Re: [amsat-bb] New guy to the list

[David Brodrick <d.brodrick@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi All,
  I am also new to the list, though I am not a HAM (though plan to be when
I get some time). I am into satellites though, and would really like to
get a simple ground station set up just to receive (for the minute). 

  I have read the talk about using scanners to rx 70cm with great
enthusiasm. I am involved (as some of you may have seen on amsat-edu) with
the JAESAT satellite project at the Queensland University of Technology in
Brisbane, Australia. Our bird will use mode JD and will download images
from an onboard camera, and have store-and-forward capacity.

  I want to use JAESAT when it is up (2002?) but want to get something up
and running to listen to other birds before that. I bought a FM radio card
for my PC that can be modified to work 2m but this was before VK5AGR told
me that most of the interesting stuff was on 70cm! Bugger.

  What modulation modes would a scanner have to support to give me access
to 70cm digital transmissions? I use linux which has AX.25 stuff in the
kernel and a 'sound card modem' that demodulates AFSK. Can anyone then
shed light on the minimum requirements for getting telemetry, and any
images that might be available, with a scanner and linux PC?

  It would be nice to have digital tuning so my PC could correct for
doppler shift automatically. Can anyone reccommend a (cheap as possible!)
scanner that supports the required modes and has a computer tuning
interface? Especially if the information for writing software for
interfacing with it is available!

  Thanks in advance,

	Dave


Tony Langdon wrote:

> Indeed it is.  I have a friend in Sydney who listens to SO-35 on his
> scanner from time to time.  The Mode B downlinks are easier to receive
> than the Mode J with simple equipment. :)
>
> For 70cm, I'd suggest using a beam.  It will give  the scanner the best
> possible chance of receiving the downlink.


In a different post, Howard Long wrote:

> At the end of the day, you can definitely work UO14, AO27 and now SO35
> with a 2m FM Handie and a scanner which receives 70cm FM (ie mode J).
>
> But it does take quite a bit of practice!

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