If you're interested in starting to play with Satellites: Install MacDoppler and track SO-50. Then get a cheapie VHF/UHF dual band radio that can tune to 436.800 Mhz. You don't need a big antenna, just figure out where the satellite is from Azimuth and Elevation and point the radio's antenna at the ground so that it's upside down and perpendicular to a line from you to the satellite (like you're shooting a snake with a ray gun if the antenna is the ray gun). Tune up a few Khz as the satellite is coming towards you and down as it is going away from you to compensate for doppler. You'll hear lots of hams using the satellite as a repeater.
If you want to talk too, get a Technician ham license which is very easy and an Arrow II dual band antenna and point it at the bird and chat away. [And then call me, I'm callsign AD0ER]
There are over 50 amateur satellites that were launched as repeaters, most of them dead. FO-29, SO-50, AO-07 and a handful of others work. I believe Turksat-3USAT should enable any day now as a repeater. There's also the ISS. You can also get telemetry from many other satellites and it's all mostly just VHF and UHF.
The author of the project should turn the project into a kickstarter to provide hams with auto-tracking of satellites. I wouldn't even care about radio integration, just save me having to stand outside with a hand-held yagi looking like I should be wearing a tinfoil hat. Post something to QRZ.com and see if there's interest.
Wow, the equivalent Yaesu is over $180 bucks. Thanks for the tip. I'm occasionally on 20 meters around 8 to 9pm mountain time around 14.250 +- 20khz in case you play with HF. Congrats on General!
If you want to talk too, get a Technician ham license which is very easy and an Arrow II dual band antenna and point it at the bird and chat away. [And then call me, I'm callsign AD0ER]
There are over 50 amateur satellites that were launched as repeaters, most of them dead. FO-29, SO-50, AO-07 and a handful of others work. I believe Turksat-3USAT should enable any day now as a repeater. There's also the ISS. You can also get telemetry from many other satellites and it's all mostly just VHF and UHF.
The author of the project should turn the project into a kickstarter to provide hams with auto-tracking of satellites. I wouldn't even care about radio integration, just save me having to stand outside with a hand-held yagi looking like I should be wearing a tinfoil hat. Post something to QRZ.com and see if there's interest.