preamps anymore. I'm also wondering about using some 75ohm RG6 quad shield satellite TV cable for receiving. Would this be better or worse than 9913 with the scanner? Kind of grabbing at straws here but I'm wondering if anyone thinks it would work before I invest too much time into it.
The 75 ohm cable will probably work fine for receiving. If you already have the cable, suck it and see. The most difficult part will be fitting connectors to it.
Worth a shot I'd say.
73 de VK3JED http://vkradio.com
At 05:27 PM 5/30/2007, Tony Langdon wrote:
At 10:38 AM 5/31/2007, Michael Tondee wrote:
Due to some money issues, I had to sell all my sat gear including my beloved TS-2000X. I've been going through some of my old gear and rustled up a Radio shack VHF/UHF scanner that covers ham frequencies. Do you think it would be possible to hear the FM sats with it? I have a
Depends on the scanner. You have some possible issues to contend with. Firstly, scanners are likely to be a little deaf, compared to the Kenwood, but with a decent antenna (and possibly preamp) it should have the sensitivity. Secondly, if you're in an RF heavy area, intermods and image responses might cause interference. Suck it and see. :)
homebrew 11 element linearly polarized yagi and I can still track the sats via computer rotator control.
That solves the antenna problem. I'd say your chances are good.
I can make it where I have a short run of cable to the antennas since I don't have preamps anymore. I'm also wondering about using some 75ohm RG6 quad shield satellite TV cable for receiving. Would this be better or worse than 9913 with the scanner? Kind of grabbing at straws here but I'm wondering if anyone thinks it would work before I invest too much time into it.
The 75 ohm cable will probably work fine for receiving. If you already have the cable, suck it and see. The most difficult part will be fitting connectors to it.
Worth a shot I'd say.
73 de VK3JED http://vkradio.com
Good points Tony. If the scanner is mounted near the antenna 5-10 foot then RG-6 is not worse than 9913, but for long runs of 50-feet or more the 9913 wins. I would try to have a preamp as the scanner is probably quite "deaf"! Another issue is whether the scanner can be programmed in 1-KHz steps. If limited to 5-KHz or more then tuning Doppler will be a challenge.
BTW the outside diameter of RG-6 is the same as mini-8 coax and RG-59, so the reducer that works for RG-59 in PL-259 connectors fits. I would not be too concerned about impedance mismatch if a preamp is used. On 2401 MHz I ran RG-6 from the F-connector on my Drake down convertor to my FT-847 where I just used a PL-259 with the UHF connector on the radio. I have about 45-dB gain on 2401 so losses in RG-6 doesn't matter.
73, Ed - KL7UW ====================================== BP40IQ 50-MHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com 144-EME: FT-847, mgf-1801, 4x-xpol-20, 185w DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa@hotmail.com ======================================
At 01:23 PM 5/31/2007, Edward Cole wrote:
Good points Tony. If the scanner is mounted near the antenna 5-10 foot then RG-6 is not worse than 9913, but for long runs of 50-feet or more the 9913 wins. I would try to have a preamp as the scanner is probably quite "deaf"! Another issue is whether the scanner can be programmed in 1-KHz steps. If limited to 5-KHz or more then tuning Doppler will be a challenge.
Well, many of us manage 5 kHz steps on a HT, so a scanner is no different, 5 kHz is sufficient in a pinch, and the IF of the scanner is likely to be a little "broad" on the passband edges. As for the coax, I'd definitely try the RG6 first.
73 de VK3JED http://vkradio.com
Thanks to everyone who replied to my question. I'm going to give it a shot, I have nothing to lose. I've got a 2 meter mobile for the uplink so hearing the downlink well enough is the issue. Luckily I live out in the "boonies" and it's quiet out here as far as RF. I don't anticipate any intermod issues. My main concerns will be the scanner sensitivity and tuning for doppler it appears. 73, Michael Tony Langdon wrote:
At 10:38 AM 5/31/2007, Michael Tondee wrote:
Due to some money issues, I had to sell all my sat gear including my beloved TS-2000X. I've been going through some of my old gear and rustled up a Radio shack VHF/UHF scanner that covers ham frequencies. Do you think it would be possible to hear the FM sats with it? I have a
Depends on the scanner. You have some possible issues to contend with. Firstly, scanners are likely to be a little deaf, compared to the Kenwood, but with a decent antenna (and possibly preamp) it should have the sensitivity. Secondly, if you're in an RF heavy area, intermods and image responses might cause interference. Suck it and see. :)
homebrew 11 element linearly polarized yagi and I can still track the sats via computer rotator control.
That solves the antenna problem. I'd say your chances are good.
I can make it where I have a short run of cable to the antennas since I don't have preamps anymore. I'm also wondering about using some 75ohm RG6 quad shield satellite TV cable for receiving. Would this be better or worse than 9913 with the scanner? Kind of grabbing at straws here but I'm wondering if anyone thinks it would work before I invest too much time into it.
The 75 ohm cable will probably work fine for receiving. If you already have the cable, suck it and see. The most difficult part will be fitting connectors to it.
