[AReU] Reception with small dish

[w4tas]

>From the article that I forwarded from Amsat-BB this morning and from
reports from Mike and Dick on the performance of their small dishes, it
seems that a DEMI preamp would be helpful. The preamp that I am using is a
13ULNA with 17 db of gain and 0.5 db noise figure. The kit price is $89.00
and it isn't too hard to put together. It takes a small soldering iron and
good eyes. Good anti static practices are mandatory as the active device is
a HEMT FET. That's short for high electron mobility transistor-field effect
transistor. Of course if anyone decides to get one of these babies, I will
help in the construction of the kit. You will have to have an extra bias tee
at the antenna for tapping off power for the preamplifier. This is a minor
problem also.

Dick heard me on the bird this morning. I was transmitting 50 KHz above the
beacon and he apparently had little trouble in getting his antenna pointed
and tuning me in. We were using his repeater for liaison.

I am waiting with great anticipation for the next good pass.

73

Tony