Rotation - Option 5

Just wanted to correct something with respect to portable, outdoor (or even indoor) operation.

I had listed 4 options for my shack:

1. to go outside and manually position the antenna, that is go semi-portable with the FT-736R, which I've done... 
2. get a second FT-817 to work full duplex, and then go outside
3. only try to work FM satellites using my FT-817 plus a handheld, OR
4. get some kind of antenna rotor/positioning system in place

In fact, I was overlooking using my SDRPlay SDR receiver... so, in the spirit of "completeness"
there is option:

     5. use SDRPlay with HDSDR as a satellite downlink receiver. For uplink, the FT-817

Rotation

So, my current plan is to keep using the FT-736R, as much to get totally comfortable with the rig as any other reason, and thus stay inside to work satellite passes.

This has posed a dilemma as, obviously, my antenna needs to be outdoors and working a satellite like XW-2A with a fixed position antenna only works for a portion of any given pass.

My home QTH is not the best for summertime satellite work with the density of trees and other factors, but for certain common passes, I can get by.

Therefore, I have several options:

• to go outside and manually position the antenna, that is go semi-portable with the FT-736R, which I've done... 
• get a second FT-817 to work full duplex, and then go outside
• only try to work FM satellites using my FT-817 plus a handheld, OR
• get some kind of antenna rotor/positioning system in place

Thankfully, my brother gave me an old G-550 elevation rotor, but had not tested it at all.

Yesterday, I hooked it up and it seems to work AOK. I have a sturdy tripod and now just
have to come up with some kind of boom arrangement to allow me to easily mount my Elk Log Periodic to the rotor. Seems simple enough.

By visual calculations, just having this arrangement should allow me to work many high passes without worrying about azimuth corrections. The Elk is not that high gain an antenna that precludes a decent signal up or down, except for perhaps the deafest of satellites (and there is at least one, AO-85, with that reputation).

"Stoked" for trying this out, is the word!

Optimal passes

For my home QTH, my best passes are ascending passes directly to the South or South-Southeast.

This gives me the clearest sky, and the best AOS-to-LOS coverage.

Ascending and Descending Nodes in Satellite Orbiting

Many satellites that orbit the Earth are in orbits that are called polar orbits - that means that they go over both of Earth's polar regions, the Arctic and Antarctic. Satellites with this kind of orbit have an ascending node and a descending node of the orbit. The ascending node is when the satellite is traveling south to north over the Earth's surface. The descending node is when the satellite is traveling from north to south over the Earth's surface. 

XW-2A part 2

Had a decent pass, 46 degrees at TCA, of XW-2A yesterday. Made for a quicker pass than the last time, but I was a step ahead of myself. Knowing that I was successful through the transponder, I was ready with a few new frequencies.

Got on, found my signal and called CQ. Heard VE3HII come back but we couldn't quite complete the exchange for a full contact. Emails confirmed that we each heard the other correctly but, as  you know, it's the "on the air" exchange that counts for the log book, hi hi :)

Ordered a portable tripod, on which will be trying my kenpro elevation rotor.  Eventually may setup the az-el, but for most good passes here, the el rotor may actually be enough.  Low Earth Orbit satellites aren't that picky with a short beam like the Elk log periodic antenna, so I'm planning on trying a semi fixed position, but letting the elevation take the beam horizon to horizon on a pass.

For the stronger birds, it should work AOK.

Think I found my bird with which I'll complete my first Transponder satellite contact!

Best 73s (just had to write that for the humor-impaired)

XW-2A and NO-84

So, I continued with another pass of XW-2A and found the same booming strong downlink.

I did try to work N8HM, unfortunately I'm not experienced enough on linear transponders and it took me until the end of the pass to find my signal through the satellite.

The good news is that Paul gave me some helpful hints on compensating for doppler and I did eventually find my signal. It should be easier the next time. Also working on a portable tripod/rotator setup to allow working from the shack FT-736R a bit easier, more consistent signal. Right now, I've just been choosing passes that allow the relatively strong signal to hit the sat from a fixed position.
XW-2A has a good receiver and healthy downlink so this is a good sat for working this way.

For now :)

Onto an NO-84 pass, I was looking for the FM PSK31 downlink... took a while to find, but no signals in the waterfall. Getting closer, I'm going to continue to monitor for PSK31 traffic before attempting to send.

Progress, ever steady, though slow by some standards :)

73!