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CX2SA > SATDIG 27.12.08 21:05l 903 Lines 33429 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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To : SATDIG@WW
Today's Topics:
1. Re: 4A1DXXE via FM satellite this weekend (Allen Vinegar)
2. reminiscing about a long ago time - WAS:Re: Re: Earthrise -
add (James French)
3. Elk Antenna vs Arrow Antenna (Trey Brown)
4. Re: reminiscing about a long ago time - WAS:Re: Re: Earthrise
- add (Jim Jerzycke)
5. Re: reminiscing about a long ago time - WAS:Re: Re: Earthrise
- add (Edward Cole)
6. Re: Elk Antenna vs Arrow Antenna (n3tl@xxxxxxxxx.xxxx
7. Elk Antenna vs Arrow Antenna (Trey Brown)
8. Re: Elk Antenna vs Arrow Antenna (Kauto Huopio OH2LFM)
9. Re: Elk Antenna vs Arrow Antenna (Gary "Joe" Mayfield)
10. Re: Elk Antenna vs Arrow Antenna (Edward Cole)
11. Re: Elk Antenna vs Arrow Antenna (Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 19:42:02 -0500
From: "Allen Vinegar" <tokens@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: 4A1DXXE via FM satellite this weekend
To: <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <1A1E738EC5C04E44BF10227B4DD0733F@xxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I agree it sounds like chaos. I have already worked 4A1DXXE on 20M CW
yesterday and 20M RTTY today, so it will be nice to work them on satellite
as
well.
Al W8KHP
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 20:17:47 -0500
From: James French <w8iss@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] reminiscing about a long ago time - WAS:Re: Re:
Earthrise - add
To: "Reicher, James" <JReicher@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <1230340667.29221.6.camel@xxxxxxxxx>
Content-Type: text/plain
Since we are reminiscing about where some of our families
were doing at the beginning of the space age, I'll add mine
in.
My grandfather, Paul, W1DLP, told me about working on some of the
equipment for the Gemini program. He even gave me one of his trinkets
from then, a plastic coin bank in the shape of a Gemini capsule that he
had gotten. I have long since lost that trinket...:(
I am wondering how many of us had relatives that did something during
those fun times?
James W8ISS
=====
On Fri, 2008-12-26 at 11:13 -0600, Reicher, James wrote:
> Seeing this link brought tears to my eyes.
>
> At the time the tapes were made, I was the tender age of three, but I
> still have a very close connection with those images and with the tapes.
>
>
> My grandfather, Walter Lyons, an electrical engineer with RCA, helped
> develop the technology used in taking the images from the Lunar Orbiter
> and Surveyor series and converting them into radio waves and into the
> data found on these tapes.
>
> Although he never was licensed as an amateur, he was one of my
> inspirations for becoming a ham. Unfortunately, he passed away 2 years
> before I earned my ticket.
>
> 73 de W0HV, Jim in Raymore, MO (ex-N8AU)
>
> Light travels faster than sound... This is why some people appear
> bright until you hear them speak.
>
> Date: Thu, 25 Dec 2008 11:30:36 -0900
> From: Edward Cole <kl7uw@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Earthrise - add
> To: Joe Fitzgerald <jfitzgerald@xxxx.xxx.xxx>
> Cc: Amsat BB <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
> Message-ID: <200812252030.mBPKUbv8086213@xxxxxx.xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
>
> At 04:25 AM 12/25/2008, Joe Fitzgerald wrote:
> >Rocky Jones wrote:
> > > I think that the first black and white photo of Earthrise over
> > the Moon...was from one of the Lunar Orbiters... I think 5...
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >There was a nice story recently about a recent restoration of that
> photo
> >...http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-111408a.html
> >
> >-Joe KM1P
> >_______________________________________________
> >Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the
> author.
> >Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
> program!
> >Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>
> I am amazed at times how my own past resurfaces.
