[amsat-bb] Re: Opinions on ICOM 1271 1.2 ghz rig for satellite use?

[Edward R. Cole]

At 08:39 PM 11/17/2006 -0800, Greg D. wrote:
>
>Hi folks,
>
>Not owning a 1.2 ghz rig, and it apparently being a strong preference for 
>Eagle, I've been on the lookout for a way to get on that band.  A 
>more-or-less local ham has an ICOM 1271 rig for sale.  How would this rig be 
>for satellite work?  What would be a reasonable price?
>
>With 10 watts out, and about a 60' run to the roof (about 50' of that would 
>probably be hardline), would I need a massive antenna to get any kind of 
>signal into the bird?
>
>The alternative is probably to find a one of those rare 1.2 ghz modules for 
>my Yaesu FT-737R, or some sort of transverter driven from my Yaesu FT-736R 
>or FT-767 (50/144/430 modules installed).  What do you think?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Greg  KO6TH

Greg,

Thew IC 1271 is fine for mode-L.

50-foot of 1/2-inch hardline has 1.4 dB loss at 1296 MHz (about 72% of your
power reaches the antenna).  So say you get 7w at the antenna.

It has been said that the min EIRP one needs for mode-L with a HEO like
Eagle is 1000w.  You would need 23 dBi of antenna gain with 7w to produce
1000w EIRP.  Two 45-element loop-yagis would do it, or a 4-foot dish.  A
4-foot dish is theoretically too small to work correctly at 1296, but for
transmitting-only it probably would suffice (it will have large sidelobes).

For better mode-L operation one should try for 2000-4000w EIRP and that
usually implies more power to the antenna or much bigger antennas.

On AO-40 I ran 9w into a single 45-element loop-yagi with very marginal
performance (one s-unit above noise floor on 2401 MHz)...really not
adequate for anything other than CW.
73's,
Ed - KL7UW 
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