[amsat-bb] Beach Portable

[wbeightk <eightrrr@xxxxxxxxx>]

  Finally back from the Outer Banks and must say the
trip was much to short.

  Thanks to the stations I was able to work on UO-14
and also for those that may have called that I didn't
hear. Receive was really a problem.

  I would like to pass along some operating info and
also to confirm what others have said regarding
portable/mobile satellite operation.

  I was using an Alinco DR-605TQ and although it is
not deemed a 'satellite radio' it worked very well.
Carrying the radio, gel cell battery and antenna to
the beach along with the usual beach equip was a
chore. The Alinco is a new radio for me and it took a
bit of fumbeling in the beginning but I finally got
the hang of switching between the main and sub
receiver to tune for doppler. I was happy to find the
Alinco is a true dual receive (as in full duplex)
radio so I did not have to switch main/sub to recieve.
  
  As others have mentioned the antenna is the key to
success. I only had a Larsen dual band mag mount and
found the following:

  Transmit was not a problem but receive was limited
to the low angle beginning and end of each pass -
which is consistent with this type of antenna. I
noticed the exact same pattern with the antenna
mounted at the top center of the mini van roof and
also when stuck to a large pizza pan sitting on the
sand on the beach (sure got a few strange looks but no
one was brave enough to ask what I was doing!).
Signals on receive were marginal at best off UO-14 and
basically unreadable off AO-27

  I'll be working on coming up with a better antenna
that will work for both mobile (in motion) and
portable - maybe a mag mount eggbeater or at least
something that responds better to higher angle
signals. The low angle antenna is not very useful
mobile as most signals below about 30 degrees are
pretty much blocked by the surroundings and a vertical
on the ground (beach) was only good in the direction
of the ocean as the shoreline buildings also block the
low angle signals.

  All in all I made about a dozen contacts including
two countries.  Now on to next year and hopefully
P3D..


BTW, the Alinco DR-605TQ is a super dual band radio
for $300. 


=====
73
Denny  WB8K

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