[amsat-bb] Radio options [WAS: TNC options?]

[Eric Christensen]

Jeff,
The IC-910H is the perfect transceiver for satellite operations.  The
IC-706MkIIG is only half-duplex and thus won't support satellite
operations properly.

I currently use a Yaesu FT-51R and a Kenwood TS-790A for my satellite
operations and love them both.  Full-duplex is very important, though,
to satellite operations.

73s,
Eric Christensen, W4OTN
AMSAT Area Coordinator - Southeastern Virginia USA
AMSAT Member 35360
http://www.ericsatcom.net



Jeff Mock wrote:
> This is a great question, I'm interested in the answer as well.  If I 
> can slightly hijack the question and expand it to radio choice as well. 
> What are the best radios for general amateur satellite work?
> 
> The IC-910H looks great, but is it overkill for amateur satellites?  It 
> seems like a lot of transmit power for most applications. Does you lose 
> anything by going with something like the IC-706MKIIG?  I would really 
> appreciate some expertise on choosing the right radio.
> 
> jeff
> 
> 
> Kevin Hartley wrote:
>> Greetings & Happy Holidays to all,
>>
>> After a 3yr hiatus, (IC910 sold   & packed away G3RUH dish & patch ant &
>> down converter after AO-40 died - plus I moved from ZL-land to VE7-land
>> which was a big distraction), I recently decided to get back into chasing
>> birds.  One of the deciding factors was my neighbour lost several big cedar
>> trees in his back yard in last year's wind-storms and I gained 120 deg of
>> unobstructed sky to the SW as a result! Re-joined AMSAT last month & signed
>> up to the BBS to watch & learn now I have a question to ask.
>>
>> Hope to start with LEOS (i.e. Echo) and other easy-sats, to get my skill
>> level up.  Seems to be absence of VE7s on Vancouver Island to ask for help
>> but I'm taking the plunge anyway!   Ordered a IC-910 & 23cm module & UHF
>> preamp as my Xmas present to myself, still waiting on Icom Canada to
>> deliver, but soon!  Starting out simple with an Arrow 2m/70cm antenna & a
>> 23cm loop yagi at a fixed 40deg angle, on a cheap TV rotor, with some good
>> info from Chip W7AIT who sent me all kinds of emails (thanks Chip!).
>>
>> My question is, I want to try packet/data on sats once the IC-910 arrives.
>> Have an old AEA PK-900 1200b TNC on the shelf unused.  Wondering if its a
>> good idea to spend the $$ to get Timewave upgrades to give it 9600b
>> capability?  OR perhaps better to pick up a new KPC-9612PLUS  for about the
>> same $$?  The brochure I read indicates the 9612 goes up to 34000 baud?
>> Really? Or are there other off-the-shelf options I'm not aware of that are
>> better? Want to give myself maximum flexibility for present & future birds
>> on packet, but not too complex, a radio engineer I'm not.
>>
>> I've ordered the AMSAT Digital Sat handbook a month ago, along with some
>> other books from the AMSAT store and they haven't arrived yet. But this is
>> more a real-world type question where I'm looking for answers from people
>> who've had experience with working sats and can recommend packet gear to buy
>> or tncs to stay away from?  Don't mind putting some time & effort into it,
>> but an off-the-shelf solution would work best for me.  Suggestions anyone?
>>
>> Hoping to be on the air soon from CN88!
>>
>> Thanks & 73,
>> Kevin  VE7OVY 
>>
>>
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> 
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