[amsat-bb] XW-2A and Other Roads Less Travelled

Sat Feb 2 08:06:30 UTC 2019

Hasan,
I have played with SDR Console a bit but the one thing I would really would like it to do I haven’t figured out how to get it to work. 

That is, if I bring up a linear satellite the SDRconsole will set the downlink SDR frequency and set the uplink freq on the external radio which is fine if I just want to just stay there to work the satellite.  However if I see someone elsewhere in the waterfall and I click over to them the downlink freq will change to that freq and I can hear that contact but the uplink freq on the external radio is not shifted the corresponding amount to equate to the new downlink freq.   I can manually spin the dial on the external radio to get there but that is a bit of a pain.  Is there some trick I am missing to keep the two frequencies locked together as you move around searching for contacts?

73
Dennis
KI4KNC 

> On Feb 1, 2019, at 6:51 PM, Ted Krempa <k7trkradio at charter.net> wrote:
> 
> Thanks, Hasan...
> 
> Any tips on set up for the Console software?
> 
> 73, Ted
> K7TRK
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Hasan al-Basri
> Sent: Thursday, January 31, 2019 2:30 PM
> To: Les Rayburn
> Cc: AMSAT-BB; Work-Sat at yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] XW-2A and Other Roads Less Travelled
> 
> KB7IJ and I are very active on XW-2A, 2B, 2C, as well as CAS-4A and CAS-4B.
> We operate SSB usually a bit below the "standard" center band pair because
> we experience some pretty strong WIFI/router interference in the "normal"
> area.
> 
> What we have found is there are a LOT of people who don't listen anywhere
> but their favorite watering hole. The primary reason is they are using
> conventional radios on the downlink. This is a significant handicap. IN In
> fact, one might as well be operating while wearing a blind fold.
> 
> Anyone who is serious about sat ops should invest in an SDR and use it to
> receive. You can see the entire passband all the time. I can't tell you how
> many times I'v e heard people say there is no one on the birds...when in
> fact, people are  there calling CQ.  Or, like me,  reciting az and el,
> polarity and signal strength (which I am recording with the SDR software,
> btw).
> 
> If you get an SDR and run the SDRC v3.0.x software, you will find full sat
> capability, including the ability to control an external radio for uplink.
> Automatic doppler, everything you could want, pass prediction, real time
> AZ/EL map display, etc.
> 
> If you have never run an SDR for sat work with good software (which is
> free), you have no idea how unaware you are of what is happening on and
> around these birds.
> 
> There is a LOT going on that is being missed by being chained to old
> technology.
> 
> ...and I'm not denying that empty passes exist. They do. I have called CQ
> for entire passes. Once I notice the lack of activity. I turn on the audio
> recording (which is nothing but the press of a button in the software) and
> collect data on the effects of polarization, obstructions, vegetative
> losses, etc. It is quite easy, just recite the current conditions and and
> let the software do the work.
> 
> Having operated with standard high quality radios back in the days of
> AO-6/7/8/10/13 and 40, I can simply state, there is NO comparison in
> operating capabilities and convenience between traditional radios for
> satellite downlinks vs. SDRs.
> 
> Check them out, they are not expensive.  You will never go back once you
> have used an SDR with decent software for your satellite downlink. Seeing
> IS believing!
> 
> 73, N0AN
> Hasan
> 
> 
>> On Tue, Jan 29, 2019 at 10:35 PM Les Rayburn <les at highnoonfilm.com> wrote:
>> 
>> I’m a bit of a nomad, and have always enjoyed taking the roads less
>> travelled. That applies to my hobby as well—those of us who work VHF are a
>> fairly rare bunch. Those who work satellites; not often spotted in the
>> wild.
>> 
>> But apparently, rarer still are those who enjoy making contacts on
>> satellites that are not AO-91, A0-92, SO-50, and FO-29.
>> 
>> Working from home today, so I got on nearly every satellite pass over the
>> United States. Alternated between calling CQ and searching for others to
>> work.
>> 
>> The results of working eight different passes? Four contacts for the day.
>> Two on SO-50, one each on AO-91 and FO-29.
>> 
>> Called CQ on XW-2A at dinner time. High elevation pass. Good strong
>> downlink the entire pass from horizon to horizon. Nada…
>> 
>> It did net me an SWL report from Mark Gluch, KB3CI who heard me loud and
>> clean in EN82 near Detroit. He doesn’t have the transmit side working yet
>> for the linear birds, but will soon.
>> 
>> Ditto on AO-7, a whole pass on FO-29 this morning, and at least three of
>> the XW birds.
>> 
>> Last weekend, I listed to the L band activity on AO-91 and there was a ton
>> more activity there than I heard today. (I’m working on getting the 1296
>> Yagi up so I can join you folks.)
>> 
>> We’ve got a sky full of great satellites that perform well. Let’s use
>> them.
>> 
>> 73,
>> 
>> Les Rayburn, N1LF
>> 121 Mayfair Park
>> Maylene, AL 35114
>> EM63nf
>> 
>> Member WTFDA, IRCA, NRC. Former CPC Chairman for NRC & IRCA.
>> 
>> Elad FDM-S2 SDR, AirSpy SDR2, SDRPlay RSP-2 Pro, Sony XDR-F1HD [XDR Guy
>> Modified], Dennon TU-1500RD, Sangean HDT-1X, Ray Dees RDS Decoders, Korner
>> 9.2 Antenna, FM-6 Antenna, Kitz Technologies KT-501 Pre-amps, Quantum
>> Phaser, Wellbrook ALA1530 Loop, Wellbrook Flag, Clifton Labs Active Whip.
>> 
>> “Nothing but blues and Elvis, and somebody else’s favorite song…”
>> 
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> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed
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> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
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