[amsat-bb] Outernet L-Band Service

[Alan]

Scott,

I moved the patch inside to a much less optimum location.  It looks through my thermopane glass past a
post, and some leafy trees.  SNR dropped to 2-3, and I am now seeing some packet loss.  However, data
is still flowing as before.  One thing to try is rotating the patch antenna 90 degrees.  I see a
solid, reproducible 0.7 dB difference, which matters with suboptimal locations.

73s,

Alan
WA4SCA



<-----Original Message-----
<From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Scott
<Sent: Saturday, October 15, 2016 10:12 PM
<To: amsat-bb at amsat.org
<Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Outernet L-Band Service
<
<Mike, my SNR values are not very representative of what someone might see
<because I have partial tree cover in that direction.
<
<But generally speaking, my SNR's have been as follows:
<
<> patch antenna:  2's with an occasional 3
<
<> TP-link 2.4GHz wi-fi dish:  6 to 8
<
<> 1m dish w/ helical feed:  11 to 12
<
<I'm using the Outernet LNA as well.  FYI, my signal improved dramatically
<when I switched from the Outernet dongle to a metal-case rtl-sdr.com TXCO
<dongle (please note that the bias-T will have to be enabled if you try one
<of those).
<
<-Scott,  K4KDR
<
<
<==============================================================
<
<-----Original Message-----
<From: Mike Hoblinski
<Sent: Saturday, October 15, 2016 10:35 PM
<To: amsat-bb at amsat.org
<Subject: [amsat-bb] Outernet L-Band Service
<
<I purchased the setup from Amazon and used the Raspberry Pi 3 board.
<Its only been running for about a day and its downloaded some of the WX
<info, APRS Lists, Pics, News. and Wiki lists. I am looking for a more
<suitable
<enclosure for outdoors.
<
<Its setup on a shelf about a foot in front of the window with Vertical
<plastic
<blinds closed and plastic window screen on the outside and it manages to
<get enough of a signal to download the packets.
<
<I do see a problem once my computer and monitor are powered up and possibly
<with the TV as well. I am powering it from the Raspberry PI wall wart for
<now but
<after a few days I want to try out my portable power pack and outdoor
<locations.
<
<The patch antenna is mounted on a plastic sheet with the L-Band Amp, SDR
<dongle, and Pi-3 on the other side. I have a tablet stand from the 99 cent
<store
<to tilt and aim the board for now.
<
<I was wondering what other users are seeing signal wise from their setup.
<Mine shows
<a SNR of only 2.8 and signal quality of around 3 to 4 on their setup screen
<but appears
<to do the job.
<
<Mike
<
<N6IMF
<
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