Quick follow-up before I'm inundated; Of course I would resolve the antenna pointing pointing issue, pat

---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 9 Sep 2006 07:46:45 -0400 (EDT) From: McGrane tmcgrane@suffolk.lib.ny.us To: Amsat BB amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Mode B equipment for eagle

Greetings

In the past couple of years, I have set up a very cheap satellite station for mode B. I had a 2 meter all-mode mobile rig (FT480R) I paid 50 dollars for connected to a cushcraft 4 element Yagi beam. I purchased a 70 centimeter FT790RII for $125 and made a homebrew 8 element Yagi. Antennas are monted on single azimuth rotator mast and angled up about 10 degrees. This setup works extremely well for hamsat (VO-52).

Now, going from LEO hamsat to HEO Eagle, I will probably have to make a longer UHF yagi and add an amplifier, Also a longer VHF beam. I already have a mirage 2 meter amp with built in preamp. If the coax is short as it is now, I can use the amp's preamp.

I saw a reference in one of the flurry of emails mentioning a 1KW ERP SSB station for eagle. Right now, for UHF, I'm at about 250 watts ERP. Either adding an amp or making a new antenna will bring me up to 1KW ERP or more.

Am I on the right path?

Will I be able to add to this equipment to work Eagle or will something totally new be required for mode B ?

Thanks for ideas, Patrick N2OEQ