[AMSAT BB] Recommendations for Transceiver & SDR
Aloha! Our team is planning a ground station. We plan on purchasing the M2 LEO Pack ( https://www.amsat.org/product/m2-leo-pack-antenna-system/ ). We would like recommendations for a good transceiver. Also for a good SDR. (We have so far been using $15 dongles.) Mahalo for all your help! Frederick Herrmann Makua Lani Christian Academy Kailua-Kona Hawaii
That is a really difficult decision. Are you mainly going to be receiving data from space? Then the main choice is to decide what data rates and modes you need to receive and transmit. The first radio to remove from your list is the most popular radio with radio amateurs, the Icom IC9700. Great radio, but it cannot transmit or receive 9600 bps.You may want to ask the folks at Satnogs, who have a network of ground stations similar to yours. They probably have a user group, but I don't know the details. - A few years ago the IC910 would have been a really good choice. Perhaps now it's an all SDR product from Ettus
https://www.ettus.com/products/ Another source of info would be one of the companies providing ground station equipment and installation.
https://www.isispace.nl/product-category/ground-stations/
Good luck.
David
-----Original Message----- From: Frederick Herrmann [email protected] To: AMSAT BB [email protected] Sent: Fri, 27 Aug 2021 8:42 Subject: [AMSAT-BB] [AMSAT BB] Recommendations for Transceiver & SDR
Aloha! Our team is planning a ground station. We plan on purchasing the M2 LEO Pack ( https://www.amsat.org/product/m2-leo-pack-antenna-system/ ).We would like recommendations for a good transceiver. Also for a good SDR. (We have so far been using $15 dongles.)Mahalo for all your help!Frederick HerrmannMakua Lani Christian AcademyKailua-Kona Hawaii
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Thanks Nathan and David. Believe me, it all helps! I'll let you know how we progress. Mahalo!
On Thu, Aug 26, 2021 at 11:03 PM David G0MRF [email protected] wrote:
That is a really difficult decision.
Are you mainly going to be receiving data from space?
Then the main choice is to decide what data rates and modes you need to receive and transmit.
The first radio to remove from your list is the most popular radio with radio amateurs, the Icom IC9700. Great radio, but it cannot transmit or receive 9600 bps. You may want to ask the folks at Satnogs, who have a network of ground stations similar to yours.
They probably have a user group, but I don't know the details.
- A few years ago the IC910 would have been a really good choice.
Perhaps now it's an all SDR product from Ettus
https://www.ettus.com/products/
Another source of info would be one of the companies providing ground station equipment and installation.
https://www.isispace.nl/product-category/ground-stations/
Good luck.
David
-----Original Message----- From: Frederick Herrmann <[email protected]
To: AMSAT BB [email protected] Sent: Fri, 27 Aug 2021 8:42 Subject: [AMSAT-BB] [AMSAT BB] Recommendations for Transceiver & SDR
Aloha! Our team is planning a ground station. We plan on purchasing the M2 LEO Pack ( https://www.amsat.org/product/m2-leo-pack-antenna-system/ ). We would like recommendations for a good transceiver. Also for a good SDR. (We have so far been using $15 dongles.) Mahalo for all your help! Frederick Herrmann Makua Lani Christian Academy Kailua-Kona Hawaii
Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)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. Acceptable Use and Privacy Policies available at https://www.amsat.org/about-amsat/
View archives of this mailing list at https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to amsat-bb-leave(a)amsat.org Manage all of your AMSAT-NA mailing list preferences at https://mailman.amsat.org
Frederick,
I am using a Kenwood TS-2000 it works well at 9k2 bauds TX/RX and other modes on many satellites.
The LIME USB SDR is also a good SDR capable of higher speed and have been successful up to 2MS DVB-S2 (it can TX much higher rates) on QO-100. The advantage (over the mini LIME) is that there are more antenna ports thus without touching the hardware (and breaking something working) you may switch between many bands. I believe (learn the hard way) that its is better to invest for the longer term in a good SDR and build around it than eventually buy many (spending more) when your needs grow.
My one cent input.
73
Jean Marc (3B8DU)
On Aug 30, 2021, at 8:40 AM, Frederick Herrmann [email protected] wrote:
Thanks Nathan and David. Believe me, it all helps! I'll let you know how we progress. Mahalo!
On Thu, Aug 26, 2021 at 11:03 PM David G0MRF <[email protected] mailto:[email protected]> wrote: That is a really difficult decision.
Are you mainly going to be receiving data from space?
Then the main choice is to decide what data rates and modes you need to receive and transmit.
The first radio to remove from your list is the most popular radio with radio amateurs, the Icom IC9700. Great radio, but it cannot transmit or receive 9600 bps. You may want to ask the folks at Satnogs, who have a network of ground stations similar to yours.
