"Real Arm chair copy with the BUD"

After reading the July 2003 QST article by Clair E. Cessna "K6LG", I felt that I wanted to give the BUD Project a try myself. After telling my dad about the planed project, he kept his eye open in the small local sales paper, and with in just a few weeks, he was dropping off a free 10 footer in the driveway for me!


Time to start the task of getting it all going.......









After a good cleaning, removal of a little rust, a few dabs of good oil paint, the addition of some new nuts and bolts.... re-construction begins!







A location was found, that gave me the best clearance for the European and most of the US pass. Due to a good amount of forest next to the property, I can not pick up any signals after 210 SW.
The hole was dug, a nice measure of concrete, and re-bar, and the post was set, and positioned with the level, not to give any problems later with aiming.















It seems that most users of the BUD's are using the Patch Feed, however I did not have a good local source for the materials, nor the experiance in building one. I opted to go with a Helix since I had already had some luck with making them for my mobile AO-40 set-up. I wound up with a 3.25 turn Helix, which gives me a S7 - S8 reading. My BBQ set-up only gives me S2 - S3. I don't think I will complain.












I just need to sit back, and wait till I am home at the right time to make a few AO-40 QSO's!



Well AO-40 is now dead, however I did get a few confirmed contacts, and ejoyed it while it lasted, currently I am awaiting the upcomming launch of the new German Amateur Satellite that should be going up between the end of this year, and sometime in 2008.


I am not an expert, however if you have any questions, just sent me an E-mail!

Created 10 September 2003
Edited 02 March 2006
James Harrison

Home Page
KG4PBI Home