[amsat-bb] Re: Frustration

[w4upd]

I concur with what Drew states here. I am presently using (not by 
choice) a minimum setup with a 1/4 wave 2 meter homebrew groundplane for 
70cm reception. I have an in-shack pre-amp that I use when I get serious 
in working AO-71 but I hear it rather well above 20 degrees without the 
preamp. I am limited to about 20 degrees or higher due to using the 
ground plane and a Ringo Ranger II for the two meter up link. Above 20 
degrees the ground plan works well but the Ringo begins to lose signal 
due to radiation angle.

I recommend following Drew's suggestion and also insure that your array 
is pointed correctly. An 11 element array can be narrow enough to easily 
null out the signal if you are not in the 15 - 20 degrees beam width.

Reid, W4UPD


Andrew Glasbrenner wrote:
> Do you hear a noise increase when you power up the preamp? If not, are 
> you sure you are getting power to it? Can you hear terrestrial 
> repeaters, and does the signal change when you cycle the preamp power?
>
> Check your ins and outs on the preamp to make sure they didn't get 
> reversed. Same thing for any diplexer you may be using as a high pass 
> filter.
>
> More of the obvious...sure you are tracking correctly, and at the right 
> time?
>
> I wouldn't suspect any of the cabling or adapters other than one being 
> flat out broken. The preamp should easily overcome any shortcomings of 
> the cable you've described.
>
> 73, Drew KO4MA
>