[AK-VHF] VE8RT help request

[Edward R Cole]

Ron,

Back in 2004 my step son gave me a FT-726R with basic 2m/70cm plus 
satellite board option.  I only used it on our trip up from MS 
(moving my wife and dog to AK).  I sold it a few months later.

Never tried using it on satellite so not really familiar with 
that.  If it has the CAT interface jack it can be controlled by a 
computer.  If not then you will have to tune manually.  Quite a few 
of the FM sats work well enough with Tx fixed in freq and only tuning 
the Rx.  Some the Doppler changes enough that Tx needs a few steps to 
stay on the sat input.  In the full sat tune mode, which would be 
marked NOR for normal, both will tune with main freq. knob.

I have not done any satellite since about 2003 so very out of date on 
what's up and details of working them.  But two of our members, KL7XJ 
and KL4E are active and might offer some advice.  You should 
subscribe to AMSAT-BB e-mail reflector as there are probably FT-726R 
owners on the list who would be best sources of help.  Once you 
reveal that you are a VE8 you will receive a lot of request to work 
you on satellites.  FT-726R is a good move.  One thing that may be 
missing is subaudible tone board.  Some sats require a tone to activate.

I acquired a FT-736R a couple years ago but have not yet put it on 
the sats.  I use it for local 2m & 70cm.

GL es 73,
ED - KL7UW

At 08:30 PM 1/28/2018, you wrote:
>Hi Ed,
>
>    I've been given a FT726R, with the satellite option.  I've been
>going over it, with a maintenance manual on hand, a couple of issues
>have come up.  First, there seem to be obvious errors and emisions in
>the service manual, but I'm making my way around them.  While going
>over the TX board alignment I found that I couldn't do much better than
>25dB carrier suppression on SSB (the owner's manual says it should be
>better than 40 dB).  The carrier nul adjustmwent has some, but little,
>influence.  Also there is no TX output on 70cm, but I have at least one
>spare module to try.
>
>    As I'd like to try it on the analog cubesats it might help to get
>some tips from someone who used one on how to manage Doppler
>correction.  As this older rig doesn't have computer control. There is
>the UP/DOWN mic connector inputs, but that doesn't seem to be a feature
>on the current free software (maybe it was on Instant Track back in the
>day).
>
>    Know anyone who would be interested in helping me get this on the
>air.
>
>    A month ago I joined AMSAT, and have started reading "Getting
>Started on Satellites".  Its been over 20 years since I last operated
>satellites, not that I did it right back then :-)
>
>    Thanks,
>           Ron VE8RT
>
>--
>Ron VE8RT <ve8rt at yknwt.ca>

73, Ed - KL7UW
   http://www.kl7uw.com
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