How to learn about ham Satellite work?

[WN9HJW]

I'm starting to get bored with HF so am thinking about trying some other aspects of ham radio, including satellite.

ARRL publishes a "ARRL Satellite Handbook" http://www.arrl.org/shop/The-ARRL-Satellite-Handbook/

Is this book worth getting for someone interested in getting into working satellites? Any alternative recommendations?


I see AmSat published a book Getting Started with Amateur Satellites (http://www.amsat-na.com/store/item.php?id=100166) Any opinions about that as a starting point?

[KQ6EA]

They're both exccellent books, although the newest version of the ARRL book has been slimmed down a lot, and as a result, lost a lot of the content about the early satellites.
get them both, and then look around for an earlier version of the ARRL book. It makes very enjoyable reading!
73, Jim

[K0BAM]

Save your money. Go here:

http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/index.php

http://web.me.com/clintbradford/k6lcs/Home.html

[KF5FEI]

Save your money. Go here:

http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/index.php

http://web.me.com/clintbradford/k6lcs/Home.html

What he said. Things change quickly, and much of the material may be outdated if the books are 2-3 years old. There is a wealth of free info on the internet and lots of help available on QRZ.

[W9GB]

I'm starting to get bored with HF so am thinking about trying some other aspects of ham radio, including satellite.
Ron -

You are in the backyard and vicinity of AMSAT-NA HQ offices in Maryland and the Goddard Amateur Radio club and those in Northern Virginia.

The AMSAT-NA annual conference has been in Washington DC and Baltimore in 2005 and 2009 ...
so don't miss the oppotrunity to attend as a local participant -- when it comes around.

YouTube is a GREAT resource for those that need to SEE how satelllite operations are performed.
Here are videos for HOPE HO-68
http://www.google.com/search?q=HO-68&hl=en&prmd=v&source=univ&tbs=vid:1&tbo=u&ei=4V2_TMqyNYjDnAfchJ2jAQ&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CCgQqwQwAw

Operational OSCAR Satellite Status Summary
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/status.php

At a MINIMUM, you are going to need a prediction program (computer) or ability to know where the satellite will be at your local time !

ECHO, AO-51
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=1&retURL=/satellites/status.php

HOPE HO-68 (XW-1)
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=116

These 2 satellites are probably the 2 most popular and easiest satellites to get started with with minimal equipment (VHF/UHF FM radio)
and an antenna (an Arrow type is preferred, but an omni will work).

You may wish to set-up your station (or at a local secondary school) to monitor ARRISat-1
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/index.php
when it is launched in early 2011 (currently scheduled for Febraury) for its estimated 1 to 2 month life.

w9gb

[AB9RU]

Watch the videos here to see how its done: http://www.arrowantennas.com/arrowii/146-437.html

You may want to check http://www.arrowantennas.com to see if he is back running again, although the elk log periodic is a nice handheld antenna to work the sats

[WA9SVD]

The ARRL books are excellent references. But also check out Clint Bradford's (K6LCS) web site. He has a few posts on this page of the forum; he gives live demonstrations to many of the clubs in Southern California.