[amsat-bb] Is This AMSAT's Future?

[Bob Hammond]

I'd like to learn more about microwave ham radio.

Bob W7OTJ

On Wed, Jul 22, 2020 at 10:30 AM W3AB/GEO via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
wrote:

> Exactomento Zach. I'm a member of a local m/wave club and costs don't seem
> to be a detriment to getting on the air. Lots & lots of cheap commercial
> gear is available. A soldering iron & some parts tweaking & you've got a
> m/wave station.
>
> ⁣___
> Sent from my two way wrist watch
> 73 de W3AB/GEO​
>
> On Jul 22, 2020, 06:51, at 06:51, Zach Metzinger via AMSAT-BB <
> amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:
> >On 07/22/20 02:23, Clint Bradford via AMSAT-BB wrote:
> >>>> This could very well be. Tech changes over time. IMHO, Hams need to
> >change over time to keep the hobby viable.
> >>
> >> That required station is quite a jump from enjoying LEOs - and
> >getting involved in satellite communications for well under $200,
> >though.
> >
> >There will always be some cost to this hobby, part of which can be
> >mitigated by more home-brewing of equipment. However, if one doesn't
> >want scratch-build the entire system, there are rather inexpensive
> >solutions from commercial components.
> >
> >OZ1BXM has an overview of the 13cm (2.4 GHz) uplink / 3cm (10 GHz)
> >downlink system here:
> >
> >https://oz1bxm.dk/sat/QO100-rig.html
> >
> >Seems like the receive chain is quite simple and cheap. I recently
> >acquired a 10 GHz LNB, new in a box, from eBay for $20. The RTL-SDR is
> >about another $20, and a bias-tee is probably $10, if one can't cobble
> >it together from the junk bin.
> >
> >The transmit path requires a 2.4 GHz radio or converter, which is
> >likely
> >the most expensive part of the whole system.
> >
> >One could argue that this setup pushes new operators toward learning to
> >
> >track and listen before trying to transmit. This is probably a good
> >thing.
> >
> >The 10 GHz information will be useful for GOLF-1's microwave
> >capabilities.
> >
> >--- Zach
> >N0ZGO
> >_______________________________________________
> >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
> _______________________________________________
> 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
>