Nothing too fancy here, 8x8 UHF, 5x5 VHF from Gulf Alpha and a Directive Systems 2325LY loop yagi for 1296 mhz with preamps from ARR. And yes Clint, all that for FM satellites. (grin)
Operating from a remote location a few miles from home.
One of my many grid-peditions.
Another grid-pedition.
With the configurations above, I've made several thousand contacts on all the current (and a few departed) FM and SSB satellites... In all 50 states, 300+ grid squares, and numerous countries and islands around NA.
W5PFG / Mule Mobile (Kawasaki 4010 Mule Trans)
Again, portable for another grid-pedition.
An old Cushcraft 144-10T that was given to me. I use this for making ISS packet contacts at demonstrations. It's a 5x5 element RHCP antenna.
This is the ARR 25-watt RF-switched preamplifier I use in the car for the UHF downlinks of SO-50, AO-27, and FO-29.
This is a K5OE-design "handitenna" I use mainly to demonstrate downlinks from CubeSats. Works well with a preamp for any of the V/U birds, too (UHF RX).
Thanks for posting the pictures KB1PVH and W5PFG, your setups are looking good. Hopefully others will post-up and share their ideas. I'm in the process of assembling a pair of Gulf Alpha's myself and should have some pictures soon.
Thanks for posting the pictures KB1PVH and W5PFG, your setups are looking good. Hopefully others will post-up and share their ideas. I'm in the process of assembling a pair of Gulf Alpha's myself and should have some pictures soon.
Which G.A. antennas did you buy? I ordered the 5x5 and 8x8 as KB1PVH displayed. I'm anxious to get them up before the heat of the summer.
I'm in the process of modifying my station for Satellite use. Would love to see pictures of other stations and antennas.
I don't have any pictures with me that I can put on here, but you can visit http://youtube.com/va7ewk to see videos of my portable satellite station in action.
Depending on the satellite I want to work (SSB/CW vs. FM), I use different radios. For SSB/CW satellites, I typically use two FT-817NDs so I can hear myself while transmitting to the satellite. Sometimes, I will replace one FT-817ND with a Kenwood TH-F6A HT (the HT has an all-mode receiver). For the FM satellites, I use either an Icom IC-2820H 2m/70cm FM mobile radio capable of full-duplex operation (being able to hear the satellite's downlink while transmitting) or assorted HTs. In all cases, I use the same antenna - an Elk Antennas 2m/70cm log periodic antenna (the same antenna that W5PFG has in some of his pictures). I've used this antenna for the past 3+ years, and have been very happy with it. Since I have relatively short coax runs (10 feet/3m from the antenna's feedpoint, and shorter 3-foot/1m jumpers between a diplexer and the two radios in my SSB/CW setup), I don't need to use preamps or higher-quality coax.
Like W5PFG, I enjoy operating from different locations. I've worked from 13 different US states and Washington DC; as well as from Canada, Mexico, and Australia. Other than the antenna and some items that are not permitted in carry-on luggage for air travel, my satellite station fits in an old laptop bag. If I'm on a road trip, I leave enough of the station set up in my vehicle so I can quickly get on the air from almost anywhere I happen to stop. If I made this a permanent station, I'd probably need better coax to cover a longer run between the antenna and radio(s), and possibly use a preamp to compensate for the longer coax run. I could start out with the same Elk antenna, but would probably end up with separate 2m and 70cm antennas - something like what KB1PVH has in his picture.
Which G.A. antennas did you buy? I ordered the 5x5 and 8x8 as KB1PVH displayed. I'm anxious to get them up before the heat of the summer.
I purchased the 70cm 16x16 CP w/polarity reverser. I also have his General purpose 7x7 2m /11 element V 70cm. All to me mounted with the insulated boom and Yaesu G5500 rotator.
I purchased the 70cm 16x16 CP w/polarity reverser. I also have his General purpose 7x7 2m /11 element V 70cm. All to me mounted with the insulated boom and Yaesu G5500 rotator.
Wow. You'll knock the bird out of the sky with that antenna.
It'll be good for listening to AO-7 right down to the horizon if your terrain is suitable.
Post pictures of your satellite setup/antenna
Originally Posted by KE6CRK
