[amsat-bb] Fox Telemetry antenna?

[Mark L. Hammond]

Hi Bob, I have found that a parked yagi yields more telemetry than an
omini.   And for a Fox satellite, pointing N or S works pretty well; pick
the better horizon/less obstruction view!

Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]
AMSAT Director and Command Station



On Tue, Oct 6, 2020 at 5:39 PM Bob Hammond via AMSAT-BB <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
> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions
> expressed
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> AMSAT-NA.
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