Sure, with the right experience and knowledge you can build the right filter for your Chinese TV SDR.  However, it might be better on the budget to buy a second-hand FunCube dongle (not Pro.)  The time and money invested in experimenting would not yield the performance of even the original FunCube dongle.  If you're experimenting for the sake of doing so, and not economics, that's another story.

I have two Baofengs.  They work great for SO-50.  I can copy the bird nearly from AOS to LOS.  Mine are the UV-3R models.  By no means are they my "go-to" satellite radios but they are neat toys.  If you were using them for uplink I'd say forget it.  With all the new stations on SO-50 these days QRM'ing and calling CQ, you need all the power you can get!

You can also go here:

http://fastrac.ae.utexas.edu/for_radio_operators/users/phpBB3/predictedorbit.php

Your last sentence is probably very accurate.  The price point for an American company like MFJ to produce such an amplifier would drive the price upwards of $500.  At that point you can acquire almost any of the available full-duplex mobile radios.  What I'd like to see is an inexpensive version of the B-34 (2m FM only) for 70cm.  That would help solve the issue...

I purchased Gulf Alphas.  See http://www.w5pfg.us/2013/01/gulf-alpha-circular-polarized-vhf-5x5.html
Delivery time for my order tested my patience but in the end "good things come to those who wait."

Don't rule out using linear yagi's though.  It will save you a boat load of money.  Especially if you want to go with fixed elevation instead of full azimuth-elevation rotors. 

Hi Steve,

My property is surrounded by 80' tall pine trees.   My place is open and clear, but anywhere towards the horizon I have trees to contend with.  I do not have a tower at this time, though I am in the process to put up one soon.  Even then, I won't be clearing the pines.

The mode J downlinks (UHF) are a little trickier than mode B (VHF) downlinks.  This means you need a good antenna, good coax (9913, LMR-400), and a possibly receive preamplifier.  That being said, I often work the mode J birds (FO-29, SO-50) with just an Arrow going directly into my radio with a feed of LMR-240 Ultraflex.   

Your mileage may vary.  I would not rule out satellite operation just because you are on a lot surrounded by trees.  One of my friends has a gigantic magnolia tree practically on top of his satellite array and he works all the birds.

Again, I cannot stress the importance of a good feed line and antenna.

Since you mentioned you cannot put up a tower, I don't see a problem with a piece of chain link fence top rail attached to your soffit with a bracket.  A modest array (maybe a 10 element UHF and a 5-6 element VHF) should suffice.  They don't necessarily need to be circularly polarized, either.  With LEO satellites it's not as big of a deal.

Often, I use two radios for working the satellites. 

The rule of thumb on VO-52 is to find a downlink frequency on VHF and stick to it, moving only your uplink on UHF.  You will drift a little, but not much.   Passes are so short anyway.  VO-52 takes a little practice but once you have got it down, it's the easiest to hear.

Many people use computer control... But not ALL.  I do not.  Generally you adjust Doppler on the highest frequency where there is more impact. 

If you want to try working VO-52 (or FO-29) tonight, shoot me an email to my callsign at arrl dot net.

73
Clayton

Help me understand this...

If the linear transponders are so exciting, why are there far less people on them?
(and please give me an answer other than FM rigs are more plentiful and inexpensive..duh)

Taking into account all my contacts on AO-51, AO-27, SO-50, and SO-67, I would have to make at least a thousand unique contacts on the linear birds to catch up with my FM station log.

Not everyone makes the transition to linear birds.  It took me too long, admittedly. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVCtkzIXYzQ

Michael, I'm sorry to have offended you but my comments were not directed to you personally.

You asked "where the satellite hobby stands?" and my summary response is:

1. Ham satellites are not the same as it was 40, 30, 20, or even 10 years ago.  Change is constant.
2. It's what you make of it. 
3. If you want to see change, make it happen.  Contribute (time/talents/funds.)
4. The LEO/HEO FM/SSB debate lives on and probably forever will.
5. There is an EXCELLENT group of active amateurs on the satellites in North America who are friendly, helpful, and genuinely want to help others enjoy and succeed in this facet of radio.

Yes, I have pet peeve about incessant whining and attacks on AMSAT & other organizations TRYING to do the best they can with limited volunteers and shrinking coffers.  I'll step off the soap box now and go back to something more productive ;-)

Hi Tom.

