[amsat-bb] Re: AO40 contacts and more

[k6yk]

Yes sir! 
Lot of used stuff around these days that will work just fine on the
current birds as well as  terrestrial  HF/VHF/UHF work. 
I have a couple of  FT-100D's  that are  160 thru 6 meters plus 2 M and 
70 CM  all mode.   I was using them to replace the FT-847, as well as  
using them for backup HF rigs.    

Those FT-100's and the  IC-706 seem to be available used for reasonable
prices if
you shop around ..  And a few IC-7000's are showing up, too.  Nice little
all-in-one radios.   Folks who have not yet been on HF would be able to
get
some exposure, and possibly get interested enough to upgrade. 

Well, 50 years ago, used HF rigs such as Heathkits, WRL, Hallicrafters,
etc.could be 
gotten pretty cheap, even for a 14 year old kid, I think I paid probably
$60 or
$70 for a transmitter and receiver that worked well enough to get on the
air. 
Made my own antennas. 

I'm sorry I didn't bite the bullet and get a 70CM  rig a long time ago. 
I bought 
probably 4 or 5  HF rigs while  AO-10 and AO-13 were going strong  and 
never got on AO-10 until it was on it's last legs. Missed AO-13 except
for
copying the bulletins from the beacon on RTTY! 

73,
John


 
On Fri, 04 Feb 2011 13:48:32 +1100 Tony Langdon <vk3jed at gmail.com>
writes:
> At 01:18 PM 2/4/2011, k6yk wrote:
> >
> >I saw a mention of an issue  of  folks not wanting to make a big
> >investment in satellite stuff to work SSB/CW.
> >
> >ALL of the original ham satellites were SSB/CW birds. No FM.
> >And most hams already had enough equipment to get started.  The
> >uplinks were on 2 meters or 70CM (that took a little more doing),
> >the downlinks were on HF or 2 meters.   Some of the RS birds
> >where  HF up and HF down, and HF up, 2 meters down.  Interesting
> >stuff!
> 
> 70cm SSB radios weren't common here, only the serious UHF DXers and 
> 
> satellite operators had one.  Thankfully, this situation has changed 
> 
> over the last 10 years, thanks to the all in one radios that are on 
> 
> the market.  I myself have gone from no 70cm SSB capability, to no 
> fewer than 3 suitable radios in the last year.  2m SSB was a lot 
> more 
> common here, has been for many years.  I've had 2m SSB myself for 
> over 10 years, and have at least 4 radios now that can do it.
> 
> As you'd expect, HF is common down here, but are VHF/UHF FM only 
> radios, both mobile and HTs, especially near the major cities.
> 
> 
> >Most folks had  HF gear to start off in ham radio. I did not have 
> an HT
> >until I was a ham for probably 20 years.
> 
> I was the opposite.  Economics made it easier for me to start with a 
> 
> 2m HT.  I didn't have an all band HF transceiver until 2000, when 
> secondhand prices had come down enough, and I had the money to pick 
> 
> one up secondhand.  Still got that radio too. :)
> 
> 
> >Nowadays there is a LOT of  VHF/UHF multi mode gear floating 
> around
> >the used market for reasonable prices.  Also the antennas are 
> available,
> >sometimes
> >for real cheap, or  haul it away for free. Keep your eyes and ears 
> open.
> 
> Many more opportunities now.  There has never been a better time to 
> 
> try SSB on the birds.
> 
> >Hams are supposed to be resourceful and innovative!
> >
> >And I went and sold my FT-847 which was about the most expensive 
> rig I
> >ever
> >bought!  Don't need it for these FM birds, I just use a dual-band 
> mobile
> >rig, works
> >just as well.
> 
> I've just upgraded and got radios with VHF/UHF SSB 
> capabilities.  This will be used both terrestrially (I have used one 
> 
> to gather telemetry from a balloon launch on 70cm) and hopefully on 
> 
> the sats.  These days it's good how a simply HF upgrade can give one 
> 
> so much more.  And there's the bonus FT-736 as a "hand me down" from 
> 
> a ham friend, in appreciation for the help I've given him over the 
> years with antennas and other projects. :)
> 
> 73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL
> http://vkradio.com
> 
> 
 
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