>
> One of my duties at Goldstone from 1974-1976 was to manage the tape
> backup for data received from spacecraft like the Voyagers and
> Pioneers that flew by Jupiter, Saturn (and the outer planets after my
> time), and other missions. It was sort of an unwanted task handed
> off on me. But I took it serious and devised a record system to keep
> track of when they were recorded and so they would be retained for
> the required time period. These were backups as the prime data had
> been transmitted to the mission scientist. These were held a minimum
> of 30-days in case of any bad data in the originals. I started
> stacking them in an unused office but in time they ended up in the
> climate-controlled "basement" of the 64m DSS-14 Control
> Building. They ended up being kept much longer than 30-days. I'm
> guessing these reel tapes were made by the same recorder as mentioned
> in the article. Isn't it fantastic that the old Lunar tapes were
> recoverable! 2009 will be my 30th anniversary of leaving Jet
> Propulsion Lab to move to Alaska...tempis fugit!
>
> The, then new, Hydrogen Maser Master Clock was installed in this same
> room. It was used for precise timing of VLBI experiments, which
> previously required calibration by the famous "flying clock" or the
> x-band Moon Bounce timing system (ask Dick, K6HIJ). Not only
> Goldstone, but Madrid, and Canberra stations required to be on the
> same accurate time (ask Tom Clark about that).
>
> As the New Year approaches we reflect on the past. Thanks to those
> who recently found those articles.
>
> Merry Christmas and Happy New year!
> 73, Ed Cole - KL7UW (& Janet)
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 20:00:58 -0600
From: "Trey Brown" <palintheus@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Elk Antenna vs Arrow Antenna
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID:
<e79ccb000812261800y3e22d2eeocd46e64ad9644e20@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I'm looking to get started in FM satellites and am considering
purchasing one of these antennas. Wanting to get some thoughts and
opinions from people that have been doing this longer than I have
been.
http://www.elkantennas.com/2m4405element.htm
http://arrowantennas.com/146-437.html
--
Trey -- N5THX
They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.
- Benjamin Franklin
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:18:58 -0800 (PST)
From: Jim Jerzycke <kq6ea@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: reminiscing about a long ago time - WAS:Re:
Re: Earthrise - add
Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <177107.61036.qm@xxxxxxxx.xxxx.xxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
My landlord's father worked for Vought during the early days, and he grew
up
down at the Cape. His Dad has some amazing pix, news clippings and other
artifacts from those days. It's great to talk to people who were actually
doing the stuff I grew up watching!
Jim KQ6EA
--- On Fri, 12/26/08, James French <w8iss@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx> wrote:
> From: James French <w8iss@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx>
> Subject: [amsat-bb] reminiscing about a long ago time - WAS:Re: Re:
Earthrise - add
> To: "Reicher, James" <JReicher@xxxxxxx.xxx>
> Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
> Date: Friday, December 26, 2008, 5:17 PM
> Since we are reminiscing about where some of our families
> were doing at the beginning of the space age, I'll add
> mine
> in.
>
> My grandfather, Paul, W1DLP, told me about working on some
> of the
> equipment for the Gemini program. He even gave me one of
> his trinkets
> from then, a plastic coin bank in the shape of a Gemini
> capsule that he
> had gotten. I have long since lost that trinket...:(
>
> I am wondering how many of us had relatives that did
> something during
> those fun times?
>
> James W8ISS
> =====
> On Fri, 2008-12-26 at 11:13 -0600, Reicher, James wrote:
> > Seeing this link brought tears to my eyes.
> >
> > At the time the tapes were made, I was the tender age
> of three, but I
> > still have a very close connection with those images
> and with the tapes.
> >
> >
> > My grandfather, Walter Lyons, an electrical engineer
> with RCA, helped
> > develop the technology used in taking the images from
> the Lunar Orbiter
> > and Surveyor series and converting them into radio
> waves and into the
> > data found on these tapes.
> >
> > Although he never was licensed as an amateur, he was
> one of my
> > inspirations for becoming a ham. Unfortunately, he
> passed away 2 years
> > before I earned my ticket.
> >
> > 73 de W0HV, Jim in Raymore, MO (ex-N8AU)
> >
> > Light travels faster than sound... This is why some
> people appear
> > bright until you hear them speak.
