[amsat-bb] Re: LEO's

Wed Jun 18 12:47:13 PDT 2008

When I sent my first email out I didn't mean to bash the HEOs in any way. I
just intended to get the point across that FM LEOs take the modest of setup
to get onto, and that complaining about the lack of HEOs isn't helping
anyone.

To be honest, if HEOs are like y'all describe them to be, I'll really enjoy
a good 20 minute QSO. I would like to see Eagle and P3E go up too, but none
of this complaining is helping the cause.

Again, I'm only 14. I do not have the money to go buy a nice radio (such as
the FT-817). The FM LEOs work well for me because I can use 2 HT's and a
homebrew yagi. If there's a HEO launched soon, I might take some money out
of my Dayton fund for a rig, but until then I'm going to be staying with the
LEOs.

On Wed, Jun 18, 2008 at 9:45 AM, Edward Cole <kl7uw at acsalaska.net> wrote:

> Interesting link to P3E.  Obvioulsy written in early 2007 and talks
> about P3E launch in mid-2007.  This is the only link I have seen that
> offers muli-lingual translation.  All other P3E pages are in
> German.  Has anyone found any info more up to date?  I believe this
> is how this topic got its start...wanting P3E info!
>
> Domenico states the situation, well, I think.  Any who actually
> experienced working AO-10/13/40 know that it does not take a
> complicated station.  It does take a SSB station and gain-type
> antennas vs. a dua-band HT with omni or Arrow antenna.  For other
> than mode-UV (what was called mode-B)(i.e. mode-VS, LS, and up) Leos
> are difficult to work due to high-rate Doppler change.  This is where
> computer-control of the radio is useful (maybe
> manditory).  Auto-tracking makes operating with gain-antennas on Leos
> less stressful.  But none of these were needed for operating
> AO-10/13/40.  I think those who added these features did so as a
> technical asset or for the enjoyment of the project.
>
> My old AO-40 antenna system will be restored sometime this summer and
> I may get around to installing auto-tuning/tracking.  Then I may show
> up on AO-7 occasionally when the Moon is too low to work.
>
> 73 Ed - KL7UW
>
> At 01:46 AM 6/18/2008, i8cvs wrote:
> >Hi Art, KC6UQH
> >
> >You are correct 100% because the HEO AO40 was very easy to work
> >using any old TX capable to run about 50 to 100 watt into 70 cm CW and SSB
> >
> >A 3 to 4 foot dish with a 2400/144 MHz downconverter in the focal point
> and
> >connected to any old 144 MHz CW/SSB receiver mounted on the balcony was
> >sufficient to receive a nice downlink from all over the world by many
> users
> >at the same time for many hours every day.
> >
> >No complicated TX/RX radios and special software was necessary to
> compensate
> >for doppler just made by hand.
> >
> >In my opinion from the operational point of view and communication
> >efficiency the LEO FM satellites belong to the OCEA i.e. the "Office
> >Complicating Easy Affair ".
> >
> >Unfortunately the young radio hams cannot understand what you writes
> because
> >they were not fortunate enought to start their satellite experience with
> >OSCAR-10 OSCAR-13 and the beautiful AO40 and this is why they are happy
> with
> >the existing FM birds.
> >
> >Pulling for P3E...
> >
> >http://www.p3e-satellite.org/index.pl?step=pixelliste
> >
> >73" de
> >
> >i8CVS Domenico
> >
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "kc6uqh" <kc6uqh at cox.net>
> >To: "John Geiger" <aa5jg at lcisp.com>; <amsat-bb at AMSAT.Org>; <w0dxz at aol.com
> >
> >Sent: Wednesday, June 18, 2008 7:36 AM
> >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: LEO's
> >
> >
> > > >From my perspective HEO's are much easier to work. The doppler and the
> > > antenna pointing go much slower. With a home brew antennas including a
> 10
> > > turn helix on a 6' stepladder I worked stations from UK to Japan and
> all
> > > parts in between on AO40. I used old radios and homebrew converters
> > > including a modified LNB.
> > >
> > > A minmal setupI hung a 2M ht on a drop tap to read the signal strength
> of
> > > the beacon. Adjusted the PrimeStar dish for strongest signal and
> eyeballed
> > > the helix to be in line with the dish. I had many QSO's and one of the
> > > better signals on the bird.
> > >
> > > You can't have a 20 minute QSO on a LEO.
> > > Unless you have a computer controled station, you are spending most of
> >your
> > > time making adjustments. This leaves little time to learn and the best
> >part
> > > of it is the panic only lasts for 15 minutes.
> > > The overhead part of the pass is crazy!
> > > FM makes the doppler easy to handle, but any antenna with more than 6
> dB
> >of
> > > gain becomes a pointing nightmere.
> > > Art,
> > > KC6UQH
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "John Geiger" <aa5jg at lcisp.com>
> > > To: <amsat-bb at amsat.org>; <w0dxz at aol.com>
> > > Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 8:22 AM
> > > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: LEO's
> > >
> > >
> > > > Hi Bob,
> > > >
> > > > I agree completely with what you say. Many people who don't think
> they
> > > > have
> > > > the equipment for the satellites really do-like a dualband FM rig and
> a
> > > > small yagi.  I wouldn't be on the sats either if I hadn't started on
> the
> > > > FM
> > > > sats and found out how easy using them was.  Had a nice AO51 pass a
> few
> > > > minutes ago also.
> > > >
> > > > 73s John AA5JG
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: <w0dxz at aol.com>
> > > > To: <amsat-bb at AMSAT.Org>
> > > > Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 11:32 AM
> > > > Subject: [amsat-bb] LEO's
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >> RE:? Usefullness of LEO's...
> > > >>
> > > >> I think there should always be at least one accessable LEO-FM
> bird...
> >for
> > > > the very reason that some (WB6LLO) think there should not be. It gets
> >you
> > > > started with satellites.
> > > >>
> > > >> If I had not gone to a hamfest and seen Patrick demo use of the FM
> >birds,
> > > > I would not now be active on not only FM birds, but? the all mode
> birds
> >as
> > > > well. Without the FM birds, the? imtimidation factor would have been
> too
> > > > much, I never would have gotten started.
> > > >>
> > > >> Every hobby needs an easy entry level possibility... for many it is
> the
> > > > LEO's, FM.
> > > >>
> > > >> When I bought my first Harley, a Sportster,,, many said oh, a
> beginners
> > > > Harley, yeah, maybe, but I would never have? bought a motorcycle? if
> I
> >had
> > > > to buy a full dresser as my first bike.? And yes, my first gun was a
> >.410,
> > > > not a 12 gauge.? And I learned to snorkel before I learned to SCUBA.
> > > >>
> > > >> FM LEO's have a purpose, a use. Not everyone can? chase the other
> >birds.
> > > > Live and let live. That is the fun part of the ham radio hobbyt,
> there
> >is
> > > > something for everyone.
> > > >> There may be complaints about LEO-FM birds that are justifiable,
> but?
> >the
> > > > fact that you can work one with a HT is not one of those arguments.
> > > >> Bob W0DXZ DM33
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >_______________________________________________
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> _______________________________________________
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-- 
73's
Andrew K.
KE5GDB
http://www.thathamkid.com