[amsat-bb] Re: IC9100 and SATPC32

[Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)]

> W5IU does very well with the FT-1634.  (Two FT-817s.)  Standing room only at
> Dayton.  Of course being set up in a parking lot may have something to do
> with that.  ;)

The two-817 all-mode satellite station works great.  I do that as well, and
sometimes go with one 817 and use a TH-F6A as the downlink receiver.
Without a home station, these smaller radios are perfect at demonstrations
or just operating from wherever I happen to be.  Other than my Elk log
periodic antenna and items deemed unsuitable for carry-on luggage,
everything fits in a laptop bag for air travel.  This station went to places
across the US along with Canada and Mexico during 2010, and will make
the trip to Australia next week.

With all of that said, the IC-9100 looks like a neat radio.  Maybe a working
model will be at Dayton next week, so someone could at least check it for
things like birdies in the satellite subbands.  Too bad it probably won't be
hooked up to antennas suitable for satellite operating, unless it could
possibly be taken outside to the AMSAT demo area for W5IU to run it
through its paces during some passes.  :-)  The price is a bit high, but at
least Icom hasn't abandoned this corner of our hobby.

73!




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