[amsat-bb] Unsuccessful Uplinks - AO-92

[Hugo Dominguez, Jr.]

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>