They probably have a user group, but I don't know the details.
- A few years ago the IC910 would have been a really good choice.
Perhaps now it's an all SDR product from Ettus
https://www.ettus.com/products/ https://www.ettus.com/products/
Another source of info would be one of the companies providing ground station equipment and installation.
https://www.isispace.nl/product-category/ground-stations/ https://www.isispace.nl/product-category/ground-stations/
Good luck.
David
-----Original Message----- From: Frederick Herrmann <[email protected] mailto:[email protected]> To: AMSAT BB <[email protected] mailto:[email protected]> Sent: Fri, 27 Aug 2021 8:42 Subject: [AMSAT-BB] [AMSAT BB] Recommendations for Transceiver & SDR
Aloha! Our team is planning a ground station. We plan on purchasing the M2 LEO Pack ( https://www.amsat.org/product/m2-leo-pack-antenna-system/ https://www.amsat.org/product/m2-leo-pack-antenna-system/ ). We would like recommendations for a good transceiver. Also for a good SDR. (We have so far been using $15 dongles.) Mahalo for all your help! Frederick Herrmann Makua Lani Christian Academy Kailua-Kona Hawaii
Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org http://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. Acceptable Use and Privacy Policies available at https://www.amsat.org/about-amsat/ https://www.amsat.org/about-amsat/
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Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)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. Acceptable Use and Privacy Policies available at https://www.amsat.org/about-amsat/
View archives of this mailing list at https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to amsat-bb-leave(a)amsat.org Manage all of your AMSAT-NA mailing list preferences at https://mailman.amsat.org
Thanks, Jean Marc. Yes, I know of a school in Montana that was using the TS-2000. It's out of production now, but the specs list is helpful. Also thanks for letting me know what you've learned the hard way. I imagine we're in this for the long haul, so a good investment up front is worth it. Mahalo!
On Sun, Aug 29, 2021 at 10:30 PM Jean Marc Momple < [email protected]> wrote:
Frederick,
I am using a Kenwood TS-2000 it works well at 9k2 bauds TX/RX and other modes on many satellites.
The LIME USB SDR is also a good SDR capable of higher speed and have been successful up to 2MS DVB-S2 (it can TX much higher rates) on QO-100. The advantage (over the mini LIME) is that there are more antenna ports thus without touching the hardware (and breaking something working) you may switch between many bands. I believe (learn the hard way) that its is better to invest for the longer term in a good SDR and build around it than eventually buy many (spending more) when your needs grow.
My one cent input.
73
Jean Marc (3B8DU)
On Aug 30, 2021, at 8:40 AM, Frederick Herrmann < [email protected]> wrote:
Thanks Nathan and David. Believe me, it all helps! I'll let you know how we progress. Mahalo!
On Thu, Aug 26, 2021 at 11:03 PM David G0MRF [email protected] wrote:
That is a really difficult decision.
Are you mainly going to be receiving data from space?
Then the main choice is to decide what data rates and modes you need to receive and transmit.
The first radio to remove from your list is the most popular radio with radio amateurs, the Icom IC9700. Great radio, but it cannot transmit or receive 9600 bps. You may want to ask the folks at Satnogs, who have a network of ground stations similar to yours.
They probably have a user group, but I don't know the details.
- A few years ago the IC910 would have been a really good choice.
Perhaps now it's an all SDR product from Ettus
https://www.ettus.com/products/
Another source of info would be one of the companies providing ground station equipment and installation.
https://www.isispace.nl/product-category/ground-stations/
Good luck.
David
-----Original Message----- From: Frederick Herrmann < [email protected]> To: AMSAT BB [email protected] Sent: Fri, 27 Aug 2021 8:42 Subject: [AMSAT-BB] [AMSAT BB] Recommendations for Transceiver & SDR
Aloha! Our team is planning a ground station. We plan on purchasing the M2 LEO Pack ( https://www.amsat.org/product/m2-leo-pack-antenna-system/ ). We would like recommendations for a good transceiver. Also for a good SDR. (We have so far been using $15 dongles.) Mahalo for all your help! Frederick Herrmann Makua Lani Christian Academy Kailua-Kona Hawaii
Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)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. Acceptable Use and Privacy Policies available at https://www.amsat.org/about-amsat/
View archives of this mailing list at https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to amsat-bb-leave(a)amsat.org Manage all of your AMSAT-NA mailing list preferences at https://mailman.amsat.org
Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)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. Acceptable Use and Privacy Policies available at https://www.amsat.org/about-amsat/
View archives of this mailing list at https://mailman.amsat.org/hyperkitty/list/[email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to amsat-bb-leave(a)amsat.org Manage all of your AMSAT-NA mailing list preferences at https://mailman.amsat.org
participants (3)
-
David G0MRF -
Frederick Herrmann -
Jean Marc Momple