Contents.
The Shack.
The Radio’s
The main transceiver in the shack is the Yaesu FT736. I use this radio for all my
VHF/UHF satellite QSO’s (contacts).
For 2.4Ghz reception of AO-40 I use a Trans system downconverter, which
is mounted at the antenna. The other radio is an FDK multi 700e, which I use
for APRS.
The Computer’s
I use P166 MMX Compaq
computers for satellite tracking, log keeping and APRS.
For satellite tracking I use PCSAT32 at home and Predict
when portable.
All the bits the XYL (wife) say’s I
should throw away.
My Antennas
On 2 meters I use the 9 element Vargarda a very good antenna with a boom length of 4.5 metres.
On 70cms I use the 21 element Tonna another very good antenna and also 4.5 metres long.
Both of these antennas are
horizontally polarized. When using satellites circular polarization is better
but I use them for terrestrial SSB communication as well.
2.4Ghz
On 2.4Ghz I use a 3-foot
prime focus dish with a patch feed designed by 7N1JVW/JF6BCC and illustrated by K3TZ, this antenna is very easy to make
and seems to work very well. At the moment the dish is turned by hand in
elevation and azimuth. The antenna is on a 10 foot mast further down the garden
as I think it’s to big to go on the main mast, especially with the high winds
we get (and it keeps
the peace with the XYL).
Amateur
Satellites.
The beginning
Sputnik. On the 4th October
1957 the first satellite to orbit the earth was launched from Tyuratam a village in the former USSR. Hundreds of people all over
the world tuned in on the strange signal coming from space.
In the sky
A few years after the launch of
Sputnik came Oscar 1, the first Amateur Satellite, launched on the 21st
December 1961 the satellite carried a 140mw beacon in the 2meter amateur band.
The beacon was heard by hundreds of Radio Amateur’s in over 25 different
countries around the world.
Today there are many Amateur
Satellites orbiting the earth, from AO-7, which is 28 years old to AO-40, which
in itself is a great achievement in many ways. News on operational satellites
can be found on the amsat web site.
The future
Phase 3E & Phase 5A
Current Projects.
Elevation control.
KW 2000b Restoration.
I
bought this radio about 5 Years ago from a rally and I’ve been restoring it ever
since.
Links.
[email protected] or [email protected]
Last
revised: Date 15/12/02