[amsat-bb] Re: Equipment to receive 5.8GHz

[Mike Seguin]

Hi James,

I used my Down East Microwave 5.760 transverter. This is the system I 
use terrestrially. It uses a 2M (144 MHz) IF. The antenna is a 2 ft dish 
with Directive Systems feed.

What I did was simply hook my Funcube Dongle to the IF port of the 
transverter and set it for 224 MHz (5.84 - 5.76 = .08 MHz -- so 144 + 80 
= 224)

I did test the system at 5.84 GHz with a signal source and saw the 
output was down about 15 dB from 5.76 GHz, but I figured "close enough" 
for a try.

It worked! I just received my FITSAT-1 NIWAKA SWL card for 5.84 GHz in 
the mail.

I have not tried to decode data. That is a whole other game. They are 
transmitting at 115k2 baud.

I have added a preamp to my system and tests show it makes up for most 
of the losses I incur going up in frequency. So I'm hoping to try 
receiving again.

The attempt will have to be set up with the FITSAT command team as the 
5.84 G downlink is only turned on when the satellite is in a particular 
orientation based on the position of the receiving ground station. It is 
on for just 2 minutes.

Also, be aware that the doppler can be pretty severe - it was over 100 
kHz during the pass I heard.

Mike, N1JEZ
AMSAT 29649


---
73,
Mike, N1JEZ
"A closed mouth gathers no feet"

On Wed, 19 Dec 2012 14:23:32 -0600, James Luhn wrote:
> I am looking for some information on how to receive 5.8GHz.  What
> devices are used to receive this frequency?  I have the capability to
> receive up to 2.4GHz but I am not sure what is available to receive
> data on 5.8GHz.
>
> As always, thanks a million for everyone's support.
>
> 73,
> -james
> W5AOO