[amsat-bb] New User-New Station-Antennas-ADVICE?

[Dean Maluski]

Realizing I need to crawl before I can walk but need to have a goal.

I've grown a strong interest in working SATS, have a few bucks and am
rebuilding my station for SATS from the ground up.
Been reading the G Gould Smith "Getting Started..." book I picked up in
Boxboro, MA at a fest a couple months ago.

I replaced my Kenwood 440 with a TS-2000 without the 1.2 GHz option,
thinking I may add 1.2 GHz next spring.

Added a 4 inch conduit to my tower with a 7/8 hard line and a run of
Jetstream LMR 400+ tagged RG-8U on jacket but specs are better than LMR
400 figure I'll use the Jetstream for 2 meter, or transmit side of
things.

Took down my 20 meter monoband beam, Purchased and mounted a Yaesu
G-5500 (Separated).
Ordered a Gulf-Alpha Gen purpose 2 meter H/V 440 V yagi, yes I also want
to work land locked stuff too.

LINUX!! Linux!! LINUX if possible ONLY-Seem good to go now with GPREDICT
1.1 and 1.2, 1.2 seems to not update rotor correctly but just got it
going this morning. Running 1.1 on another machine over LAN and seems to
work better.

I have a 40 foot 1943 steel tower for what it's worth, it's a thing of
beauty!!

My vision is to eventually move the Gulf Alpha antenna to the center
mast.

Here is where my questions come to play....????
What do I want for bird anteena's?
My biggest interest is packet and flying mailboxes/HEO/Eventually EME
possibly.

Thinking my next antenna purchase would be the Gulf Alpha 440 and 2
meter circular polarity antennas and the phasing assy to switch
polarity????

I have ample 4 port switches that can be used to switch at tower but of
course less is more as I don't want to go switch crazy and add more
attenuation to system than absolutely necessary.

I see SSB has some nice pre-amps, NEED I suspect eventually..

I'm getting stir crazy waiting for arrival of Yagi, one more day on
tower and I should be complete except for arrival of Gulf Alpha Yagi
that he is building.

Not really sure what my question is. Reading and reading, trying not to
buy too ,many unnecessary components while I impatiently wait for
antenna to arrive but forward thinking as I finalize tower today, need
to re-mount my WX station and security camera. Also adding a camera
behind garage to look up at top of tower so I can see what the heck is
going on with rotors-COOL!

In mounting WX station, need to stay high as possible but of course
can't interefere with back end of Yagi's

Antenna advice, any advise if someone has the time? Hope to QSO soon
with ya'll on the birds. Been listening on a vertical but question the
doppler accuracy so have not attempted to transmit yet.