[amsat-bb] Re: FT-817 Hmmm

[B J]

--- On Thu, 6/24/10, Don <don1018 at comcast.net> wrote:

> From: Don <don1018 at comcast.net>
> Subject: [amsat-bb]  FT-817 Hmmm
> To: amsat-bb at amsat.org
> Received: Thursday, June 24, 2010, 5:51 PM
> The FT-817 appears to be a popular
> rig among satellite users of the fm
> birds.  As they a all mode rigs I wonder how well they
> would work for a
> linear  transponder set up? Rigs for that use are a
> little hard to come by.
> I am hoping to move in that direction some time. However it
> kind of needs to
> be portable as I am surrounded by trees at  my house.

<snip>

I set up my FT-817 for working the HO-68 linear transponder a while ago and made some contacts last week.  I had some problems in hearing responses to my calls, so I corrected the settings for some of the memories.

Right now, the frequency increment of 500 Hz provides reasonable coverage for the downlink.  I switch between the memories and the VFO during a pass, using the latter to check the satellite's location by tuning in the beacon.

I'll try again when the satellite's in SSB mode and see what happens.

73s

Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL