[amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 V/S Mode Ops, Some Observations

[Andrew Glasbrenner]

If you use the 910 for receive you could use the AFC feature to tune the 
downlink with no software required (once you acquire the signal). An HT or 
other simple low power transmitter is fine for the VHF uplink, and doesn't 
need to be tuned.

SATPC32 will also tune the downlink provided you have it set up correctly 
with the downconverter offset.

I'm real happy to hear folks enjoyed the V/S period, and am also happy to 
say that during the imminent 100% illumination period (beginning at the end 
of the month and lasting until next year) we hope to be able to run the S 
band downlink more often, and perhaps as an independent repeater along with 
the normal V/U.

73, Drew KO4MA
AMSAT-NA VP Operations

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <k7zt at suddenlink.net>
To: <amsat-bb at amsat.org>; "Robert Felt" <robertfelt at bellsouth.net>
Cc: <kb5yzg at amsat.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2008 1:55 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 V/S Mode Ops, Some Observations


> Hi Bob:
> I too was on AO51 for the "S" Band event and I too found the doppler 
> tuning a challenge.
>
> I use Nova for the Antennas and Ham Radio Deluxe www.ham-radio-deluxe.com 
> for doppler.  It usually does a good job most of the time, but I must be 
> doing something wrong when using it on AO51 S band.
>
> HRD is a feature rich CAT Program and is freeware!
>
> 73's
> - Joe K7ZT
>
> ---- Robert Felt <robertfelt at bellsouth.net> wrote:
>> Thanks AMSAT for placing the AO-51 is V/S mode last week.
>>
>> It was the first time I have operated any S-band downlink. The AO-51 was 
>> really quiet on S-band downlink, not a lot of people yelling on top of 
>> each other and background noise was nil.
>>
>> I made some good  QSOs including - N8BBQ,  WB8OTH,  N5UXT,  N5AFV, 
>> KD8CAO,  N8TLV,  N5ZNL... and heard a lot more, but was too focused with 
>> the doppler to make contact.
>>
>> My station :
>> On the receive side I am using a home brew antenna based on a 36" "BBQ" 
>> grill with a 5 turn helix feed, connected directly to a model UEK-3000 
>> down converter (by SSB) , into my AOR AR-5000A3 receiver.
>>
>> The transmit side was with my Icom-910 into a 11 element yagi.
>>
>> Antenna: My old Kenpro 5400 rotator was controlled through the LVB 
>> interface using NOVA software on my laptop. I used the frequency utility 
>> in the NOVA s/w to calculate and display the doppler on the down link, 
>> which varied from +50 to -35 KHz on most passes!! The doppler really 
>> keeps you busy on S-band, as there is no CAT output (just display) on the 
>> NOVA software, and you have to crank in the doppler manually. NOVA 
>> tracking software is very powerful and user friendly, but lacks radio CAT 
>> output.  I would like to someday find a software program with the same or 
>> comparable look and feel as NOVA, but with CAT rig control interface in 
>> addition to the standard rotator interface. (SATPC is ok but has the look 
>> and feel (GUI) of an old 1980s DOS program).
>>
>> Is there a good CAT program rig control that I can run in the background 
>> while running NOVA for ant control and display?
>>
>> Anyway, Thanks AMSAT. Lets do this again some day.
>>
>> 73'  de KB5YZG
>>
>> Bob Felt
>> 1403 5th Ave West (EM85)
>> Hendersonville, NC 28739
>>
>> email - kb5yzg at amsat.org
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