Monday, March 21, 2011
Testing Out The New Satellite Antenna
Here is a quick video of the latest satellite gear in action. The first Call I made is through SO-50 on FM, followed by 3 QSO using SSB via VO-52 with SQ9MES - IW4BIF - EA6SA.
Thanks for all the comments regarding this project, as you can hear in the video I am getting my signal into the satellites quite well with the Ft-847 and Tripod array. I hope to work some more of you via the "birds" as its always a pleasure to catch some of you guys that actually follow my crazy antics. 73 Happy DXing and SAT Chasing.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Vertical Polarisation Is the Icing On The Cake
I have been having some good results with the latest Satellite array but still found AO-51 a little difficult at times due to the regular European pile up hi hi.
However, after receiving an interesting comment from Tom - F8COD regarding the Sat antenna set up, I decided to act on Toms advice and have a tinker around with the 145 Yagi.
Tom - F8COD advised me to try vertical polarisation instead of horizontal on my Yagi antenna after noting better performance on his own satellite array.
I set the 145MHz Yagi vertical and since then I have been hitting AO-51 with ease. I have also had some excellent QSO's via AO-7 and VO-52 on SSB. I am really impressed how well the Tripod mounted system is working. Merci Beaucoup Tom! Catch you via the "birds" soon!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Video Tour Of Simon's New Shack And Antenna Systems
Earlier I got lucky in between a nappy change when I worked TJ3FC - Cameroon on 12 meters using my Carolina Windom antenna and FT-1000MKV. I Hope you like my second station its slowly taking shape and getting nearer the finishing stages. I shall hopefully finish off soon by fixing the SAT antenna and Tri-band Vertical up on the house.
Its a Girl!
Finally after been two weeks late I am proud to be able to tell you all, we were blessed with a beautiful Daughter.
She is only 3 days old and is already practising her CQ call as seen in the picture. We were up early again listening around the bands for some rare DX All the best from a very Happy Ham Family. 73
She is only 3 days old and is already practising her CQ call as seen in the picture. We were up early again listening around the bands for some rare DX All the best from a very Happy Ham Family. 73
Friday, February 25, 2011
Latest Home Brew Metal Work Project - Tripod Mount For Satellite Yagis
This week I continued with my latest radio project which was to be some kind of rotator mount that I could use to set up my latest Satellite array.
As mentioned in my last post, I am planning on fixing the new Satellite antenna high up on the house. However, before I can begin working on that installation I want to build everything up at ground level and give it all a good testing out, ironing out any problems there may be on the way.
With all this in mind I began to search through my scrap material pile that I have stashed away for a rainy day etc.
I soon came across some heavy duty pipe and found some screwed/threaded bar. Then with a bit of sawing, grinding and hammering, I began fabricating the scrap pipe and metal which I finished off by welding it all up into a fairly substantial tripod.
The finished tripod can easily be dismantled and folds up nice and neat allowing it to be transported without any hassle.
I finished the job by painting it black, I then fitted the Yaesu GS5500 rotator to the top of it. (as seen below in the two images).
Next, I was ready to install the two Satellite Yagi antennas.
I fitted the 435 X beam and the 145 Yagi with a short ally pole keeping the weight down to a minimum.
The video below shows the Satellite array up and running working well at ground level.
I have already made a couple of successful QSO via VO-52 as well as hearing AO-51 nice and loud last night. The new setup will be even better once I complete the full installation on the house.
Hope to hear you via the SATs soon!
As mentioned in my last post, I am planning on fixing the new Satellite antenna high up on the house. However, before I can begin working on that installation I want to build everything up at ground level and give it all a good testing out, ironing out any problems there may be on the way.
With all this in mind I began to search through my scrap material pile that I have stashed away for a rainy day etc.
I soon came across some heavy duty pipe and found some screwed/threaded bar. Then with a bit of sawing, grinding and hammering, I began fabricating the scrap pipe and metal which I finished off by welding it all up into a fairly substantial tripod.
The finished tripod can easily be dismantled and folds up nice and neat allowing it to be transported without any hassle.
I finished the job by painting it black, I then fitted the Yaesu GS5500 rotator to the top of it. (as seen below in the two images).
