[amsat-bb] Re: Should I abandon full doppler correction?

[Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)]

Hi Tom!

> Should I abandon full doppler correction?

No!

If you have it at your station, great!  Take advantage of it,
but remember that not everyone will have the same setup
as you.

> Another less black-and-white step is that if I hear a station
> moving to adjust my settings so I am not doing full doppler.

That's a great way to go.  Then you are able to work anyone
from another station that is fully under computer control, to
those that may only have the computer controlling one of the
two frequencies, to those that are working without a computer
controlling the radios.  I'm in the latter category when I operate
in the field, with either two FT-817NDs or one 817 and a
TH-F6A HT (using its all-mode receiver to hear the downlinks).

I've noticed that many (most?) who work FO-29 tend to leave
the uplink frequency fixed and allow the downlink to drift due
to Doppler.  For the other two (AO-7, VO-52), it is more of a
mixed bag.  Anything from full computer control of both
uplink and downlink to no computer control at all.  If you have
your station fully computer controlled, you should be able to
set your software to stop controlling either - or both - of the
frequencies if you desire.  Some of us who don't have the
computer running the radios are able to compensate for those
with the computers, and be prepared to adjust both frequencies
if necessary.  Whatever it takes to make the QSO.  :-)

When I eventually get a home station, I will almost certainly
have a computer controlling my radio or radios for satellite
work.  When I operate in the field as I currently do, a computer
is another item that I have to ensure has power, be near the
radios so the computer cables reach each radio, and then deal
with being able to see the screen.  Until then, I will keep working
the transponders with my very portable station and have fun at
the same time.

Hopefully we can hook up sometime on one of those birds,
Tom.  73!





Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK
http://www.wd9ewk.net/