First of all, a good tracking program is necessary if you want to track several satellites at one time and control your rotator gear for Azimuth and Elevation. The software program NOVA was used until we found out about Ham Radio Deluxe who has the ideal program making it easy to keeptrack of satellite operations and to contol my Yaesu G5500 AZ-EL rotator using the Yaesu GS-232A interface box. I like to use the HRD audible alarm feature which will notify me when my favorite satellite is approaching and when in view. It compensates for Doppler effect would make it difficult to operate SSB whereas using CW is easy when making small movements in frequency to keep it with the passband.
Was able to work 38 states using the FT-847 through the Japanese FO-29 satellite until it went erratic in 2006. By using Super Control software, it was easy to work this bird. Even though SSB is possible using Super Control, CW is still my favorite mode through any satellite using analog transponders. Of course the footprint could never favor working Hawaii and Alaska but did work England many times when FO-29 was over the Atlantic.
Now, the only satellite using UHF/VHF transponders is the HAMSAT VO-52 constructed by the India and Dutch organizations. Presently (2007) only the India linear transponder is turned on. Uplink is 435.2200 to 435.2800 MHz with downlink at 145.8700 to 145.9300 MHz. The Dutch CW beacon is on at 145.8600 MHz. This bird is easy to hear when in view and easy to work through using simple VHF/UHF gear. The transponders are inverting meaning if you change the transmit frequency, the receive frequency will move the opposite way.
The antennas used are a simple 11 element Cushcraft beam on UHF and a Cushcraft 13 element Model 13B2. The 11 element UHF beam is mounted on a Yaesu G-5500 elevation/azimuth rotator along with 2.4 GHz for any future satellites using that combination. The 13B2 2 meter beam sits atop the azimuth mast since have found it works well through satellites without needing elevation control. Each antenna has it's own preamplifier/switcher located just underneath in the garden shed with a 4 foot roof tower atop it.
Previous to setting up a new ham station in our new home in1999, I noticed a lot of surplus cable stored behind our local cable company. When having cable internet installed, I asked the installer how a person might obtain some of the cable. He was also interested in ham radio and said he would get back with me. He contacted me the next day and asked if I could meet him there at the cable company rear lot which was fenced in. To my surprise, he said the cable was free to anyone wanting it which was good quality direct burial type 3/4 inch hardline. When cable runs were installed on power poles, any pieces which were not long enough to span the distance were discarded. Luckily I was driving my pickup truck and soon had 5 each roll-end pieces in the back. Now in 2009, they save scrap pieces to be sold for aluminum and copper scrap. Verizon is coming through the area with fiber optic cable TV and internet which hopefully may eliminate some of the cable TV channel inerference, especially on the 2 meter band where channel 18 radiates somewhat. My remote shed is about 60 feet from the house and soon had a ditch dug from the house beyond my shed. Some schedule 40 PVC 6 inch pipe with a slight bend elbow was ran into the rear of the house and the hardline routed through it into the basement. The other ends went into the shed into a cabinet once used for a microwave unit. Two runs of 8 conductor direct burial sprinkler system cable was also laid into the ditch which gave me rotor control along with telephone, burglar alarm and control for 10 GHz etc. Thanks to articles in QST and on the web, I constructed homemade connectors for the 75 ohm cable which would eventually be connected to shorter flexible 50 ohm cable for the antennas and inside the house. Some people told me I needed a transition between the 75 ohm cable and 50 ohm antennas and rigs but there is absolutely no difference when using the 75 ohm cable for amateur radio use. Another good cable for direct burial is 75 ohm RG11 used to get underground cable TV to residents which I had already buried for the Cushcraft R8 HF vertical. Coaxial cables in the basement go to good quality coax switches where all antennas can be used upstairs, in the den or downstairs when repairing or checking out a radio.
Recently as of July, 2009, I have been using a portable Arrow antennas while traveling. A description and YouTube videos explain the Arrow antenna. Bob K5GNA in Texas sells excellent converters using the surplus AIDC 3731L pay TV downconverters. He installs new crystals in the units to give an output on the 2 meter band, making it posssible to work the satellite when it is in V/S (145.880/2401.2) and V/U (145.920/435.150) modes. Am hoping to soon work the bird when it goes into L/U (1268.7 MHz/.435.250 MHz) mode. The S band signal is easy to hear on 2401.2 MHz using a separate 2 meter receiver Tuned to the down converters IF frequency. Will be using an ICOM 910H for the 1268.7 MHz input when it is in that mode. Below is information which K5GNA posts with his package on E-Bay for $167 which included shipping to my location.
Note: When using this downconverter portable when next to my vehicle, I use an inexpensive power converter since he includes a small wal wart power supply because the downconverter likes to see 18 volts for full performance. The AO-51 comes through so strong that no desense is noticed when transmitting at the same time not far from the downconverters I.F. frequency 145.20 (2401.2 down). The easiest way to find orbiting times and more information is to visit the AMSAT site.
When the AO-51 satellite is in regular V/U mode, I use a Yaesu FT-60R handheld radio which is ideal, being able to program small jumps in frequency for the doppler drift. Many stations have been worked in my back yard holding the arrow antenna and the handheld as it makes it's pass. One day a passerby saw me working the satellite and after I attempted to explain how amateur rado satellites function and that a license is required, he stated that it was illegal to talk through any satellite and I could be reported to the FBI. I told him to go ahead and report me but to first look it up on the AMSAT.ORG site before he is embarrassed. Apparently he was using typical Obama mentality when making statements like that.
Below, you will see a list of frequencies for the AO-51 satellite which when programmed into the Yaesu FT-60R, makes for easy operating when compensating for the doppler effect as it makes a pass. The FT-60R cannot operate duplex and the radios that do so are very difficult to find. As of now, the 67 Hz tone is not required but check the AMSAT site anyway. Programming the FT-60R can be frustrating at times but there is an easier way by using software and a special cable. I found the cable on E-Bay for less than $6.00 and downloaded the software from a site owned by Jim KC8UNJ: http://www.kc8unj.com The software is free but a donation would be appreciated since Jim put a lot of effort into it.
Once my Flex 5000A is fitted with the new V/U 144/432 transverters, working satellites will be a snap since no long will I need to tune when checking for stations in the passband. I will be able to actually see the signals on the Flex Panadaptor and pounce on them. It is our goal to work WAS using the satellites but Hawaii has been tough to work since most sats do not have that large of a footprint. Hopefully Russia or China can eventually launch a new sat using an HF band to perhaps give it a larger footprint such as the old RS15 Russian bird. Using additional external transverters it is possible to locate secret signals on many satellites and catalog them. Using SDR technology is the best way to find signals in space and many hams have already posted frequencies of Government and commercial sats which are using special digital modes.