Worth a shot I'd say.
73 de VK3JED http://vkradio.com
Hi Michael, if your scanner is pretty deaf you could use a CJU antenna. It's a small handheld antenna that hears the birds quite well (like a 7 elements UHF yagi) and, best of all, it's a simple homebrewed work. You will need nothing but a piece of plastic boom, a pair of rods and a short coaxial run with a BNC plug. You can see the CJU in action in this video http://rcfo.batcave.net/fo29movil.html and here http://eb4dka.batcave.net/ea4cyq1.html In the first one I'm working the FO-29 using a Kenwood TH-F7E HT as UHF SSB receiver and in the second one Juan Antonio EA4CYQ is using a Kenwood TH-D7 as receiver on the FM birds. The schematics and building instructions for this antenna can be found here http://miguel.servihosting.com/eb4dka/ea4cyq/cju.pdf It is in Spanish languaje, but if you want I could email you (or anybody interested) the English version (I´m working to translate my website to English).
Best 73 to all,
Pedro EB4DKA www.eb4dka.tk http://eb4dka.laserenadigital.com
----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Tondee" mat_62@netcommander.com Cc: amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Thursday, May 31, 2007 9:41 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Using a scanner to hear the FM sats?
Thanks to everyone who replied to my question. I'm going to give it a shot, I have nothing to lose. I've got a 2 meter mobile for the uplink so hearing the downlink well enough is the issue. Luckily I live out in the "boonies" and it's quiet out here as far as RF. I don't anticipate any intermod issues. My main concerns will be the scanner sensitivity and tuning for doppler it appears. 73, Michael Tony Langdon wrote:
At 10:38 AM 5/31/2007, Michael Tondee wrote:
Due to some money issues, I had to sell all my sat gear including my beloved TS-2000X. I've been going through some of my old gear and rustled up a Radio shack VHF/UHF scanner that covers ham frequencies. Do you think it would be possible to hear the FM sats with it? I have a
Depends on the scanner. You have some possible issues to contend with. Firstly, scanners are likely to be a little deaf, compared to the Kenwood, but with a decent antenna (and possibly preamp) it should have the sensitivity. Secondly, if you're in an RF heavy area, intermods and image responses might cause interference. Suck it and see. :)
homebrew 11 element linearly polarized yagi and I can still track the sats via computer rotator control.
That solves the antenna problem. I'd say your chances are good.
I can make it where I have a short run of cable to the antennas since I don't have preamps anymore. I'm also wondering about using some 75ohm RG6 quad shield satellite TV cable for receiving. Would this be better or worse than 9913 with the scanner? Kind of grabbing at straws here but I'm wondering if anyone thinks it would work before I invest too much time into it.
The 75 ohm cable will probably work fine for receiving. If you already have the cable, suck it and see. The most difficult part will be fitting connectors to it.
Worth a shot I'd say.
73 de VK3JED http://vkradio.com
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. 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
RG-6 works great for receiving. It's low-loss, easy to find, and cheap. You buy it premade at Home Depot or Lowe's with F connctors on it, and just use adapters on the antenna and radio. I've done this many times and had excellent results. Don't worry about the 75~50 Ohm impedance mismatch, as it simply doesn't matter when compared to the low-loss and easy availability of RG-6. One of my friends went so far as to replace his RG-6 with 9913 because he was worried about the mismatch, and he could see NO DIFFERENCE other than his wallet was considerably lighter! The loss difference at 1GHz between RG-6 and 9913 is about 1.5dB per 100, whereas the price difference is about 50 bucks. I'll take the $50! 73, Jim KQ6EA
--- Michael Tondee mat_62@netcommander.com wrote:
Due to some money issues, I had to sell all my sat gear including my beloved TS-2000X. I've been going through some of my old gear and rustled up a Radio shack VHF/UHF scanner that covers ham frequencies. Do you think it would be possible to hear the FM sats with it? I have a homebrew 11 element linearly polarized yagi and I can still track the sats via computer rotator control. I can make it where I have a short run of cable to the antennas since I don't have preamps anymore. I'm also wondering about using some 75ohm RG6 quad shield satellite TV cable for receiving. Would this be better or worse than 9913 with the scanner? Kind of grabbing at straws here but I'm wondering if anyone thinks it would work before I invest too much time into it. Tnx and 73, Michael, W4HIJ _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. 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
Back in the day I used my AOR scanner with a handheld beam and picked up SO-50 with it. That prompted the interest to play with the sats at that time.
73 de Pat --- KA9SCF.
On 5/30/07, Michael Tondee mat_62@netcommander.com wrote:
Due to some money issues, I had to sell all my sat gear including my beloved TS-2000X. I've been going through some of my old gear and rustled up a Radio shack VHF/UHF scanner that covers ham frequencies. Do you think it would be possible to hear the FM sats with it?
participants (6)
-
Edward Cole -
Jim Jerzycke -
Michael Tondee -
Patrick Green -
Pedro EB4DKA -
Tony Langdon