[amsat-bb] TH-D72 questions

[Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)]

Zach,

You are correct. You cannot program memory channels on
a TH-D72 where the transmit and receive frequencies are
in different bands. You will need to use the lower
VFO (VFO B) for your transmit/uplink frequency, and the
upper VFO (VFO A) for your receive/downlink frequency.
This means you will be switching VFOs when adjusting your
receive frequency when working SO-50 and LilacSat-2.
Depending on the pass, you may not need to adjust your
receive frequency when working AO-85, focusing only on the
transmit frequency.

The radio will save the settings like tuning step and PL
tone, once you set them. These settings are specific to
each band and VFO. What you have in VFO A does not carry
over to VFO B, nor do the settings for the 2m band in
one VFO carry over to the 70cm band (or vice versa).
These suggestions are in addition to what I e-mailed you
directly a few days ago.

In addition to working FM satellites, the packet/APRS part
of this HT is capable of being used to make packet QSOs
via the digipeaters on NO-84 and the ISS. I have used APRS
messages to do this, working only with the HT's keypad.
It is like typing out SMS messages on a flip-type mobile
phone, but it is possible. Exchanges are similar to what
you would do on any other satellite, just done quickly to
get the information to the other station and so you can
get the other station's exchange. Using APRS messages means
you will have copies of what you send to other stations,
along with messages from other stations back to you, stored
in the HT.

Good luck, and 73!





Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK
http://www.wd9ewk.net/
Twitter: @WD9EWK


On Tue, Jan 12, 2016 at 11:26 PM, zach hillerson via AMSAT-BB <
amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:

> I am a new owner of the TH D72 by Kenwood.  I'm having a bit of difficulty
> with a few default settings and was hoping am ore experienced user could
> pass on a few tips.
> My understanding is that I cannot save duplex setups into the memory
> channels.  I am manually entering the necessary frequencies for AO 85 and
> SO 50.  Each time I put a new frequency in the radio defaults to a 25khz
> step and the tone defaults to 88.5 Hz.  I want to have 67Hz and 5khz steps
> as default.
> There has to be a better way of using the radio for satellites (my only
> use) then manually entering each frequency and then manually changing each
> default but I haven't found it in the manual yet.
> Any help for a smoother experience would be appreciated.  I can barely
> remember to go outside in time for each pass, let alone remember to go
> through all the keypad functions.
>