KX-3 and satellites

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KX-3 and satellites

Mike Herr
Just wanted to claim the first use of the KX-3 on satellite, both FO29 and
AO7. Worked fine, excellent audio reports. Did need both a receive preamp
and a little help on transmit as well.

--
Mike Herr
WA6ARA
DM-15dp
Home of The QRP Ranch

No trees were killed in the sending of this message, however, a large
number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
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Re: KX-3 and satellites

wayne burdick
Administrator
Congratulations, Mike. I'd be interested in hearing about your complete equipment lineup.

Wayne
N6KR

On Aug 14, 2014, at 5:09 PM, Mike Herr <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Just wanted to claim the first use of the KX-3 on satellite, both FO29 and
> AO7. Worked fine, excellent audio reports. Did need both a receive preamp
> and a little help on transmit as well.
>
> --
> Mike Herr
> WA6ARA
> DM-15dp
> Home of The QRP Ranch
>
> No trees were killed in the sending of this message, however, a large
> number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

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Re: KX-3 and satellites

Mike Herr
In reply to this post by Mike Herr
Had a few questions about the set up I am using with the KX3 and satellite
operation. So far I have been on both FO29 and AO7. FO29 is fairly easy
bird to get through, AO7 can be difficult. I have not tried SO50 yet. I use
the compute to control the az / el rotors but not the doppler shift. I
adjust for doppler manually, using the tried and true rule of only
adjusting the higher of the uplink / downlink frequencies. This works well
enough for the past 30 years of satellite operation, as the QSOs are short
and the satellites are (unfortunately) largely empty.

On FO29, if the pass is very high elevation, say above 60degrees, I can get
into it barefoot with the 3 watts from the KX3, but don't expect to do that
near the horizon. Generally speaking I use 10 watts or less  for most of
the pass.

On AO7, an external preamp is needed, especially with the only 3 elements
yagi. Again, on a high elevation I can hear fine without an external
preamp, but it is definitely helpful.

AO-7
Downlink (145.950 MHz)  - Elecraft KX3 with 2 meter module
                                       3 element yagi
                                       Mirage B-34G amp (includes Gaasfet
preamp)

Uplink (432.150 MHz)     - Yaesu FT-857
                                      11 element yagi

FO-29
Downlink (435.850 MHz)     - Yaesu FT-857
                                      11 element yagi

Uplink (145.950 MHz)        - Elecraft KX3 with 2 meter module
                                       3 element yagi
                                       Mirage B-34G amp

OBTW - Starting a road trip in a week, taking the KX3 along for both SOTA
and satellite field operations.
--
Mike Herr
WA6ARA
DM-15dp
Home of The QRP Ranch

No trees were killed in the sending of this message, however, a large
number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
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Re: KX-3 and satellites

Edward R Cole
In reply to this post by Mike Herr
Also my congrats!

I intend to use my KX3-2M and K3 + 432 transverter* for crossband
duplex satellite operation.  Typically current satellites uplink on
2m and downlink on 435, so I have added a RFC 2-23 linear amp which
can provide output up to 30w on 2m to a 7-element yagi which is way
more than required for satellite operation.  A low-noise preamp is
used on 435-MHz with a CP x-yagi.

MY az-el satellite rotator requires repair of the control box so not
QRV for the satellites at present.

The KX3-2M  appears to work well on area repeaters and good on a
short SSB test.

*L432-28 transverter with synthesized PLL by DEMI; has two frequency
ranges: 432-434/435-437

73, Ed - KL7UW
http://www.kl7uw.com
     "Kits made by KL7UW"
Dubus Mag business:
     [hidden email]

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