[amsat-bb] Fox Telemetry antenna?

[Stephen E. Belter]

Bob,

From my experience, yes, you could park your LEO Pack Yagi's (or other directional antenna) and decode a few more packets that using an omnidirectional antenna.  Since the LEO Pack has a broader beamwidth than higher gain antennas, I would expect it to do well for telemetry for satellite passes go south of you.  You should decode more of the packets than an omni, but much fewer than a directional antenna that tracks each satellite across the sky.  

But you won't wear out your rotors.

YMMV

73, Steve N9IP 
-- 
Steve Belter, seb at wintek.com
 

On 10/6/20, 5:41 PM, "AMSAT-BB on behalf of Bob Hammond via AMSAT-BB" <amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org on behalf of amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:

    So, can I just park my LEO antennas south just a bit above the horizon for
    dedicated telemetry collection when not using them for sat ops?

    Bob W7OTJ

    On Tue, Oct 6, 2020 at 1:49 PM Stephen E. Belter via AMSAT-BB <
    amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:

    > Kevin,
    >
    > I'm in West Lafayette, Indiana, so no salt water.  My antennas are
    > M-squared medium size antennas, 2MCP14 and 436CP30 with polarity switches,
    > so not overloaded.
    >
    > Mark N8MH, has had similar experience with his Yaesu's.  Since he is a
    > dedicated telemetry collector like you, and since he is a control operator
    > for the Fox satellites, he replaces his rotors when they fail.  He had a
    > volunteer to repair his broken rotors, so I transported 6-8 rotors from his
    > garage in North Carolina (not near salt water either) to Indiana.  Half
    > were elevation rotors, half were azimuth rotors.  I thought I was just
    > having bad luck until Mark shared his experience.
    >
    > The last time mine failed, it was the azimuth rotor.  Pointing the Yagis
    > south just above the horizon worked a little better (long term) than an
    > omnidirectional antenna.  Since it failed while I was on a 3 month trip, I
    > couldn't replace the rotor.
    >
    > I still recommend the G5500 rotors for normal operators, but they may not
    > be the best choice for 24x7x365 telemetry collection.  (I'm glad they work
    > for you in that mode.)  I've since switched to an AlphaSpid rotor with a
    > Green Heron controller.  You can buy the AlphaSpid rotors without the
    > controller (my recommendation for heavy duty use) and use a Green Heron
    > instead.
    >
    > Still:  YMMV
    >
    > 73, Steve N9IP
    > --
    > Steve Belter, seb at wintek.com
    >
    >
    > On 10/6/20, 3:53 PM, "AMSAT-BB on behalf of Kevin via AMSAT-BB" <
    > amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org on behalf of amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:
    >
    >     Steve,
    >         What are you doing that is wearing it out in 4-8 months?
    > overloaded?
    >     near the ocean with salt? something has to be wrong as mine go for
    > years.
    >
    >     73 Kevin WA7FWF
    >
    >     On 10/6/2020 10:21 AM, Stephen E. Belter via AMSAT-BB wrote:
    >     > Roy,
    >     >
    >     > In my experience, using the CP antennas with the G5500 will help you
    > collect and decode about 4-6 times more packets than an omnidirectional
    > antenna.
    >     >
    >     > But tracking the Fox satellites using the Yaesu rotors will wear out
    > the rotors in 4-8 months. Replacement rotors are about $250 each (you won’t
    > need to replace the controller).
    >     >
    >     > YMMV
    >     >
    >     > 73, Steve N9IP
    >     > --
    >     > Steve Belter, seb at wintek.com
    >     >
    >     >
    >     >
    >
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    _______________________________________________
    Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
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    Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
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