Who's active on hamsats?

[jonny290]

looking to get fired up...see the sig

have 55w of FM or 40w of 'all mode', AM/FM RX capability and I'm working on getting 435 sorted out properly.

Anybody play with the leo sats? i'm going to build eggbeaters to get started with, I think that should get my feet wet.

 

[K2GOG]

sounds like you have the equipment end of it sorted out, now you just need to know when they pass over your location .

I have had good luck using a discone and my Arrow II beam as well as a plain old telescoping whip.

It is best to use two radios as to listen to yourself on the downlink to make sure you are making it in and not stepping over someone else. 5 watts is usually enough (yes, 5 watts)

For tracking, I like using Orbitron. http://www.stoff.pl/

Feel free to PM with any questions.

Steve

 

[eorange]

I have worked AO-51 a few times with my 5W FT-60 and my Arrow beam. I use www.heavens-above.com to track the satellite. I have gotten by with 5W no problem.

If you work AO-51, be sure to go to www.amsat.org to find the schedule. Sometimes it's off, sometimes it's 1.2 GHz, and most of the time it's V/U, but sometimes it's in QRP mode meaning they use different V/U frequencies.

Satellite mode is cool, especially when you consider you've shot a 5W signal (or so) up 800 miles!

For me, it's hard to use 2 radios, because the beam overloads the listening receiver. Ideally you'd use something with dual receive (IC-W32A, for example) so you can hear your own downlink, but I've made do with a regular HT.

Finally, I like to use a rat shack digital voice recorder to record the whole 8 minute experience (satellite rising, QSO, satellite falling). In the excitement of making a satellite QSO, I often forget what was said! And set a good example by NOT being like some lids who hog the whole pass with inane conversation. Exchange your call, gridsquare locator, signal report, and 73s.

 

[WhtRabit]

Jonny, I'm looking to get active in leos too. So far my only contact has been APRS through ISS. It was exciting, but I imagine having an actual qso with someone else will be more so.

I'm using Orbitron and 5W from an HT with stock antenna and that seems to work fine. My only problem so far is finding time to get more active. :roll:

 

[jonny290]

Yeah, I work second shift (3pm-11pm Central Mon-Fri), so it's hard for me in theory to nail QSO's on the satellites.

I'm going to start trying some daytime passes and of course weekend stuff.

 

[k9rzz]

I've dabbled. I like Orbitron too.

John K9RZZ

 

[DaveNF2G]

I use Orbitron also. However, I wish it had the capability (like STSPlus did) to alter satellite labels and colors. When tracking all active ham satellites, it would be nice to be able to distinguish them visually by various parameters - whether I can use them, modes, classifications, or whatever. Orbitron offers no control over individual satellite labels.

 

[K3WHO]

I'm into the satellite thing myself. I really miss Oscar-14 since that bird was a piece of cake to work. I was known to work it while mobile once in a while. I listen to AO-51 and monitor the packet downlink from the space station. I haven't had any luck working AO-51 though. Once I get my hands on an Arrow I'm sure I'll be able to work it. I also like to view WX sat images.

 

[jonny290]

This weekend I'm going to build my eggbeaters and on Monday I order my RG-62 and LMR400 coax, a preamp, and I"m off!

Going with unaimed 'beaters at first, and I can tweak them to be more directional and put them on a rotor at fixed 30 deg elevation later.

 

[jonny290]

(partial) success!

I was dumb and going on my halo project to ballpark the copper needed; I forgot that 2 meter full wave loops are a little larger than half wave loops, LOL.

Anyways, i got the 435 eggbeater done and successfully copied AO-16 telemetry, AO-27 QSO's, SO-50 QSO's and a couple other pacsats.

My 435 preamp will be here Thursday and my RG213 gets here Wednesday, so next weekend should be a lot more successful, including complete QSO's if I can get the 2 meter antenna up.

 

[eorange]

Good deal...when the weather warms up (for my benefit), we should try a sked on AO-51 sometime.

 

[acarsnut]

Hey why mess with orbitron.When you can use wxtrack and use windows icons for the sats.It has 3 pages you can setup.I have ham sats on 1 page and iss on another and weather on the third.It also has audio warning of aos and los.Its great. Here you can see the icons I made for wxtrack.I made my iss like nasa but use some color.Theres was alittle hard to see.I use icon maker.

http://www.david-taylor.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/software/wxtrack.htm

 

[Fast1eddie]

Nice!!!!

Ed N3kex

 

[W8OSP]

Yeah i was very active with packet/aprs with ISS till it died. I have had the freq's added to the base for a few sat's here so maybe i should give it a go or two. ISS packet might be back in action in april. The next ISS crew has it planned to reprogram the radio. Till then i'll have some fun with AO-27 and AO-51.

 

[satob1]

i know a few in australia

hi everyone, im not sure if oscker 10- is still in the air or not but i know a fellow ham out at lake macquarie whos way into it,thanks satob1 nsw australia