|
New to Ham Radio?
My Profile
Community
Articles
Forums
News
Reviews
Friends Remembered
Speak Out
Strays
Survey Question
Operating
Contesting
DX Cluster Spots
Propagation
Resources
Calendar
Classifieds
Ham Exams
Ham Links
List Archives
News Articles
Product Reviews
QSL Managers
Site Info
eHam Help (FAQ)
Support the site
The eHam Team
Advertising Info
Vision Statement
About eHam.net
|
|
1-10 of 20 messages
|
Page 1 of 2
Next
|
|
Newbie needs help!
|
Reply
|
|
by NZ4Z on May 18, 2009
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Hello all, I had another great time at the Dayton Hamvention, spent money I did'nt have, and found new intrest that will require even more money.....oh well, that's the way it goes.
My new intrest is satellites, the AMSAT booth had lots of info, but was very busy, and I did'nt get a chance to ask many questions. I was wondering what is needed to enter into satellite communications? Rig, antenna, rotator.....complete setup??? As far as a 2m rig, I only have the Yaesu 7800.
Thanks for any and all help.
Steve
NZ4Z
|
| |
|
RE: Newbie needs help!
|
Reply
|
|
by K2FR on May 19, 2009
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Start out on a budget..
Arrow Antenna, or a home brew'ed 70cm/2m
and a Handheld.
im running an arrow antenna right now with 2 hand helds and its wicked fun and very portable, can assemble the antenna and plug in within a few min and im ready to rock.
Check out some of my videos if your interested
Search KC2UOO On youtube.
Good luck! 73's
|
| |
|
RE: Newbie needs help!
|
Reply
|
|
by AI4WC on May 20, 2009
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
KC2UOO has the best advice. Be aware that AO-51 is having some troubles at the moment. Start out small and see what is happening. Passes can be VERY busy. Check the AMSAT website. The Arrow handheld antenna setup is great.
|
| |
|
RE: Newbie needs help!
|
Reply
|
|
by AJ4MJ on May 21, 2009
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Steve,
There is a cheap and easy way that most hams can get on the air with a decent setup. All you need is:
1) A 2 meter mobile setup in your car (with a whip antenna)
2) An HT that can receive on 70cm. Full duplex is not necessary.
3) A handheld yagi. These are easy to build and mine cost about three dollars to make. It's a piece of PVC pipe with some wires clamped to it. Details: http://web.archive.org/web/20050208223139/http://members.aol.com/k5oejerry/handi-tenna.htm
The operating technique is detailed in February's QST. Hook the yagi up to the HT and use it to receive. Use the 2M mobile in your car to transmit. This is a full-duplex setup, so be sure to use headphones on your HT so you don't get feedback. iPod earbuds work great for this.
I have worked all 3 FM birds plus the ISS using this technique.
The antenna is very easy to build. I didn't make my measurements very carefully, held the thing together with rubber bands, and didn't have a means to check the SWR - it still worked FB. All of the parts were available at my local hardware store (except for the feedline and BNC).
|
| |
|
RE: Newbie needs help!
|
Reply
|
|
by AJ4MJ on May 21, 2009
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
One word of caution about the amsat.org site. I agree with KB9CRY that it is the best source of information. However, some of the articles discuss birds that are no longer operational.
There are currently only 6 operational voice satellites. 3 FM birds: AO-51, SO-50, and AO-27, and 3 linears: FO-29, VO-52, and AO-7. All are low earth orbit (LEO).
The ISS sometimes operates as an FM repeater as well.
|
| |
|
RE: Newbie needs help!
|
Reply
|
|
by KB2FCV on May 21, 2009
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
To get started you don't need to spend alot. The antenna can probably be built for less than $20 with great results. I used a cross polarized yagi based on the WA5VJB design.
This is the link with the measurements. I made a 3el 2 meter yagi and 6el 432 yagi
http://www.fredspinner.com/W0FMS/CheapYagi/vjbcy.html
From there.. you need something that will transmit on 2m FM and something that will receive 435-437 FM. Of course a dual bander would work fine.. you can also use separates.
There is plenty of free software out there for tracking. I used satPC32. After a while you'll find you don't always need a laptop.
An inexpensive compass helps, make sure to find something that has degrees printed on it. While you don't always need it, it's good to have.
One trick though, make sure you leave the squelch all the way open on the receive side. Always. While there will be times the satellite can defintely break the squelch, there are many times it can't. I find it easier just to totally shut the squelch off so that you don't have to keep holding the 'monitor' button that is prevalent on most modern HT's.
I found building the antenna was alot of fun. I picked up the aluminum and brass 1/8" rod from McMaster Karr, I picked up a 1/2" square dowel from home depot, an old piece of coax and some epoxy was all I needed.
Getting into the other satellites with transponders gets a bit more involved. While I have not headed down that path yet, it's generally a bigger investment as you need radio equip capable of SSB/CW. Stations running this type of equipment normally are running with az-el rotators, etc.
That's why I like the FM Leo's for now.. extremely low cost investment with a great return on happiness for all the QSO's you will make.
|
| |
|
RE: Newbie needs help!
|
Reply
|
|
by W6TGE on May 21, 2009
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
If you ever come back to this forum, here is the one I built.
http://www.wa5vjb.com/references/Cheap%20Antennas-LEOs.pdf
I used square wood as it was easy to drill as round boom stock is harder to keep on center. I built the 6el 435 and am adding 2el 2M on a 43" 3/4 X 3/4" wood boom.
|
| |
|
RE: Newbie needs help!
|
Reply
|
|
by AJ4MJ on May 21, 2009
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
W6TGE,
Did you drill through the boom and pass the elements through the hole, or did you mount the elements on top? The latter sounds easier to adjust, but the former will make for a more durable antenna.
73 de AJ4MJ
|
| |
|
RE: Newbie needs help!
|
Reply
|
|
by W6TGE on May 21, 2009
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
OH, I drilled thru the wooden boom. I then pushed the elements through and measured to be sure they were centered. I was going to glue them, but I knew I was going to change the Ground wire for 1/8 welding rod if it worked out. You can never get that ground wire very straight, but it did not seem to matter. My DE was a piece of wire from #12 electric wire! Boy, did it ever work!
|
| |
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this topic.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
Check our help page for help using
Forum, or send questions, comments, or suggestions to the
Forum Manager.
|
|
|
