[amsat-bb] Re: a cheap LEO tracker for single op

[Clayton Coleman]

I'm not sure why a rotor or PC is needed.  I have made many contacts in the
past two years with an Arrow antenna (hand driven) and an IC-910 (manual
Doppler correction.)  With a little practice, it's really not difficult.
The trick is to practice, practice, practice.    Y

Over the weekend I made contacts on all the active satellites with no PC,
no rotor, and no big arrays.  Sure, Field Day will be a little more
difficult.  Be prepared.  Pick your passes wisely.  If you're on the East
Coast don't pick a pass centered over North America.  Choose one out over
the Atlantic so that less stations will be in the footprint.

Last year, I snuck onto SO-50 in the middle of the night with nothing but
an Arrow and ten watts.  I'm not sure it'll be so easy this year
considering that the recently published QST article will draw some fresh
blood.

I'm glad this is getting discussed now.  Maybe more stations will decide to
dust off the gear and try contacts now rather than "wing it" for their 100
bonus points.

I am a firm believer in the KISS principle and also "Train for how you will
operate; operate how you train."

73
Clayton
W5PFG


On Tue, May 28, 2013 at 11:57 AM, Bill (W1PA) <w1pa at hotmail.com> wrote:

> Let me ask this another way...
>
> Assuming minimal setup prior to each pass, can I track a LEO with a single
> rotor well enough for QSO’s?  (single rotor control in one hand,
> VFO/Doppler on my other)
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