[amsat-bb] Re: Ham HT

[John Mock KD6PAG]

At this point, unless one is going to use a separate radio for transmit and
receive, the only new HT i can recommend is the Kenwood TH-D7A[G].  Right
now, it's the only rig which can still operate in full-duplex.  Full-duplex
operation is essential in mode J-FM or you are likely to either cause QRM
or waste valuable satellite transponder time.

To test a radio for full duplex operation, make sure you bring headphones
when you test a radio.  Listen to a weather service station on one band
(with headphones) and transmit briefly on 446.0 MHz (or other suitable UHF
channel).  If the weather service broadcast is uninterrupted while you
transmit, then you have a radio suitable for mode J-FM.  This should be
helpful in evaluating a used HT.

If you're going to use two radios, then the TH-F6A is a decent choice. I
found it to be adequately sensitive if i gave it a good antenna, and with
an unmodified downconverter, i used it as the receive side to work AO-40.
With an antenna similar in gain to an Arrow satellite antenna, i've also
heard FO-29, AO-7 and VO-52 well enough to work people given a suitable
up-link radio.
		         -- KD6PAG  (Networking Old-Timer, Satellite QRPer)