> >
> > Date: Thu, 25 Dec 2008 11:30:36 -0900
> > From: Edward Cole <kl7uw@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Earthrise - add
> > To: Joe Fitzgerald <jfitzgerald@xxxx.xxx.xxx>
> > Cc: Amsat BB <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
> > Message-ID:
> <200812252030.mBPKUbv8086213@xxxxxx.xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
> > Content-Type: text/plain;
> charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
> >
> > At 04:25 AM 12/25/2008, Joe Fitzgerald wrote:
> > >Rocky Jones wrote:
> > > > I think that the first black and white photo
> of Earthrise over
> > > the Moon...was from one of the Lunar Orbiters...
> I think 5...
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >There was a nice story recently about a recent
> restoration of that
> > photo
> >
> >...http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-111408a.html
> > >
> > >-Joe KM1P
> > >_______________________________________________
> > >Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed
> are those of the
> > author.
> > >Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the
> amateur satellite
> > program!
> > >Subscription settings:
> http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
> >
> > I am amazed at times how my own past resurfaces.
> >
> > One of my duties at Goldstone from 1974-1976 was to
> manage the tape
> > backup for data received from spacecraft like the
> Voyagers and
> > Pioneers that flew by Jupiter, Saturn (and the outer
> planets after my
> > time), and other missions. It was sort of an unwanted
> task handed
> > off on me. But I took it serious and devised a record
> system to keep
> > track of when they were recorded and so they would be
> retained for
> > the required time period. These were backups as the
> prime data had
> > been transmitted to the mission scientist. These were
> held a minimum
> > of 30-days in case of any bad data in the originals.
> I started
> > stacking them in an unused office but in time they
> ended up in the
> > climate-controlled "basement" of the 64m
> DSS-14 Control
> > Building. They ended up being kept much longer than
> 30-days. I'm
> > guessing these reel tapes were made by the same
> recorder as mentioned
> > in the article. Isn't it fantastic that the old
> Lunar tapes were
> > recoverable! 2009 will be my 30th anniversary of
> leaving Jet
> > Propulsion Lab to move to Alaska...tempis fugit!
> >
> > The, then new, Hydrogen Maser Master Clock was
> installed in this same
> > room. It was used for precise timing of VLBI
> experiments, which
> > previously required calibration by the famous
> "flying clock" or the
> > x-band Moon Bounce timing system (ask Dick, K6HIJ).
> Not only
> > Goldstone, but Madrid, and Canberra stations required
> to be on the
> > same accurate time (ask Tom Clark about that).
> >
> > As the New Year approaches we reflect on the past.
> Thanks to those
> > who recently found those articles.
> >
> > Merry Christmas and Happy New year!
> > 73, Ed Cole - KL7UW (& Janet)
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are
> those of the author.
> > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the
> amateur satellite program!
> > Subscription settings:
> http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those
> of the author.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur
> satellite program!
> Subscription settings:
> http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 17:45:15 -0900
From: Edward Cole <kl7uw@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: reminiscing about a long ago time - WAS:Re:
Re: Earthrise - add
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <200812270245.mBR2jGxc079175@xxxxx.xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
James,
I have already submitted some of my personal experiences, so some of
us are old enough to have been there. I did not work in the manned
space program, but instead worked for the DSN (Deep Space Network)
that was charged with unmanned missions.
Working at Goldstone we were involved in many missions since we did
the tracking, commanding and data recovery. A couple of programs are
very much in my memory. I was a project engineer on the Mariner
Venus/Mercury (called MVM-73 before launch and Mariner-10 after). It
was (if I recall correctly) the first multi-planet probe to use
gravitational assist. It encountered Venus and swung around the
planet which gave it a boost in velocity to continue on to
Mercury. It was the first spacecraft to make a close examination of
Mercury. I was involved in the receiver section of the DSS-14
station (also called the "Mars" station) which had the 64m dish with
s/x band feed for studying the differential bending of RF thru the
atmosphere of Venus when it went into occultation (disappeared behind
the planet). We accurately measure both signal frequency and LOS of
the two carriers which would provide scientists with a measure of
atmospheric density. It was out of comm about 40-minutes when it was
to reappear from the behind Venus. But due to a human screw up,
Australia picked up the signal before us even though they did not
have a view of Venus above the horizon during the encounter. What
was even more embarrassing was that the Director of NASA made a
surprise visit to the station to personally view the
experiment. Boy, did we have some explaining to do. So what
happened? Since there were unknowns in the exact altitude above
Venus that the trajectory would take and unknowns about Venus'
gravitational field, I had to generate a series of estimates (on a
desk calculator) for Doppler shift and tell the other receiver
engineer what value of frequency to enter into the, then state of the
art, PLL mw receiver. Since 2292 part of the frequency did not
change, I gave him the .xxx,xxx,xx part instead of
2292.xxx,xxx,xx Yeah, in the excitement and stress of the moment the
other engineer and I screwed up the frequency entries. The other
frequency was 8415 MHz (I believe).
