[amsat-bb] suitable omni antenna for FM sats?

Sun May 12 15:03:52 UTC 2019

Ron,

I have had excellent success working indoors using a handheld Arrow antenna in the winter, with surprisingly strong RF signals through ceiling and walls. I have worked FM, linear, and packet satellites in this way, working from my QTH in EN31 up to 1,500km from Cancun, Mexico to British Columbia. I have worked SO-50 and FO-29 indoors with my Arrow at 0.5W transmit power down to about 15° elevation. I have worked AO-91 down to 4° elevation using 5W. I suppose success depends greatly on home construction, but the Arrow is an amazing antenna and worth a try.

I also echo Bob’s sentiments that working outdoors in the bitter cold and blowing snow can be surprisingly fun, if the operator has a sense of tenacity in the face of a challenge or is just a crazy snow loving creature like me. As satellite passes are by nature short in duration, just 15 to 20 minutes, it’s possible to work a pass in the cold and dark. I have routinely worked -12° Celsius passes outdoors many time quite comfortably if there is no wind. I have even worked passes with a -28° Celsius wind chill factor, but that does take preparation and practice. Either way, you hold the Arrow with an insulated mitten, and then use a lighter glove to work the radio buttons and knobs. It’s made easier if you have a full duplex radio with a large PTT button, especially with FM as there is a minimal amount of tuning required during the pass.

Just some food for thought. However it turns out, I hope to hear her on the birds sometime! Thank you for being an Elmer.

73,
Adam, K0FFY

> On May 12, 2019, at 09:11, Bob Hammond via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:
> 
> I started with an Icom Z1A and a handheld Arrow antenna on my deck in
> Fairbanks, AK  (BP64).  Even in the cold.  Good contacts to the Pacific
> NW.....and a guy in Deadhorse.  I printed out the passes for the week and
> got on the air at the appropriate times and dates.
> 
> Pretty straightforward.
> 
> On Sat, May 11, 2019 at 1:42 PM Stephen E. Belter via AMSAT-BB <
> amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:
> 
>> Thanks for sending them the Getting Started With Amateur Satellites book.
>> 
>> Chapter 4, Your Antenna System covers both omni and directional antennas.
>> There is additional information in Appendix B, Upgrading Your Antenna
>> System.
>> 
>> For grid DP79, I’d look hard at a dual band Yagi with a fixed elevation
>> (maybe 10-20 degrees) with an azimuth rotor, *if* a handheld antenna isn’t
>> practical.
>> 
>> I’ve operated satellites with a standard Arrow Antenna from
>> BP40/50-53/61/64/83 and CP04/20/30/40.  Not quite as far north as DP79, but
>> still a fair distance from the lower 48 states.
>> 
>> 73, Steve N9IP
>> --
>> Steve Belter, seb at wintek.com
>> 
>> 
>>>> On May 11, 2019, at 4:13 PM, John Kludt via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
>>> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Ron,
>>> 
>>> Everything Jeff days is true.  But some of us live in covenant
>> restricted settings and an omni is much easier to sneak in under the
>> radar.  I have switched back and forth between eggbeaters and various
>> verticals.  So far 88 grids.  Three points:
>>> 
>>> 1) Pay attention to ERP.  You are going to need a little more uplink
>> power to make up for the lack of Tx antenna gain.
>>> 2) Always, always use a preamp at the antenna on 435 down links
>>> 3) Be patient.  This is a compromise solution and you are not going to
>> knock them down every pass.
>>> 
>>> If it is all you can do go ahead.  Better to be on the air working the
>> birds as best you can than doing nothing at all.
>>> 
>>> John
>>> 
>>> Sent from my Verizon Motorola Smartphone
>>>> On May 11, 2019 00:34, Jeff Moore via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> As was stated multiple times in a very recent thread - omnis for sat
>> work
>>>> are a poor compromise!!    Even a small beam at a 15-degree angle will
>>>> generally blow most omnis off the roof! Even better would be a pair of
>>>> beams (one for uplink, one for downlink) on an azimuth/elevation rotor!
>>>> But handheld can work almost as good!!
>>>> 
>>>> 7   3
>>>> Jeff Moore   ---   KE7ACY
>>>> CN94
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> On Fri, May 10, 2019 at 10:08 PM Ron VE8RT via AMSAT-BB <
>> amsat-bb at amsat.org>
>>>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>>>   We have a newly licenced amateur in DP79.  Because they fell a few
>>>>> points of getting their Basic with Honours they do not have HF
>>>>> privileges, their only way to communicate with the outside world is
>> via
>>>>> satellite.  Anticipating this possible outcome, that they may not get
>>>>> access to the HF bands, I sent them a hard copy, (no home internet,
>> and
>>>>> its slow and expensive there if you do have it), of the current copy
>> of
>>>>> "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites".  As we're heading into the
>>>>> time of year to do any outside work, the most pressing question is
>> what
>>>>> is the best compromise antenna for a base station.   Keeping in mind
>>>>> their location, in order to work anyone they'll have to get into the
>>>>> satellites while the satellite is close to their horizon, otherwise
>> the
>>>>> satellite footprint will not cover areas with any satellite operators.
>>>>> 
>>>>>   Ron VE8RT in DP22
>>>>> 
>>>>> --
>>>>> Ron VE8RT <ve8rt at yknwt.ca>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> _______________________________________________
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>> _______________________________________________
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>> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions
>> expressed
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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
> 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: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb