Re: [amsat-bb] Newbie question...How important is 1.2 GHZ coverage?

[Jim Jerzycke <kq6ea@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I bought my '847 primarily for sat ops, as I already
had a decent HF rig. One thing I noticed was that the
HF performance improved greatly after I installed an
INRAD 2.1kHz filter in the receive side. I did it to
help on the 2M band, which can get crowded out here at
times, but I was surprised how much difference it made
for HF. Guess a $150 dollar crystal filter will beat a
$2 ceramic filter everytime!
As far as 1.2GHz goes, I have an ICom 1271A, and a
Kenwood TS-790 with the 1.2 module in it, and I have
yet to get on 1.2 except for some local contacts just
to make sure they worked on that band. You can always
build a transverter as time and money allow.
73, Jim  KQ6EA

--- Michael Tondee <sky_dancer@direcway.com> wrote:

> Thanks Joe and also everyone else for the
> information. I realize the rig is 
> only half the battle in a satellite station and
> antennas are a very 
> important consideration. That's part of the problem
> here. The extra cash for 
> the 1.2 gig module would otherwise be used for  a
> better antenna system. I 
> will investigate furhter as far as birdies in the
> Kenwood receiver. I tell 
> you though , the internet can sometimes make choices
> tough because you hear 
> so many different opinions. I've considered the
> FT-847 as well  but I've 
> heard some less than stellar opinions on it,
> especially in the HF category. 
> I don't say that to upset anyone who owns one and
> loves it, just passing on 
> what my reading has told me. Myself, I just
> personally have always liked 
> Kenwood radios better than the other brands but I
> don't want to buy 
> something that's going to cause me problems simply
> because it's a Kenwood. 
> So, as I say, it makes the choice tough. An Icom
> satellite only radio is not 
> an option because I  will have to sell my current HF
> rig (a Kenwood TS450S) 
> and I don't want to lose my access to HF completely.
> It's one of the all in 
> one radios or nothing.
> Tnx and 73,
> Michael, W4HIJ
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Gary "Joe" Mayfield"
> <gary_mayfield@hotmail.com>
> To: "Michael Tondee" <sky_dancer@direcway.com>;
> "Amsat BB" 
> <amsat-bb@amsat.org>
> Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2005 2:45 PM
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Newbie question...How
> important is 1.2 GHZ coverage?
> 
> 
> > Michael,
> >
> >     1.2 GHz equipment is quite rare and difficult
> to find.  I went
> > searching for anything that would work 1269 MHz at
> Dayton this year and
> > found one piece of used equipment (an FM
> handheld).  I still regret not
> > buying it, and when I went back it was gone.  The
> only currently available
> > 1.2 GHz equipment I am aware are the modules for
> the IC-910 and the 
> > TS-2000.
> > If you follow the newsgroups and eBay there simply
> is not any used 1.2 GHz
> > gear available.  The exception is an occasional FM
> radio from Japan on 
> > eBay.
> > Having the 1.2 GHz module will at least double the
> resale value of most
> > radios that had one for an option.  Having said
> all of this, I have been a
> > ham for about 20 years and been quite active on
> satellite for 18 and have
> > never used any 1269 gear.
> >
> >     I believe the TS-2000 is probably a fine
> radio, but you may want to
> > investigate whether or not it is real usable on
> several satellites due to
> > birdies in the 435 Mhz receive.  If I were buying
> the TS-2000 I would want
> > to know that for sure.  Then I would buy it with
> 1.2 GHz just to help
> > protect my investment.  As many FT-736, IC-970,
> TS-790 owners can tell 
> > you,
> > do NOT count on the module being available later. 
> When the production is
> > done the modules will vanish.  If I were buying a
> radio just to have HF 
> > with
> > a satellite radio (and not worried about 1269 MHz)
> I would look long and
> > hard at the FT-847 and spend the money saved on
> antennas.
> >
> > Just My Opinion,
> > 73,
> > Joe kk0sd
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Michael Tondee" <sky_dancer@direcway.com>
> > To: "Amsat BB" <amsat-bb@amsat.org>
> > Sent: Sunday, August 14, 2005 11:26 AM
> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Newbie question...How
> important is 1.2 GHZ coverage?
> >
> >
> >> Hi everyone,
> >>  I am new to satellites and I've been doing a lot
> of research as well as
> > listening to Echo passes and tracking them. It
> appears good fortune has
> > smiled upon me and I'm going to be able to
> purchase a Kenwood TS-2000 in 
> > the
> > near future. I'm debating whether I need to go
> ahead and get one with a
> > 1.2ghz module installed or not. I'm wondering how
> important it will be to 
> > me
> > in the future.  My budget is limited and whether
> or not I spend the extra
> > money will affect other decisions I have to make
> in regard to equipment 
> > for
> > my station. On the other hand, I'm worried about
> discovering I really need
> > the 1.2 gig coverage a year or two down the road
> and having to buy the 
> > unit
> > and send it and the rig off to Kenwood to have it
> installed. Any thoughts?
> >> Tnx and 73,
> >> Michael, W4HIJ
> >> ----
> ----
> Sent via amsat-bb@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are
> those of the author.
> Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur
> satellite program!
> To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe amsat-bb" to
> Majordomo@amsat.org
----
Sent via amsat-bb@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe amsat-bb" to Majordomo@amsat.org