[amsat-bb] FM sat chaos

[Zach Metzinger]

On 2019-07-04 12:04, H. Stephen Nipper via AMSAT-BB wrote:
> Don't give up you will make some contacts. The other option for you is to
> spend more money and get on the linear birds.

You could easily get on the linear birds with an existing HF rig and an 
inexpensive transverter[1a][1b] for the uplink.

Downlink is easily handled with an SDR solution, ranging in price from 
$7 to $500, depending on how many whistles you want. The rtl-sdr 
dongles[2] are a cheap, easy path to get your feet wet.

If you are up for the challenge, building a 70cm DSB transmitter[3] is 
quite feasible. If you have an rtl-sdr dongle, you've got a spectrum 
analyzer to debug/tweak your design. There are a ton[4] of design ideas 
on the 'net. Don't be afraid to experiment. That's what this hobby is 
all about, and one only truly learns through error, not success.

--- Zach
N0ZGO

[1a] http://transverters-store.com/432_28mhz.htm
[1b] https://ubitx.net/2018/04/17/transverters-for-2m-and-70cm/
[2] 
https://smile.amazon.com/RTL-SDR-Blog-RTL2832U-Software-Defined/dp/B0129EBDS2
[3] 
https://www.qsl.net/va3iul/Homebrew_RF_Circuit_Design_Ideas/430MHz_SSB_TRX_JF1OZL.gif
[4] 
https://www.qsl.net/va3iul/Homebrew_RF_Circuit_Design_Ideas/Homebrew_RF_Circuit_Design_Ideas.htm