The other mission was the Viking-I Mars Lander, which I was involved
only slightly. But NASA circulated a paper asking for signatures of
all the participating engineers. The surprise was that they engraved
a small plaque that was attached to the spacecraft with all those
signatures. Mine is on there along with about 250 others. Pretty
neat deal to think back on.
In 2001 I made a visit to Goldstone after attending MUD-2001 in San
Jose. So much has changed, yet my tour-guide was a young woman that
began work at Goldstone a year after I left. She was in a training
program that I had a hand in starting. She actually said she
recalled my name - Later that night I had dinner with Dick, K6HIJ and
his son in Barstow and we reminisced. Dick first hired me to work at
Goldstone in his department.
All this is 30 years or more into my past, but the recent links to
the anniversary of Apollo-8 and the Parkes Station bring it back.
It was my dream as a young man in high school and even earlier to get
into the space program. But I never thought that would happen. It
was directly due to a friendship with K6HIJ that I got that
opportunity. Thanks Dick for all of that!
73, Ed - KL7UW
I worked at Goldstone 1971-1976 (I was 27 years old when I started);
JPL 1976-1979
At 04:17 PM 12/26/2008, James French wrote:
>Since we are reminiscing about where some of our families
>were doing at the beginning of the space age, I'll add mine
>in.
>
>My grandfather, Paul, W1DLP, told me about working on some of the
>equipment for the Gemini program. He even gave me one of his trinkets
>from then, a plastic coin bank in the shape of a Gemini capsule that he
>had gotten. I have long since lost that trinket...:(
>
>I am wondering how many of us had relatives that did something during
>those fun times?
>
>James W8ISS
>=====
>On Fri, 2008-12-26 at 11:13 -0600, Reicher, James wrote:
> > Seeing this link brought tears to my eyes.
> >
> > At the time the tapes were made, I was the tender age of three, but I
> > still have a very close connection with those images and with the tapes.
> >
> >
> > My grandfather, Walter Lyons, an electrical engineer with RCA, helped
> > develop the technology used in taking the images from the Lunar Orbiter
> > and Surveyor series and converting them into radio waves and into the
> > data found on these tapes.
> >
> > Although he never was licensed as an amateur, he was one of my
> > inspirations for becoming a ham. Unfortunately, he passed away 2 years
> > before I earned my ticket.
> >
> > 73 de W0HV, Jim in Raymore, MO (ex-N8AU)
> >
> > Light travels faster than sound... This is why some people appear
> > bright until you hear them speak.
> >
> > Date: Thu, 25 Dec 2008 11:30:36 -0900
> > From: Edward Cole <kl7uw@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Earthrise - add
> > To: Joe Fitzgerald <jfitzgerald@xxxx.xxx.xxx>
> > Cc: Amsat BB <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
> > Message-ID: <200812252030.mBPKUbv8086213@xxxxxx.xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
> >
> > At 04:25 AM 12/25/2008, Joe Fitzgerald wrote:
> > >Rocky Jones wrote:
> > > > I think that the first black and white photo of Earthrise over
> > > the Moon...was from one of the Lunar Orbiters... I think 5...
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >There was a nice story recently about a recent restoration of that
> > photo
> > >...http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-111408a.html
> > >
> > >-Joe KM1P
> > >_______________________________________________
> > >Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the
> > author.
> > >Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
> > program!
