[amsat-bb] Re: A viable FD satellite operation

[Rolf Krogstad]

Sorry, I forgot to say it makes a  difference because of Magnetic
Declination - the difference between magnetic north and true north.


On Wed, May 22, 2013 at 6:37 AM, Rolf Krogstad <rolf.krogstad at gmail.com>wrote:

> Jim makes a good point.  Know where the points of the compass are.
>
> And, depending on where you are located, that is not as simple as just
> taking out a compass.
> It can make a fair amount of difference if you are in the western states
> of the US and not so much, if any, if you are in some place like Pensacola,
> Florida.
>
> NOAA has a calculator:  http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag-web/#declination
>
> 73
> Rolf   NR0T
> EN34
> Amsat-NA #38889
>
>
> On Tue, May 21, 2013 at 11:39 PM, Jim Jerzycke <kq6ea at verizon.net> wrote:
>
>> You're definitely approaching it in the right way, Bill!
>>
>> An FT-847 is an excellent satellite rig, and in combination with a small
>> gain antenna, will be an excellent station.
>>
>> The 50 Watts the '847 provides is more than enough RF power, even with
>> the Arrow, or similar Elk, antenna.
>>
>> A preamps are highly recommended, especially with a smaller antenna.
>>
>> Use a diplexer "in reverse" to help get rid of desense. It's more
>> important than you'd think.
>>
>>  http://www.amsat.org/amsat-**new/articles/Mode-J/<http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/articles/Mode-J/>
>>
>> A few other tips to help you.......
>>
>> If you're going to be running tracking software, like SatPC32, make SURE
>> your PC has the correct time set!
>>
>> An error of 10~15 seconds may not sound like much, but it can cause you
>> point your antennas wrong, and ruin a pass.
>>
>> Same with your Lat/Lon. I use a GPS, which also supplies an accurate
>> clock to the laptop, but a lot of people get by with just using grid
>> squares.
>>
>> Know precisely *WHERE* North, South. East, and West are at your station
>> location.
>>
>> You'd be surprised how many people don't, and then can't find the sats as
>> they come up over the horizon.
>>
>> Have a helper to point the antenna, as you'll be busy doing the "Doppler
>> Dance".
>>
>> Again, if you run SatPC32, the Doppler correction is fed to the rig, and
>> it's one less manual operation to split your limited time amongst.
>>
>> Keep the TenTec on the shelf, in the collection.
>>
>> And as somebody else pointed out, get started setting up and practicing
>> NOW!!
>>
>> If you wait until Field Day weekend, you'll wind up extremely frustrated,
>> with few or no contacts!
>>
>> I know, as I used to do it that way every year. I think the best I ever
>> got was three contacts one year.
>>
>> The next year I started two months early, and I made THIRTY FIVE contacts
>> that year, just because:
>>
>> I didn't forget anything at home, requiring numerous unnecessary trips
>> back and forth (I also bought some Tupperware tubs to keep all the
>> satellite stuff in!)
>>
>> Everything worked because I had six weekends to practice setting up and
>> operating before Field Day, ensuring all the bugs were worked out
>>
>> I was a lot more comfortable using the station because I knew it all
>> worked, and the stress level was much lower.
>>
>> Good luck, get going, and listen for K6AA on Field Day, and KQ6EA the
>> weeks before while I'm practicing!
>>
>> 73, Jim  KQ6EA
>>
>>
>>
>> On 05/21/2013 08:09 PM, Bill W1PA wrote:
>>
>>> I may set up a Field Day satellite station for our local club. I haven't
>>> done
>>> this in a while.... my last experience with a non-FM bird was AO-40.
>>>
>>> I'd like to avoid the futility of the FM LEO's on FD, and look to the
>>> working passband birds, which I understand are AO-7, FO-29, and VO-52.
>>>
>>> I have at my disposal a FT-847, an Arrow satellite antenna (V/U), and if
>>> needed,
>>> various preamps and poweramps for 2m and 432, as well as antennas with
>>> more elements.
>>>
>>> I also have a Ten Tec 2510 satellite unit that does not have the "extra
>>> crystal board",
>>> which I understand makes it a non-starter for the 3 birds I mentioned.
>>>
>>> For those of you experienced with the bandpass birds, assuming an
>>> outdoor,
>>> clear sky access location, what should I bring? (i.e. will the FT-847
>>> stock amp be sufficient?
>>> How many elements do I need for uplink? pre-amp for downlink? etc)
>>>
>>> I also may only be able to work overnight (in darkness) -- that rules
>>> out AO-7, correct?
>>>
>>> Bill W1PA
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>>>
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>
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