[amsat-bb] Unsuccessful Uplinks - AO-92

[Don KB2YSI]

My first thought would be to make sure the radios are hooked to the correct
port and the common it going to the Elk. Simple I know, but I have hooked
up my Arrow setup backwards a few times. It is amazing how poor a 70cm
antenna is for receiving 2m signals.

After that, I would look to others that have Elks and use 2 radios for
suggestions.

73, Don KB2YSI

On Sun, Jun 17, 2018, 16:50 Hugo Dominguez, Jr. <hugois at gmail.com> wrote:

> Just tried trusty AO-91 and heard nothing through the duplexer.  After it
> reached max peak I disconnected my D74, which was doing the receiving, from
> the duplexer and connected it directly to my Elk antenna. Right away I
> heard people talking. I then tried keeping the antenna on the bird where I
> heard audio and switching back to the duplexer and heard nothing. Not sure
> what is wrong. I need to find someone to test with on the ground. I’ll do
> more tests with another radio. Just need to get my third radio from another
> location. I tested on a 440 repeater and sending/receiving to duplex to
> myself. Need to test with another person who is more distant
>
> —
> Hugo Dominguez, Jr.
>
> On Jun 17, 2018, at 11:13, Hugo Dominguez, Jr. <hugois at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Received the duplexer yesterday. Unfortunately I didn't even think to get
> patch cables for it. I have SMA to SO-239 cables for my handhelds but the
> duplexer is also SO-239. Luckily my local electronics store had some RG8X
> SO-259 patch cables.
>
> So far no luck. I tested it on a couple passes last night but did not hear
> myself yet. I was not in a good spot though.  I tested it on AO-92 on the
> last past around 1730Z but had a hard time hearing anyone until right
> before the LOS, I then heard something for a second as I was moving around
> my elk. I thought I would have heard the bird since I was on a hill with no
> obstructions to the bird. The only difference being I had the duplexer
> connected. I'll test it out more today. I made sure the duplexer works by
> transmitting on the frequencies allowed on each port of the MFJ (VHF/UHF)
> and was able to hear myself on another radio. It is such a hassle now
> carrying two radios and two cables coming out of the duplexor and putting
> one radio in my pocket. LOL. Luckily the D74 supports bluetooth so I will
> use that to eliminate an additional cable that gets tangled, so that I can
> hear. I just attached the MFJ duplexer to the handle of my Elk antenna to
> free up my hand temporarily to see how that works. I hope it won't
> interfere with the SWR. I attached a picture
>
> Hugo Dominguez, Jr.
>
> On 6/8/18 6:34 AM, Rolf Krogstad wrote:
>
> MFJ sells a duplexer (aka Diplexer).  The model number is MFJ-916B.
> There are other manufacturers also such as Comet and Diamond, etc.
>
> There was an article not long ago in the Amsat Journal, (or was it QST?),
> comparing different models.
>
> 73
> Rolf  NR0T
> EN34it
>
> On Fri, Jun 8, 2018 at 8:10 AM, Don KB2YSI <kb2ysi at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> What I have done is to hook the common port to the antenna that I want and
>> then the HT up to the side of the duplexer that I want to use.  I found it
>> easier to use the VHF side of the Arrow for this setup.
>>
>> 73, Don KB2YSI
>>
>> On Fri, Jun 8, 2018, 08:37 Hugo Dominguez, Jr. <hugois at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> > Thanks everyone for the feedback. I do have other handhelds. Is there a
>> > way to connect a splitter on my Elk antenna so that I can connect two
>> > handhelds? Will that degrade my signal in and/or out? Do I need to
>> filter
>> > the signals to split off the VHF and UHF signals? Right now I just try
>> to
>> > lay one handheld with its own HT antenna somewhere in case it is able to
>> > receive a signal or I try to get someone to hold it for me. Most of the
>> > times i’m by myself.
>> >
>> > —
>> > Hugo Dominguez, Jr.
>>
>
> <IMG_1883.JPG>
>
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