It looks promising for true, full-duplex V/U FM satellite ops.
And, of course, an awful lot more (GPS, APRS, et al).
But five hundred dollars?
Heck, a person wanting to work full duplex with the FM birds could purchase, for example, a Yaesu FT-270 and FT-277R brand new for a total of $280 - and have enough money left over to purchase an Arrow Sat Antenna with diplexer, a spare battery pack, and a modest dinner for the family - in comparison to the $500 for the 'D72a.
Tentatively, the secondary band RX "de-sense" is not as dramatic as it is with the Alinco. More test results by Tuesday.
Blog on the new Kenwood at ...
http://blog.worksatellites.com/
Clint, K6LCS 909-241-7666
Ever tried holding two HT's while adjusting two VFO's, while pointing an Arrow antenna, while trying to sip your coffee, while munching a biscuit?
Your logic is great, but don't overestimate the convenience of having everything in one box, just for the sake of being able to save a few bucks.
On Sat, Dec 4, 2010 at 1:24 PM, Clint Bradford clintbrad4d@earthlink.netwrote:
It looks promising for true, full-duplex V/U FM satellite ops.
And, of course, an awful lot more (GPS, APRS, et al).
But five hundred dollars?
Heck, a person wanting to work full duplex with the FM birds could purchase, for example, a Yaesu FT-270 and FT-277R brand new for a total of $280 - and have enough money left over to purchase an Arrow Sat Antenna with diplexer, a spare battery pack, and a modest dinner for the family - in comparison to the $500 for the 'D72a.
Tentatively, the secondary band RX "de-sense" is not as dramatic as it is with the Alinco. More test results by Tuesday.
Blog on the new Kenwood at ...
http://blog.worksatellites.com/
Clint, K6LCS 909-241-7666 _______________________________________________ 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
I agree that would be a pain on the linear birds, but I've *never* had to adjust the uplink frequency on an FM bird. The receiver passband is made deliberately wide so you don't have to worry much about it. Jim KQ6EA
On 12/04/2010 08:35 PM, Dave Tipton wrote:
Ever tried holding two HT's while adjusting two VFO's, while pointing an Arrow antenna, while trying to sip your coffee, while munching a biscuit?
Your logic is great, but don't overestimate the convenience of having everything in one box, just for the sake of being able to save a few bucks.
On Sat, Dec 4, 2010 at 1:24 PM, Clint Bradford clintbrad4d@earthlink.netwrote:
It looks promising for true, full-duplex V/U FM satellite ops.
And, of course, an awful lot more (GPS, APRS, et al).
But five hundred dollars?
Heck, a person wanting to work full duplex with the FM birds could purchase, for example, a Yaesu FT-270 and FT-277R brand new for a total of $280 - and have enough money left over to purchase an Arrow Sat Antenna with diplexer, a spare battery pack, and a modest dinner for the family - in comparison to the $500 for the 'D72a.
Tentatively, the secondary band RX "de-sense" is not as dramatic as it is with the Alinco. More test results by Tuesday.
Blog on the new Kenwood at ...
http://blog.worksatellites.com/
Clint, K6LCS 909-241-7666 _______________________________________________ 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
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
Hi!
The TH-D72A is the real deal as a cross-band full-duplex HT for FM satellite work. And, unlike with the DJ-G7T and some versions of the IC-W32A, no RX desense while transmitting. :-)
I used VFO B for TX, VFO A for RX (it has better sensitivity), balanced audio all the way to VFO A, open squelch for VFO A, 5W transmit, and juat worked AO-27. Nice!
I will try it on a later AO51 pass today, not the next one around 2147 UTC, for another test. As for APRS, it took little time to set it up and get it picked up online. I have not hooked it up to a computer yet, but that is not a high priority yet.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/
One thing I wonder is if they have done something clever with the single USB port so that TNC data and rig control (CAT) no longer are exclusive of each other. That remains a disappointing limitation on rigs like the TH-D7A and TS-2000.
73, Bruce VE9QRP
On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 5:28 PM, Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) amsat-bb@wd9ewk.net wrote:
Hi!
The TH-D72A is the real deal as a cross-band full-duplex HT for FM satellite work. And, unlike with the DJ-G7T and some versions of the IC-W32A, no RX desense while transmitting. :-)
I used VFO B for TX, VFO A for RX (it has better sensitivity), balanced audio all the way to VFO A, open squelch for VFO A, 5W transmit, and juat worked AO-27. Nice!
I will try it on a later AO51 pass today, not the next one around 2147 UTC, for another test. As for APRS, it took little time to set it up and get it picked up online. I have not hooked it up to a computer yet, but that is not a high priority yet.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ _______________________________________________ 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
participants (5)
-
Bruce Robertson -
Clint Bradford -
Dave Tipton -
Jim Jerzycke -
Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)