[amsat-bb] Is it me?

[Clayton W5PFG]

This is a common misunderstanding about radios with a "Satellite mode." 
  These radios typically just lock VFO's and perform normal or inverse 
tracking but they cannot automatically adjust to the correct frequencies 
for Doppler shift.  You should use external computer control to do that 
accurately.

In fact, if you manually lock VFO's and try to have a QSO with someone 
on a LEO satellite, you will quickly find yourself drifting away in 
frequency from the other station each time you move the main VFO.  In 
general, this is a bad practice.  If you unlock the VFO's and tune 
either the uplink or the downlink (depending on satellite mode,) you'll 
be fine.

It is best to adjust the higher of the two frequencies when manually 
tuning.  This is the common practice known as the "one true rule." 
Locking the VFO's will typically inhibit your ability to adjust one band 
or the other separately unless you are depending on RIT/XIT.

73
Clayton
W5PFG

On 3/29/2016 13:33, Jeff Moore wrote:
> I thought the TS-2000 had all the doppler correction built in.   Why aren't
> you using that since your laptop isn't attached to the radio????
>
> Jeff Moore  --  KE7ACY
>
>
>
> On Mon, Mar 28, 2016 at 8:41 PM, Rick Tejera <saguaroastro at cox.net> wrote:
>
>> All,
>>
>>
>>
>> While planning upgrades to the shack, I've decided to try my hand at the
>> linear birds again, taking myb TS-2000 outside and operating Semi portable.
>> So far it has been a lesson in frustration. I've yet to find my downlink.
>> Tonight I tried to get on XW-2C on the 0100UT pass which was 70 degrees
>> from
>> DM33.
>>
>>
>>
>> First let me describe how I set up. (I finally solved the memory storage
>> issue I wrote about a few weeks ago). basically it's just the radio into an
>> ELK on my equatorial tripod mount and the laptop (Still waiting for the
>> USB-->Serial converter to get SATPC 32 talking to the radio).
>>
>> So I started at the center of the passband and using the doppler
>> corrections
>> in SAtPC, tuned the UHF uplink down to where Sat POC said it would hear at
>> the sat and moved around bit trying to hear myself. Kept adjusting the
>> uplink and also played with the other way Calling CQ on the uplink and
>> moving the downlink trying to find myself.self Didn't hear jack the whole
>> pass.
>>
>>
>>
>> I did record the pass and thought I might have heard myself, but it was
>> toow
>> eak to discern my call or grid, (though it did kinda sound like me).
>>
>>
>>
>> So, I guess I have two questions:
>>
>>
>>
>> 1) Is my methodology correct? if not what am I doing wrong?
>>
>> 2) Did anyone hear me?
>>
>>
>>
>> I'm hoping once I get the Cable and SATPC talking to the radio, it might
>> make it easier,  but I think knowing how to do this manually should be
>> skillset i should have.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Rick Tejera (K7TEJ)
>>
>> Saguaro Astronomy Club
>>
>> www.saguaroastro.org
>>
>> Thunderbird Radio Club
>>
>> www.w7tbc.org
>>
>> 623-572-0713
>>
>> 623-203-4121 (cell)
>>
>> SaguaroAstro at cox.net
>>
>>
>>
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> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed
> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>