Amsat HT recommendation

[k8wtf]

I know this forum is more about monitoring than transmitting, but I know there are a few Amsat workers on here.

It's been a couple years since I've done any Amsat work other than listening to a few passes. The handheld I was using back then (Alinco DJ-V5) seems to be mostly dead - receives only, does not transmit anything but a loud buzz.

I'm going to look into getting that repaired, but in the meantime, I'm interested if any of the folks here are regularly operating on the FM birds with handheld, and if so, what rig recommendations you might have. Even if I do get it repaired, I might take the opportunity to get something new and keep the Alinco as a backup.

Obviously, ability to send/receive on unique splits across bands is mandatory. I know some allow full duplex operation so that I could hear my own return, that would be nice but not required. Overall I'm looking for ease of use. I would also use it occasionally for standard simplex and repeater operation. Wide receive would be nice too.

I'll be feeding my trusty Arrow antenna. It's a BNC connector, but I have a BNC to SMA adaptor, so either is fine with me.

 

[Fast1eddie]

Ok, very good. I have been away from the hobby and am slowly getting back into it. Picked up a Alinco DJ V5 2/440 ht. It's a small fat thing, fits well in the hand and have read good reviews on it for Satcom. I can never time the pass correctly, it's always something so I cannot offer a comment on it's performance. No problem with the local repeaters, I do fire it up once in a while and make a contact then go back into exile. Nice wide band receiver and sounds good, especially for commercial FM radio. I think they are still on the market, got mine from Universal maybe two years ago. I started out years ago with a DJ 560, not a bad radio.

 

[GROCKSHD]

I use a Kenwood TH-D72A. I am absolutely blown away by this radio. It is pricey, but I use it for Simplex, Repeaters, Sat work, APRS, Echolink, Packet. I'm sure you aren't at all interested in that stuff, but it definitley will do the job if you wanna work the birds. I also use an Arrow Antenna

 

[N8IAA]

Recently got a Kenwood F6A. I plan on using it for hamsats, and monitoring milsats.
Larry

 

[Fast1eddie]

I keep eyeing the F6A. What's the learning curve????

 

[N8IAA]

I keep eyeing the F6A. What's the learning curve????

Keep the manual handy I'm still trying to learn the radio. Once you learn how to navigate, it's easier. Definitely get the software from Kenwood. I wonder if there is better software for this radio. Does anyone know? Like the audio, the dual display, wish I could tweak the squelch better. Wish it had a green backlight.
Larry

 

[k8wtf]

Thanks for the suggestions - both Kenwoods look very interesting, particularly the wide-band receive of the F6A.

 

[JeremyB]

I have 5 HT's now that I have used for the amateur sats, The kenwoods F6A and THD72- you cannot store odd-split memories that are not in the same band but that only adds 3 used memories for a tx memory(AO-51, AO-27/SO-50, and SO-67, 27 and 50 use the same up and downlink freqs but 50 requires a tone and it still works on 27). The D72 has a GPS, packet/APRS capability and full duplex which is very nice when working the FM sats and it has a USB port for programming and can be used with APRSIS32. The F6A has a wide RX and has RX modes, FM, USB, LSB, CW, and AM too, so it will be able to serve as a downlink if you ever want to try the linear sats. Wouxun UVD1P could buy a pair of them for less than the F6A and be full duplex on the FM sats, the Wouxun programming cable also works on the F6A along with the headsets/speaker mics and the headset/speaker mics will work on the D72. But I first got on the Fm sats with a Yaesu VX6R with my arrow or elk antenna and then I bought the VX8GR with the built in GPS and APRS. If I had to sell one I think the VX8GR would be the first to go, it works great but the D72 has more options