> > >Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
> >
> > I am amazed at times how my own past resurfaces.
> >
> > One of my duties at Goldstone from 1974-1976 was to manage the tape
> > backup for data received from spacecraft like the Voyagers and
> > Pioneers that flew by Jupiter, Saturn (and the outer planets after my
> > time), and other missions. It was sort of an unwanted task handed
> > off on me. But I took it serious and devised a record system to keep
> > track of when they were recorded and so they would be retained for
> > the required time period. These were backups as the prime data had
> > been transmitted to the mission scientist. These were held a minimum
> > of 30-days in case of any bad data in the originals. I started
> > stacking them in an unused office but in time they ended up in the
> > climate-controlled "basement" of the 64m DSS-14 Control
> > Building. They ended up being kept much longer than 30-days. I'm
> > guessing these reel tapes were made by the same recorder as mentioned
> > in the article. Isn't it fantastic that the old Lunar tapes were
> > recoverable! 2009 will be my 30th anniversary of leaving Jet
> > Propulsion Lab to move to Alaska...tempis fugit!
> >
> > The, then new, Hydrogen Maser Master Clock was installed in this same
> > room. It was used for precise timing of VLBI experiments, which
> > previously required calibration by the famous "flying clock" or the
> > x-band Moon Bounce timing system (ask Dick, K6HIJ). Not only
> > Goldstone, but Madrid, and Canberra stations required to be on the
> > same accurate time (ask Tom Clark about that).
> >
> > As the New Year approaches we reflect on the past. Thanks to those
> > who recently found those articles.
> >
> > Merry Christmas and Happy New year!
> > 73, Ed Cole - KL7UW (& Janet)
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
> > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
> >
>
>_______________________________________________
>Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
>Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
>Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2008 03:26:43 +0000
From: n3tl@xxxxxxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Elk Antenna vs Arrow Antenna
To: "Trey Brown" <palintheus@xxxxx.xxx>, amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID:
<122720080326.6186.4955A072000BD8320000182A22230647029B0A02D2089B9A019C0
4040A0DBF049BCC02@xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain
Trey and all,
I've used both. The Arrow is responsible for my Satellite VUCC Award, No.
170,
and my initial application with 130 grids was all using a handheld
satellite
station on the FM satellites. That being said, I didn't know the Elk
antenna
even existed until late September or early October. I picked one up,, and
I
no longer own my Arrow. I encourage you to talk to others because everyone
seems to have different experiences with each antenna. I can tell you
that,
for me, the Elk out-performs my Arrow consistently.
Wiith the Arrow, my low-end limiting elevation here was 8 degrees (i.e., I
couldn't copy any of the satetllites until they had risen to at least 8
degrees at the start of the pass, and I lost them at 8 degrees descending
at
the end of the pass). My low-end limiting elevation on the Elk is 4
degrees on
a regular basis. I have a confirmed contact on AO-16 with a station when
the
satellite was at 0.7 degrees. II worked a station last night on VO-52 also
down to 0.7 degrees. And in both instances, I was inside on the second
floor
of my house, manually tracking the satellite while hand-holding the Elk.
I am able to routinely work AO-7, AO-16 (when she comes alive for us!),
AO-51,
FO-29, SO-50 and VO-52 with the Elk, along with the International Space
Station when its repeater is turned on. Speaking of the ISS - the Elk
enabled
me to realize a 25-year dream when I worked Richard Garriott from the ISS
during his trip. I heard his Dad 25 years ago, but I didn't make it. I got
the
SWL card that ARRL issued back then for W5LFL, the first hamj in space.
Now,
I'll have a card confirming a contact with his son. The Elk made that
possible
because it's rated for up to 200 watts. The Arrow will run more than 10
watts,
but not with its duplexer,. You'll have to run separate feeds to each of
the
yagis to accomplish that. The Elk has a single feedpoint and does not
require
a duplexer for dual-band operation with one radio. Here, I use a two-radio
"full duplex" station for the SSB/CW satellites, to I use a duplexer to
connect both radios to one Elk. If I had an Icom 910, for example, whi!
ch is a full-duplex-capable radio, I wouldn't need that.