I don't mean to shame anyone but reality is it's "pay to play" in the satellite world..or repeaters..or D-STAR.  Any time there is infrastructure to be covered, someone has to cough up the dough.  A lot of folks conveniently sit back in the comfort of their homes, griping on the Internet, and doing absolutely NOTHING.  "I'm too broke to buy X, but I can afford Y."  A man's pleasures can easily by identified by looking at his checkbook register.   Take half of the complainers and you'll find their vices seldom get sacrificed for anything when someone else can pay for it.  I recognize some people are on fixed incomes.  There's ways they can contribute, too, without shelling out a dollar.  But nooooo -- they want to gripe online because there's a convenient 24/7 soapbox.

I'm not saying you need to be a rich man to operate satellites.  A modest portable station can be had for under $200.  I'm just saying instead of being another mooching freeloader like most of society today, those that get joy out of this aspect of the hobby should at least consider kicking in a buck or two.  When I was a poor ham in my youth, in college, and at the start of my career, I always relied on a discretionary budget line item to fund my ham habit.  Sure, at times I couldn't buy a PL-259 when I got started but now with budgeting I can afford anything my heart desires -- in time.

I applaud you committing your time, energy, and $$$ funds to supporting ARISS.  Now that's one good investment!  I wish you great success with your school contacts. 

73
Clayton
W5PFG

Your entire posting was great.   I want to highlight your comment specifically about support.  

A lot of people want to gripe, complain, and whine....But do they put their money where their mouth is?  Heck no!  I've met personally with some active satellite operators who openly admit to not sending a dime to any of the current projects or joining a supporting organization.  Why is that?  Do they want someone else to fit the bill?  Apparently so.

If you enjoy operating satellites, please remember there is a cost associated with putting them in space  ...even with a so-called free launch.  You'd maybe pay $8 for a movie ticket, a pack of cigarettes, a fishing lure, or your favorite beverage... Why not support a long-lasting satellite that will provide joy to you and thousands worldwide by donating $5?

I've heard this time and time again... "Why are the beep-beeps using our ham frequencies?"

The answer?

Because we're not. 

Ever scan around the satellite sub-bands of UHF and VHF?  You probably won't hear much.  The beep-beeps aren't "taking over."

Am I a big fan of organizations slapping a call sign on their bird and calling it a ham radio satellite?  No.

However, many do qualify to use amateur radio on their down links under the amateur service rules.  Many hams enjoy tracking and decoding telemetry from them.  So, you could say that it has benefits all around...Just maybe not to *some* hams.

I wish we had more transponders, yes... But I'm not going to join the crowd continually griping about beep-beeps.  They're here to stay, for now.

Hi John,

I love VO-52's strong signal.  It's not as high as FO-29 or AO-7 but it does a fine job.  My only complaint is with some of the weenies who call CQ on CW repeatedly and drift across the pass band.  By the time they are done calling CQ, they've moved 15k down from where they started.  

VO-52 is also very easy to work mobile.  Both it and FO-29 are my favorite birds to work mobile.  

73
Clayton
W5PFG

2013 stands to be a decent year for satellite operators worldwide.  With the expected launches of FUNCube-1, UKube-1, and potentially FOX, we stand to gain several new transponders for two-way QSO.  The days of free launches to MEO/HEO might be behind us but there is plenty of fun to be had and things to learn for a new generation.   Amateur radio satellite operation is not as "dead" as some might have you to believe. 

I can get you into the satellite hobby for less than $300:
1. Buy two $50 Chinese handhelds (one for uplink and one for downlink)
2. Buy an Arrow 2m/70cm handheld yagi

You don't technically "need" prediction software since several websites offer this service for free.  Many, many people including myself have made 1000's of contacts with this setup or less.

For a little more money, you can setup a partially automated station (tracking):
1. Yaesu rotor ($300)
2. One of the inexpensive PIC-based rotor/computer control intefaces (<$100)
3. Yagi antennas ($200-300) set at 15 degrees fixed elevation.  You don't need big, high-gain circularly polarized antennas for current LEO satellites.
4. SATPC32 and one year membership to AMSAT-NA ($80)

If you drop the automated part, you can go with an inexpensive used TV rotor (<$150) and eliminate items 1,2,&4.