I am a new owner of the TH D72 by Kenwood. I'm having a bit of difficulty with a few default settings and was hoping am ore experienced user could pass on a few tips. My understanding is that I cannot save duplex setups into the memory channels. I am manually entering the necessary frequencies for AO 85 and SO 50. Each time I put a new frequency in the radio defaults to a 25khz step and the tone defaults to 88.5 Hz. I want to have 67Hz and 5khz steps as default. There has to be a better way of using the radio for satellites (my only use) then manually entering each frequency and then manually changing each default but I haven't found it in the manual yet. Any help for a smoother experience would be appreciated. I can barely remember to go outside in time for each pass, let alone remember to go through all the keypad functions. Thanks! ZachN4ERZ
I have one, and I set it up with the software. (Actually I think I used an opensource software package of some sort, but I don't now remember the name). I have not touched the setup in a while, but I don't remember the issue you were talking about, although I do think you have to use a separate channel for uplink and downlink. But one nice thing (if I remember right): Isn't the data connection a regular USB mini so you don't need to pay huge amounts for a special cable?
Anyway, my main problem is that things seem very hard to find--so much APRS and TNC stuff on the keypad that things like power are hiding in menus.
On Tue, Jan 12, 2016 at 6:26 PM, zach hillerson via AMSAT-BB < amsat-bb@amsat.org> wrote:
I am a new owner of the TH D72 by Kenwood. I'm having a bit of difficulty with a few default settings and was hoping am ore experienced user could pass on a few tips. My understanding is that I cannot save duplex setups into the memory channels. I am manually entering the necessary frequencies for AO 85 and SO 50. Each time I put a new frequency in the radio defaults to a 25khz step and the tone defaults to 88.5 Hz. I want to have 67Hz and 5khz steps as default. There has to be a better way of using the radio for satellites (my only use) then manually entering each frequency and then manually changing each default but I haven't found it in the manual yet. Any help for a smoother experience would be appreciated. I can barely remember to go outside in time for each pass, let alone remember to go through all the keypad functions. Thanks! ZachN4ERZ _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Zach,
You are correct. You cannot program memory channels on a TH-D72 where the transmit and receive frequencies are in different bands. You will need to use the lower VFO (VFO B) for your transmit/uplink frequency, and the upper VFO (VFO A) for your receive/downlink frequency. This means you will be switching VFOs when adjusting your receive frequency when working SO-50 and LilacSat-2. Depending on the pass, you may not need to adjust your receive frequency when working AO-85, focusing only on the transmit frequency.
The radio will save the settings like tuning step and PL tone, once you set them. These settings are specific to each band and VFO. What you have in VFO A does not carry over to VFO B, nor do the settings for the 2m band in one VFO carry over to the 70cm band (or vice versa). These suggestions are in addition to what I e-mailed you directly a few days ago.
In addition to working FM satellites, the packet/APRS part of this HT is capable of being used to make packet QSOs via the digipeaters on NO-84 and the ISS. I have used APRS messages to do this, working only with the HT's keypad. It is like typing out SMS messages on a flip-type mobile phone, but it is possible. Exchanges are similar to what you would do on any other satellite, just done quickly to get the information to the other station and so you can get the other station's exchange. Using APRS messages means you will have copies of what you send to other stations, along with messages from other stations back to you, stored in the HT.
Good luck, and 73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK
On Tue, Jan 12, 2016 at 11:26 PM, zach hillerson via AMSAT-BB < amsat-bb@amsat.org> wrote:
I am a new owner of the TH D72 by Kenwood. I'm having a bit of difficulty with a few default settings and was hoping am ore experienced user could pass on a few tips. My understanding is that I cannot save duplex setups into the memory channels. I am manually entering the necessary frequencies for AO 85 and SO 50. Each time I put a new frequency in the radio defaults to a 25khz step and the tone defaults to 88.5 Hz. I want to have 67Hz and 5khz steps as default. There has to be a better way of using the radio for satellites (my only use) then manually entering each frequency and then manually changing each default but I haven't found it in the manual yet. Any help for a smoother experience would be appreciated. I can barely remember to go outside in time for each pass, let alone remember to go through all the keypad functions.
To add to that, also be aware that the VFO order is important! if you swap TX and RX, this rig does NOT allow duplex. it is only full duplex when your TX is on VFO B and RX on VFO A. You can only enable the duplex mode while on VFO B. This is different to the true full duplex of the TH-D7.
Additionally, the TH-D72 has both narrow and wide FM deviations. be aware of this. I believe the common practice in satellite operation is still FM wide (or normal) and *not* narrow.
73
Wouter PA3WEG
On Wed, Jan 13, 2016 at 5:10 AM, Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) < amsat-bb@wd9ewk.net> wrote:
Zach,
You are correct. You cannot program memory channels on a TH-D72 where the transmit and receive frequencies are in different bands. You will need to use the lower VFO (VFO B) for your transmit/uplink frequency, and the upper VFO (VFO A) for your receive/downlink frequency. This means you will be switching VFOs when adjusting your receive frequency when working SO-50 and LilacSat-2. Depending on the pass, you may not need to adjust your receive frequency when working AO-85, focusing only on the transmit frequency.
The radio will save the settings like tuning step and PL tone, once you set them. These settings are specific to each band and VFO. What you have in VFO A does not carry over to VFO B, nor do the settings for the 2m band in one VFO carry over to the 70cm band (or vice versa). These suggestions are in addition to what I e-mailed you directly a few days ago.
In addition to working FM satellites, the packet/APRS part of this HT is capable of being used to make packet QSOs via the digipeaters on NO-84 and the ISS. I have used APRS messages to do this, working only with the HT's keypad. It is like typing out SMS messages on a flip-type mobile phone, but it is possible. Exchanges are similar to what you would do on any other satellite, just done quickly to get the information to the other station and so you can get the other station's exchange. Using APRS messages means you will have copies of what you send to other stations, along with messages from other stations back to you, stored in the HT.
Good luck, and 73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK
On Tue, Jan 12, 2016 at 11:26 PM, zach hillerson via AMSAT-BB < amsat-bb@amsat.org> wrote:
I am a new owner of the TH D72 by Kenwood. I'm having a bit of
difficulty
with a few default settings and was hoping am ore experienced user could pass on a few tips. My understanding is that I cannot save duplex setups into the memory channels. I am manually entering the necessary frequencies for AO 85 and SO 50. Each time I put a new frequency in the radio defaults to a 25khz step and the tone defaults to 88.5 Hz. I want to have 67Hz and 5khz
steps
as default. There has to be a better way of using the radio for satellites (my only use) then manually entering each frequency and then manually changing
each
default but I haven't found it in the manual yet. Any help for a smoother experience would be appreciated. I can barely remember to go outside in time for each pass, let alone remember to go through all the keypad functions.
Sent via AMSAT-BB@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. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (4)
-
Burns Fisher -
Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) -
Wouter Weggelaar -
zach hillerson