[amsat-bb] Re: Success: AO-51 Heard This Morning!

[Bill Dzurilla]

You can make a dual band ground plane as simply as
this:
http://www.eham.net/articles/7005

If you prefer to buy, something like would work
nicely:
http://www.gigaparts.com/store.php?action=profile&sku=ZMF-1754

Or just put your Comet or other dual band vertical
somewhere on your roof.  Many people with flat roofs
even use a mag mount over a large cookie pan or other
sheet of metal.

In my (limited) experience, all vertical and omni
directional antennas work about the same, including
the expensive Eggbeaters.  They work fine as long as
the satellite is more than about 25 degrees elevation
above the horizon, which for most people is good
enough.  If you get serious about the sats and want to
work the lower elevations, an Arrow or other dual band
yagi will be needed, and you will have to rotate it,
either by hand or with a small rotator.

When you are ready to make a contact, remember that
AO-51 is busy and you need to talk quickly and
clearly, or else someone else will step all over you. 
You might want to start on a late night weekday pass
when it's not so busy, weekend afternoons are the
worst.  

73, Bill


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