... I wish some of the "self-proclaimed" experts would tell these people
that if they cannot hear themselves on the downlink that does not mean that they are not keying the satellite.
I know of no "self-proclaimed expert" who is teaching anything other than "working full-duplex on the FM LEOs is the preferred method of operation ... "
And I am still finding audiences who appreciate knowing that they already own most of the equipment necessary to successfully work these birds.
One of the very first reception reports of the ARISSat-1 project was from a gentleman using a handheld radio - and its stock antenna. I know of MANY "self-proclaimed experts" who advise that that is not the best way to go ... (grin)
I am very proud of the on-the-air operations that I hear here on the West Coast. I mean, I am in the most-populous region of the nation's most populous state - so the potential for poor operating methods are greater. But we're doing quite fine.
Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com
I do think we need to be careful that we don't send the message that you must have a complex (and expensive) station to work the FM sats. I wouldn't want someone interested in the sats to give up because they thought they needed circularly polarized yagis, elevations rotors, mast mounted preamps, and computer control for doppler shift.
My current FM satellite station cost me right around $200. I spent $99 for a used Kenwood TM251 FM rig, which has the most sensitive UHF receiver that QST has reviewed, $45 for a dualband Arrow antennas J pole, and $45 for a 50 foot run of 9913flex coax. I already had a power supply so I didn't figure that into the total cost. Is it the "best" satellite station one could assemble? Not by a long shot. But I can hear most of every pass, with some fades, and still have a good time on the sats while making lots of QSOs.
I do miss AO51, though.
73s John AA5JG
On Fri, Jan 20, 2012 at 12:28 PM, Clint Bradford clintbradford@mac.comwrote:
... I wish some of the "self-proclaimed" experts would tell these people
that if they cannot hear themselves on the downlink that does not mean that they are not keying the satellite.
I know of no "self-proclaimed expert" who is teaching anything other than "working full-duplex on the FM LEOs is the preferred method of operation ... "
And I am still finding audiences who appreciate knowing that they already own most of the equipment necessary to successfully work these birds.
One of the very first reception reports of the ARISSat-1 project was from a gentleman using a handheld radio - and its stock antenna. I know of MANY "self-proclaimed experts" who advise that that is not the best way to go ... (grin)
I am very proud of the on-the-air operations that I hear here on the West Coast. I mean, I am in the most-populous region of the nation's most populous state - so the potential for poor operating methods are greater. But we're doing quite fine.
Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com
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
Whenever I do a satellite demo with my 910H, Gulf Alpha CP antennas, az/el rotors, and computer control, I always take along an HT and a tape measure beam & show my audience that the FM birds *can* be worked with a much simpler setup.
HOWEVER, I always stress the same rule of thumb that applies to HF operations: "if you can't hear 'em, you can't work 'em", so if they *don't* hear the bird, STOP trying, and find & fix the problem...
George, KA3HSW
----- Original Message ----
From: John Geiger aa5jg@fidmail.com To: Clint Bradford clintbradford@mac.com Cc: AMSAT BB amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Fri, January 20, 2012 1:55:57 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Getting "Cheep" ...
I do think we need to be careful that we don't send the message that you must have a complex (and expensive) station to work the FM sats. I wouldn't want someone interested in the sats to give up because they thought they needed circularly polarized yagis, elevations rotors, mast mounted preamps, and computer control for doppler shift.
[snip]
participants (3)
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Clint Bradford -
George Henry -
John Geiger