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

[Clayton Coleman]

Anderas,

I don't dispute the merits of a fully automated station.   Your point was
made very eloquently!   AO-7 is only a couple of years older than me and I
love using it.

In the spirit of "Field Day" I do think simple is better.  That's just my
opinion...

73
Clayton
W5PFG
On May 28, 2013 7:37 PM, "Andy Kellner" <hawat1 at yahoo.com> wrote:

> 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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