Next, I was ready to install the two Satellite Yagi antennas.I fitted the 435 X beam and the 145 Yagi with a short ally pole keeping the weight down to a minimum.
The video below shows the Satellite array up and running working well at ground level.
I have already made a couple of successful QSO via VO-52 as well as hearing AO-51 nice and loud last night. The new setup will be even better once I complete the full installation on the house.
Hope to hear you via the SATs soon!
Monday, February 21, 2011
More Antenna Instalations
I awoke nice and early on Sunday morning, walked the dog and then listened to the local RSGB news broadcast as usual.
Straight after the weekly news broadcast, I headed outside and began installing a CAROLINA WINDOM 80 (133FT offset dipole).
The CW-80 tunes nicely from 80M to 10M and after listening around the bands for a short while yesterday, it seems to be performing well on 40M, 17M & 15M. I will be testing it further on the rest of the bands and recording the results.
The CW-80 is suspended between the House and a reasonably tall tree at the far end of the garden, as seen in the picture.
I shall be fixing the CW-80 higher up once I install a mast on the rear of the house which will help elevate the wire high above the roof.
The next job was to begin work on the Satellite antenna array that I am planing to use. I began by asembling the two antenna systems that I will be using, a 5 element 145MHz Yagi and a 30 element 435MHz X beam. I built both antennas up to a stage that can be completed when I am ready to finish the installation.
The next stage was to get the Yaesu GS5500 Azimuth/Elevation rotator set up. I wanted to check it and get it ready to be at hand for when I am at the construction/assembly stage.
Now, the not so fun part! Yes this was the part when the hard work started.
I began runing 2 control cables and 2 coaxial feeders from out in the garden to back inside the shack. (located at the opposite side of the house = Sods Law!).
I ended up spending a few hours doing the job of running the cables making sure that all cables were as neatly installed as possible. Finally I reached the back of my Yaesu FT-847 and GS5500 Azi/Ele Control unit, there I tinned/soldered the wires and connected them up ready for the outdoor work.
I finished yesterdays antenna antics off by identifing which coaxial feeder was which, I did this simply by using a electronic test multi meter held across the SO plug connector at the shack end of the coax . At the other end I attached an old antenna socket shorted out with a croc link lead to the end of one feeder that I had suspected to be for 145MHz.
All I need now is some more spare time and a pair of good ladders so I can fit the Satellite antennas up on the house with some nice heavy brackets that I made a while ago.
Straight after the weekly news broadcast, I headed outside and began installing a CAROLINA WINDOM 80 (133FT offset dipole).
The CW-80 tunes nicely from 80M to 10M and after listening around the bands for a short while yesterday, it seems to be performing well on 40M, 17M & 15M. I will be testing it further on the rest of the bands and recording the results.
The CW-80 is suspended between the House and a reasonably tall tree at the far end of the garden, as seen in the picture.
I shall be fixing the CW-80 higher up once I install a mast on the rear of the house which will help elevate the wire high above the roof.
The next job was to begin work on the Satellite antenna array that I am planing to use. I began by asembling the two antenna systems that I will be using, a 5 element 145MHz Yagi and a 30 element 435MHz X beam. I built both antennas up to a stage that can be completed when I am ready to finish the installation.
The next stage was to get the Yaesu GS5500 Azimuth/Elevation rotator set up. I wanted to check it and get it ready to be at hand for when I am at the construction/assembly stage.
Now, the not so fun part! Yes this was the part when the hard work started.
I began runing 2 control cables and 2 coaxial feeders from out in the garden to back inside the shack. (located at the opposite side of the house = Sods Law!).
I ended up spending a few hours doing the job of running the cables making sure that all cables were as neatly installed as possible. Finally I reached the back of my Yaesu FT-847 and GS5500 Azi/Ele Control unit, there I tinned/soldered the wires and connected them up ready for the outdoor work.
I finished yesterdays antenna antics off by identifing which coaxial feeder was which, I did this simply by using a electronic test multi meter held across the SO plug connector at the shack end of the coax . At the other end I attached an old antenna socket shorted out with a croc link lead to the end of one feeder that I had suspected to be for 145MHz.
All I need now is some more spare time and a pair of good ladders so I can fit the Satellite antennas up on the house with some nice heavy brackets that I made a while ago.
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