This point is, in my opinion, as much a tribute to the satellites as it is
the
Elk - but I failed to mention that I can and do routinely work all the
satellites mentioned above with a station consisting of one or two Yaesu
FT-
817ND QRP rigs. I have and use a Yaesu FT-857D as a transmit radio from
time
to time, but I don't NEED the extra power to reach the satellites and make
QSOs with the Elk.
It's smaller than the Arrow and, as a result, I find it more manageable as
a
handheld antenna. You'll need to spend 40-50 cents on one PVC "t"
connector
and about 2 feet of PVC (total) to make a handle like the one shown on my
QRZ.com listing. The elements and attach points on the main beam are
colorr-
coded, which is helpful during assembly. And, the Elk retails for about
$50
less than the Arrow.
A few years ago, I discovered, there was a thread here on the AMSAT-BB
that
suggested the Elk was not suitable for satellite work because it would not
permit full-duplex operation. That simply is incorrect, and I have a
4-minute-
plusrecording of an AO-51 pass I'll be happy to email you in MP3 format if
you'd like to hear it. The Elk handles full duplex operation just fine,
and my
ability to work the linear-transponder satellites is more evidence because
Doppler tuning is so important with them. I have to hear myself to be able
to
Doppler-tune, and the Elk lets me do that.
Back to the Garriott contact. I say the Elk allowed me to make that
contact
because it allowed me to run more than 10 watts out. There were hundreds
of
stations calling Richard Garriott every time he worked voice contacts
during a
pass over north America. I set up my FT-857D outside in semi-duplex split
frequency, and Richard answered me the second time I called him. What a
thrill.
I have only owned one Arrow, and I have only owned one Elk. I encourage
you to
talk to otthers, and I'm sure you'll hear from others here. Many people
I've
met through satellite contacts know what I was able to accomplish rather
quickly using the Arrow. It is effective - but effective can be a realtive
term. I have found the Elk to be even more effective than the Arrow day-in
and
day-out.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you'd like to hear that MP3, and I'll
send
it along.
73 to all,
Tim - N3TL
Athens, Ga. - EM84ha
-------------- Original message from "Trey Brown" <palintheus@xxxxx.xxx>:
----
----------
> I'm looking to get started in FM satellites and am considering
> purchasing one of these antennas. Wanting to get some thoughts and
> opinions from people that have been doing this longer than I have
> been.
>
> http://www.elkantennas.com/2m4405element.htm
> http://arrowantennas.com/146-437.html
>
> --
> Trey -- N5THX
>
> They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
> safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.
> - Benjamin Franklin
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Message: 7
Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2008 18:55:35 -0600
From: "Trey Brown" <n5thx@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Elk Antenna vs Arrow Antenna
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID:
<e79ccb000812261655i3c002c35rc2fb4728730a6f21@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I'm looking to get started in FM satellites and am considering
purchasing one of these antennas. Wanting to get some thoughts and
opinions from people that have been doing this longer than I have
been.
http://www.elkantennas.com/2m4405element.htm
http://arrowantennas.com/146-437.html
--
Trey -- N5THX
They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.
- Benjamin Franklin
------------------------------
Message: 8
Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2008 13:32:43 +0200
From: "Kauto Huopio OH2LFM" <oh2lfm@xxxx.xx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Elk Antenna vs Arrow Antenna
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID:
<6d43fa450812270332x36a4af03g2a1efa2165665321@xxxx.xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
I have an Elk myself, bought originally for emergency prepardness ops.
Have tried
with satellites couple of times - with very favourable results. One
odd thing - why
PL-256 connectors are still used in 2m/70cm equipment sold in US? We
have a saying
that PL-256 is a screwable banana plug connector.. at 70cm, loss is
already noticeable.
Why the ham radio equipment industry can't supply equipment with
appropriate
connectors like N on rigs and antennas to US market? In Europe, N is
the way to go
on yagis, amps and rigs on 2m and 70cm gear.
