Hi AMSATs,

Golf-Ball-Sat... sounds interresting, but dreams are not reallity.

Anyone ever tried to get some radio with good RF spectrum in a golfball ??? An CW carrier might work, but a transponder is a quiet different job...

Then the size is very small, and generating enough energy is not possible. Even when there is enough power for an oscillator to run it will generate far to low RF to be received on earth by general users.

Then the golf-balls idea with the long wires, I think NASA/ESA will never agree with it. Think about the cenario that an astronaut/cosmonaut get stuck in these wires... Not a nice idea :o(

Better keep it on a real satellite, with some more power and longer lifetime. For the last 6 months I am working on a mini-mode-uv-transponder, with a good RF performance. I can say it is not an easy task. The prototype is working well and my next idea is to make it available for HAMs.

The design has PLL controlled oscillators what makes it very flexible in use (Local, satellite, repeater etc). Power is 100mW PEP, and I even included a CW beacon that can be programmed by RS232. This all on a single PCB 10cmx8cmx1cm in size.

I am still working on it, and there is still a lot to do (mainly software) in my little free time... So more to be followed...

Maybe this will make some more interrest in linear transponders usage and transponder technology...

73 de PE1RAH William ---

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