[amsat-bb] Re: Kenwood TH-F6A for AO-51 / SO-50??

[Jim Leder]

Guy, I have an FT-857D in my car and an old Kenwood TM-G707A in the shack. 
While neither will do full duplex either, both do a nice job on cross band. 
The TH-F6A won't do cross band, but it still works just fine as I described 
the method I use.

Good luck 73 ...

     Jim Bob Buckeye
            AKA
  **** Jim Leder****
    K8CXM since 1961
 IBM retiree since 1999

There are 10 types of people in this world -- those who understand binary
and those who don't.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Guy Brauning" <guyjeanbraun at comcast.net>
To: "'Jim Leder'" <k8cxm at fuse.net>
Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2008 2:16 PM
Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Kenwood TH-F6A for AO-51 / SO-50??


> Jim,
>  Thanks very much for the detailed information about the TH-F6A.  It 
> sounds
> like, based on your experience, it will work very well for my intended 
> use.
> I have programmed my FT-817 in a very similar manner to that which you
> described for the TH-F6A except that the 817 allows for split band memory
> storage so you don't have to manually switch VFOs while switching from TX 
> to
> RX to compensate for Doppler, you just step through the preprogrammed
> memories which are set up for Doppler on both TX and RX frequencies.  I
> think I could get used to working the TH-F6A the way you have described.
> (SO-50 is a lot tougher to work than AO-51.)Thanks a million!
>
> CUL,
>  Guy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jim Leder [mailto:k8cxm at fuse.net]
> Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2008 1:42 PM
> To: Amsat; Guy Brauning
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Kenwood TH-F6A for AO-51 / SO-50??
>
> I have used my Kenwood TH-F6A along with an Arrow antenna, and IMHO it 
> works
>
> just fine. You do need to get it programmed right and you need to get used
> to switching between VFOs as you track the satellite and the Doppler 
> effect
> on frequency. It is NOT a full duplex radio like the W32A, and you will 
> not
> be able to hear yourself, but I have never felt that's been a problem.. I
> programmed mine to transmit on one VFO (uplink) and be able to receive on
> several different frequencies (downlink) on the other VFO. On the transmit
> VFO, the squelch is closed all the way, while on the receive VFO, it's 
> open
> all the way. So, VFO A is set for uplink of 145.920 on memory channel 150
> and on memory channels 152-153 I have them programmed for 435.290 and
> 435.295 (downlink which is in VFO B). 154 is center frequency of 435.300 
> and
>
> of course 155 and 156 are set to 435.305 and 435.310. By switching between
> VFOs I can change downlink channels/frequencies to fit the Doppler shift. 
> A
> little cumbersome, but that little radio works very well. You can follow a
> similar scheme on the QRP channel of AO51 (mine is 160-166) and SO50 (mine
> is 170-176-get the picture). I have made several contacts with it on the 
> QRP
>
> channels but have had no luck on SO50, which is a lot more difficult
> satellite to hear.
> I'm using it because it's what I had, and I'm happy to say with a little
> use and practice you quickly get the hang of it.
> Of course, either the W32A or the Kenwood TH-D7A do FULL duplex, but both
> are no longer in production. Hearing yourself is nice, but not necessary.
>
>     Jim Bob Buckeye
>            AKA
>  **** Jim Leder****
>    K8CXM since 1961
> IBM retiree since 1999
>
> There are 10 types of people in this world -- those who understand binary
> and those who don't.
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Guy Brauning" <guyjeanbraun at comcast.net>
> To: <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
> Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2008 12:06 PM
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Kenwood TH-F6A for AO-51 / SO-50??
>
>
>> Thanks for reading this.  I am considering buying an HT for AO-51 and
>> SO-50
>> as well as AO-27 (hopefully!).  I have been using a Yaesu FT-817 and
>> either
>> an Arrow or Elk antenna and this has worked very well; however, an HT
>> would
>> be easier to carry around.  I am looking for recommendations / warnings /
>> etc. specific to the Kenwood TH-F6A.  I would like some advice from those
>> who have used the radio for satellite work before I shell out $320.00.  I
>> seriously considered a used IC-W32A on e-bay but it went for over $150.00
>> and I couldn't see paying that much for something that may or may not 
>> work
>> properly.  Any insights would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>>
>>
>> Guy
>>
>> N3SCR
>>
>> Finksburg, MD
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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