--Kauto OH2LFM
--
Kauto Huopio OH2LFM - oh2lfm@xxxxx.xx
Hansakallionkuja 12 A 1, 02780 Espoo, Finland
Tel. +358-40-5008774 (gsm)
------------------------------
Message: 9
Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2008 08:43:22 -0600
From: "Gary \"Joe\" Mayfield" <gary_mayfield@xxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Elk Antenna vs Arrow Antenna
To: "'Trey Brown'" <palintheus@xxxxx.xxx>, <amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx>
Message-ID: <COL0-DAV21EAF9656227BB29AE20F58AE80@xxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
I have used the arrow for many years with great success.
73,
Joe kk0sd
-----Original Message-----
From: amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxx [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@xxxxx.xxxx On
Behalf Of Trey Brown
Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 8:01 PM
To: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Subject: [amsat-bb] Elk Antenna vs Arrow Antenna
I'm looking to get started in FM satellites and am considering
purchasing one of these antennas. Wanting to get some thoughts and
opinions from people that have been doing this longer than I have
been.
http://www.elkantennas.com/2m4405element.htm
http://arrowantennas.com/146-437.html
--
Trey -- N5THX
They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.
- Benjamin Franklin
_______________________________________________
Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Message: 10
Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2008 07:45:53 -0900
From: Edward Cole <kl7uw@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Elk Antenna vs Arrow Antenna
To: "Kauto Huopio OH2LFM" <oh2lfm@xxxx.xx>, amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <200812271645.mBRGjrle006669@xxxxx.xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
Kauto,
I completely agree. I do not use PL-259 at work except for some
Marine radio equipment. Motorola mobile has gone to the mini-UHF and
cellular is mostly TNC. Base stations and repeaters are all
N-connectors as are the duplexers. All my antennas have N connectors
as do the hardline runs.
What I hear from local hams is "its too hard to assemble N
connectors" to which I say "hogwash" (a US term meaning
ridiculous). N connectors only require soldering the center pin
which normally is gold plated. PL-259s require "tons of heat" to
solder the shield which risks melting the center insulator of the
coax. I have more instances of shorted PL-259 connectors.
MY DEMI xvtrs all are equipped with N-female and BNC connectors for
RF connections. It seems that mostly ham radios made in Japan come
with SO-239 (female) connectors...and I would say this is because US
hams are requesting them on their equipment (or have in the past).
My FT-847 has one N connector for 70cm but the other bands are all
SO-239. I added two sma connectors for separate Rx antennas on 2m
and 70cm. All my mw gear use either N, TNC, or sma's.......so???
73, Ed - KL7UW
At 02:32 AM 12/27/2008, Kauto Huopio OH2LFM wrote:
>I have an Elk myself, bought originally for emergency prepardness ops.
>Have tried
>with satellites couple of times - with very favourable results. One
>odd thing - why
>PL-256 connectors are still used in 2m/70cm equipment sold in US? We
>have a saying
>that PL-256 is a screwable banana plug connector.. at 70cm, loss is
>already noticeable.
>
>Why the ham radio equipment industry can't supply equipment with appropriate
>connectors like N on rigs and antennas to US market? In Europe, N is
>the way to go
>on yagis, amps and rigs on 2m and 70cm gear.
>
>--Kauto OH2LFM
>
>--
>Kauto Huopio OH2LFM - oh2lfm@xxxxx.xx
>Hansakallionkuja 12 A 1, 02780 Espoo, Finland
>Tel. +358-40-5008774 (gsm)
>_______________________________________________
>Sent via AMSAT-BB@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
>Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
>Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
------------------------------
Message: 11
Date: Sat, 27 Dec 2008 16:53:28 +0000
From: Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF <nigel@xxxxx.xxx>
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Elk Antenna vs Arrow Antenna
To: Edward Cole <kl7uw@xxxxxxxxx.xxx>
Cc: amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx
Message-ID: <49565D88.2090504@xxxxx.xxx>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed
Terminating N connectors (or C, BNC, TNC and others) is identical to
terminating PL-259s if you buy good quality 259s.
Edward Cole wrote:
>
> What I hear from local hams is "its too hard to assemble N
> connectors" to which I say "hogwash" (a US term meaning
> ridiculous).
------------------------------
_______________________________________________
Sent via amsat-bb@xxxxx.xxx. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 3, Issue 671
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