[amsat-bb] Operating Question

[Mike Sprenger]

Hi Chris,

Let us know your successes and challenges-be sure to consider that it’s not a bad idea to listen to an entire overhead pass of all the fm birds as assessment without transmitting.   

Notice fades due to satellite spin and how you hear through foliage etc down to horizon 

I like this idea because Scanners are cheap 

your experience may help others here reading satisfy the crave to work the satellites and may try with gear they have based on what you report back

      or 

you may say Meh - not good don’t go there for some reason. 

73 have fun 

Thanks,
Mike
W4UOO

Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 13, 2018, at 12:12 PM, Chris Pohlad-Thomas <chrispohladthomas at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> John,
> Thanks for all this good information!
> 
>> On Thu, Dec 13, 2018 at 11:48 AM John Brier <johnbrier at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> That will probably work well. As long as the scanner has a decent
>> receiver it should work perfectly. The Fox birds (AO-85, AO-91, and
>> AO-92) will be easiest to hear. SO-50 will be harder to hear, but like
>> I said, if it's a decent receiver it will work perfectly.
>> 
>> Trevor, KD9IXX uses a Radioshack scanner for RX. You can see a
>> description and pics of his setup here:
>> 
>> https://www.qrz.com/db/kd9ixx
>> 
>> FYI AO-85 is a little deaf so it can be hard to get into with only 5
>> watts. Also note the recent announcement to only use it when it is
>> illuminated by the sun. I would concentrate on AO-91 or AO-92. AO-92
>> is usually in L-band uplink mode on Sundays so unless you have a 1.2
>> GHz transceiver don't try it on Sundays!
>> 
>> Don't forget to record at least yourself, if not the radio audio if
>> you can get the audio connections working right (you might have to use
>> a splitter). Repeat the callsign of the station you worked so the
>> recorder picks it up. That way you know who you contacted. There is no
>> time to write stuff down while holding all that gear.
>> 
>> 73, John Brier KG4AKV
>> On Thu, Dec 13, 2018 at 11:17 AM Chris Pohlad-Thomas
>> <chrispohladthomas at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> To this point I have only ever listened to the satellites using the
>>> RemoteHams station and the long wire that's in place there. I am hoping
>>> soon to pick up an Arrow so I can start not only listening but
>> interacting
>>> as well.
>>> 
>>> I wanted to ask about a setup I am thinking of to see if everyone thinks
>> it
>>> would work.
>>> 
>>> I have a VX-7R right now that I plan to use for TX connected into the
>>> Arrow. I know it's not full duplex, but I was thinking about using my
>>> BC246T scanner for the RX side with some headphones plugged in. Does this
>>> seem like a viable option?
>>> 
>>> --
>>> Chris Pohlad-Thomas
>>> K <http://about.me/chrispt>C1E
>>> _______________________________________________
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>> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Chris Pohlad-Thomas
> about.me/chrispt
> _______________________________________________
> 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