[amsat-bb] Re: Golf in space

[William Leijenaar]

Hi AMSATs,

Golf-Ball-Sat... sounds interresting, but dreams are
not reallity.

Anyone ever tried to get some radio with good RF
spectrum in a golfball ??? An CW carrier might work,
but a transponder is a quiet different job...

Then the size is very small, and generating enough
energy is not possible. Even when there is enough
power for an oscillator to run it will generate far to
low RF to be received on earth by general users. 

Then the golf-balls idea with the long wires, I think
NASA/ESA will never agree with it. Think about the
cenario that an astronaut/cosmonaut get stuck in these
wires... Not a nice idea :o(

Better keep it on a real satellite, with some more
power and longer lifetime. For the last 6 months I am
working on a mini-mode-uv-transponder, with a good RF
performance. I can say it is not an easy task. The
prototype is working well and my next idea is to make
it available for HAMs.

The design has PLL controlled oscillators what makes
it very flexible in use (Local, satellite, repeater
etc). Power is 100mW PEP, and I even included a CW
beacon that can be programmed by RS232. This all on a
single PCB 10cmx8cmx1cm in size.

I am still working on it, and there is still a lot to
do (mainly software) in my little free time...
So more to be followed...

Maybe this will make some more interrest in linear
transponders usage and transponder technology...

73 de PE1RAH
William
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