New Sat Op from DM83

[N5XTR]

I just put together a small satellite station...
IC-7000
11 el UHF
4 el VHF
G-5500 rotor.
I know my grid is rare on 6 meters, maybe not so much on sats?
Heard a California station on AO-7 today, couldn't get back to him.

Hard to find a list of operational birds on FM and SSB.
Any help for a new guy?

[K6LCS]

Use the Live OSCAR Status page as your guide to what is being heard ...

http://oscar.dcarr.org/

AO-7 and FO-29 were active today ... as well as the FM sats AO-27, SO-50, and packet on the ISS.

Clint K6LCS
http://www.work-sat.com

[N5XTR]

Thank you Craig! 

[WD9EWK]

I just put together a small satellite station...
IC-7000
11 el UHF
4 el VHF
G-5500 rotor.
I know my grid is rare on 6 meters, maybe not so much on sats?
Heard a California station on AO-7 today, couldn't get back to him.

If you're copying AO-7, you're in good shape already.  Keep in mind AO-7 flips between "mode B" (70cm up/2m down) and "mode A" (2m up/10m down) daily, between 2330 and 0000 UTC.  This is typically during a pass over North America in the late afternoon/early evening timeframe. 

Are you using a second radio with that IC-7000?  If not, are you using software to control the IC-7000 for satellite work?  That's a very nice radio, but not ideal for satellite operating by itself.

As for your grid, it is also rarely heard on the satellites.  You'll be popular, once others hear you and your location on the different passes.

Hard to find a list of operational birds on FM and SSB.
Any help for a new guy?

Clint gave you the basic breakdown.  VO-52, another SSB/CW satellite, should be back on the air later this week.  It works like AO-7's "mode B", with a 70cm uplink and 2m downlink.  It should be a lot easier to copy than AO-7 or FO-29, since it is in a lower orbit than those two satellites (around 650km/400 miles high).  VO-52 has a stronger downlink transmitter and more sensitive uplink receiver, compared to AO-7 or FO-29.  AO-27 is only on for afternoon passes, and SO-50 requires PL tones on its uplink (74.4 Hz to activate the satellite for 10 minutes, then use a 67.0 Hz PL to talk through it). 

Good luck and 73!

[N5XTR]

The IC-7000 is a nice rig, it was offered in on a trade that I could not refuse.  I am a Yaesu guy and tried to barter for an FT-847 but it did not happen.  I have not acquired the control cables for it yet, also which software would you recommend for tracking and rig control.  I have Orbitron and HRD.  For the 10m downlinks I have an FT450 and a 21' vertical on a 40' mast which I did have running to see if I could hear anything from AO-7.

[WD9EWK]

The IC-7000 is a nice rig, it was offered in on a trade that I could not refuse.  I am a Yaesu guy and tried to barter for an FT-847 but it did not happen.  I have not acquired the control cables for it yet, also which software would you recommend for tracking and rig control.  I have Orbitron and HRD.

The IC-7000 is a really nice radio.  If I get back on HF and want to do more than 10W from my IC-703 or 5W from my FT-817NDs, I'll seriously consider an IC-7000.

If those two programs aren't able to control a single IC-7000 to work satellites, try SatPC32.  A fully-functional free trial version is available from http://www.dk1tb.de/downloadeng.htm

You have to enter the configuration (call, QTH, radio details, etc.) every time you run it, until a license key is entered.  License keys are available from AMSAT, if you like the program and want to pay for the key.  SatPC32 definitely can control a single radio like an IC-7000 (multi-band, all-mode, but not satellite-ready) for use on the satellites, putting the radio into split-VFO mode and updating each VFO as needed. 

  For the 10m downlinks I have an FT450 and a 21' vertical on a 40' mast which I did have running to see if I could hear anything from AO-7.

If that works, great!  Some find putting up a dipole, or rotatable dipole, helps in dealing with AO-7's 10m downlink.  But try what you already have first, to see how well it works. 

Good luck and 73!

[N5XTR]

Good news!
The IC-7000 was traded for an FT847.  Should be here in a few days.
That should make the linear sats workable.  I have wanted an 847 for many years but could never find one. 

[WD9EWK]

Good news!
The IC-7000 was traded for an FT847.  Should be here in a few days.
That should make the linear sats workable.  I have wanted an 847 for many years but could never find one. 

Sounds great!  I think older FT-847s had issues with being controlled by a computer, which were fixed in later models.  The FT-847 should be capable of working the linear satellites without a computer, as it has a satellite mode in it.  If you need more assistance and advice with that radio, you can join the AMSAT-BB list and post questions to a larger audience of satellite operators.  To join, or read the message archives, visit http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

73!

[N5XTR]

The 847 is now on the shelf and is operational.  I have to get a cable for the CAT control, but for the most part, I am on the air.  Still more work to be done as I am gearing up for June VHF.