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

Wed May 22 09:03:11 PDT 2013

Yep, it's about 13* here in SoCal.

Jim

On 05/22/2013 11:39 AM, Rolf Krogstad wrote:
> 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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