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

[Andy Kellner]

Clayton,
 
good stuff. You are certainly right, a rotor, PC and computer based doppler correction are all optional.
There is a certain thrill in working SO 50 with a 10 W HT and a hand held arrow antenna, and pretty rewarding to.
 
But honestly, when you work AO-7 on SSB with your fully automated ground station - happily correcting your RX/TX frequencies in 10 Hz. intervals controlled from one laptop, and your fully automated homebrew tracking AZ / EL rotors clicking away controlled from another laptop, your full duplex 'Earth Station' FT 847 producing a crystal clear signal from a 40 year old bird limping along on ancient solar panels and all you have to do is press the PTT button - that puts a smile on your face, too :)
 
Anderas - VK4TH


________________________________
From: Clayton Coleman <kayakfishtx at gmail.com>
To: Bill (W1PA) <w1pa at hotmail.com> 
Cc: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org> 
Sent: Wednesday, 29 May 2013 9:33 AM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: a cheap LEO tracker for single op


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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