[amsat-bb] Hard times for satellite radio buyers?

[Norm n3ykf]

Ettus B210. Tested with another radio as the uplink. Blasted away with
50 watts (accidentally) and the B210 didn't complain (or croak).

It has other advantages, as it's rx goes out to 6 GHz.

The amps/control hardware need way more testing before cabling all the
stuff together and trying it out. Creating a smoking pile of junk
makes me want to cry. No oopsies so far.

Computer control (using windowz) is a nightmare due to lack of support
for the B210. Lots of promises. No one has delivered. There is a Linux
solution. The dark side beckons.

Simple enough amplifier circuitry. Biggest wow was the amount of heat
produced (wasted power). Fans, heat sinks, power supplies with
regulation and filtering....

Test setup is runs from +24VDC battery stack (D cells) using surplus
power bricks. Lots of documentation on how to make them RF quiet.

The down side of these bricks is that for them to meet spec, there
must be a minimum load.

Currently portable with an 857d and an IC 7000.

The longer a product is produced, the more spare parts available and
the better the support (most of the time). The 857d is a great radio.
Strapping two together would make a great station. Much to be said for
this approach.

Norm n3ykf

On Mon, Mar 20, 2017 at 1:33 AM, Mike Diehl <diehl.mike.a at gmail.com> wrote:
> Ken,
>
> I too wish for a V/U purpose built rig and in particular a portable one. A rig with dual VFOs and full duplex capability. I don't see this type of rig offered from the "Big 3" anytime soon.
>
> I think instead of everyone trying to get them on board, we should pursue the smaller manufacturers. I see these Xiegu HF rigs and they look pretty nice. My guess is a company like this has facilities to produce a nice, modern sat rig. Perhaps we should send our votes of support to a company that would cater to a niche market.
>
> As far as ancient tech goes, I think it still works pretty good. Used two 817s to work Russia from a park in LA county about a week ago on AO-7, launched back in 1974. It's not the most ideal rig but it can still get the job done.
>
> 73's
>
> Mike Diehl
> AI6GS
>
>> On Mar 18, 2017, at 10:53 PM, Ken M <va7kbm at outlook.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hello all,
>>
>> Is it not hard times for new and prospective satellite operators (like
>> me) in terms of equipment choices, at least in terms of the "big three"?
>> (And, to be clear, I'm talking about current, in-production models only.)
>>
>> I'm looking for an HF base/mobile radio, and also a VHF/UHF-only
>> all-mode base/mobile radio that I can use for the linear satellites but
>> - wait - there are no VHF/UHF-only all mode radios! That means I need to
>> buy a "shack in a box" but - wait - there are only two choices (at what
>> I will call moderate prices), the ancient TS-2000 and equally ancient
>> FT-857D. There is the new and somewhat more expensive FT-991A and,
>> although that sounds like a very good radio, for HF at that price point
>> I might prefer the IC-7300 but that would mean no satellite work.
>>
>> I'm also looking for a portable HF QRP radio, and a portable radio I can
>> use for the linear satellites. Again the venerable but ancient FT-817ND
>> is pretty much the only game in town. As with the HF base radios above,
>> if I am only interested in HF QRP I would probably rather put my money
>> toward a KX2 or KX3 of newer design but, again, that would mean no
>> satellite work.
>>
>> So as a new operator, to get into linear satellites it seems I am forced
>> to either (1) troll the swap meets for ancient gear; (2) buy new gear of
>> old design (which in my mind is even worse); or (3) buy new gear of
>> modern design that works for satellite and HF, but is not necessarily
>> the radio I would choose for HF alone.
>>
>> I should add that the situation is not much better for HT/mobile radios
>> for the FM satellites, but at least there are some cost effective
>> workarounds including the less expensive Baofeng/Wouxun/Tytera radios
>> and their clones.
>>
>> Thanks for indulging my shopping frustrations, and my inexperience, but
>> I have to think there are others new to the hobby that are having
>> similar thoughts. Do Amsat members see this as a problem?
>>
>> Probably off to spend some new money on an old radio...
>>
>> 73 - Ken - VA7KBM
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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
> _______________________________________________
> 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