[ICOM] IC-910H Satellite Work

Thu Jun 23 22:37:08 EDT 2005

Dave,

As far as CW and SSB birds, FO-29 is up and working great. Occasionally you 
can also get into AO-7 but look at www.amsat.com for the latest status.

You get a lot of info on W0LMD web site http://www.ultimatecharger.com/ . 
Robert is very knowledgeable and an avid satellite and SSTV enthusiast.
Robert backs up his products with a lifetime warrantee. Talked with Robert 
at Dayton, I always depart with additional knowledge, Great guy.

Occationally the yaesu 5400 rotors come up for sale on www.eham.net and of 
course ebay. I actually bought everything I use for satellites used, except 
for the W0LMD interface and the SatPC32 program.
Amsat is the sales rep. for this program. So if you become a member of 
Amsat, you receive a discount price for the software. The author is very 
receptive to questions and respnds very quickly with helpfull hints. I used 
Nova previously, but found that with every upgrade, more problems came with 
it. Nova, however, is probably the most used program out there. As far as 
radio control for doppler correction and antenna steering, they both work 
fine. Took me 10 minutes to get SatPC32 running from intial startup. 
Upgrades so far are free.

Be carefull with the 970H. I could never get it to function properly with 
either program. Might not be a problem with the software, just my 
inabilities. I opperated thru the birds for a couple of years with a 970H, 
manually adjusting the downlink vfo, and allowing the program to steer the 
antennas. Many others operate the birds in a similar manner. Maybe others on 
the reflector can help you with the setup for the 970H.

Hope to see you on the LEO's soon.
73 John WB9PNU

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave Edwards" <kd2e at comcast.net>
To: "ICOM Reflector" <icom at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 6:27 PM
Subject: Re: [ICOM] IC-910H Satellite Work

> Hi John... Say, perhaps you could answer some easy questions that I have 
> on the same subject?
> I have an Icom 970H that I planned on using for terrestrial VHF/UHF 
> work....but so far have not been too enthused about climbing up the tower 
> again.
> I used to operate the birds, back in the AO10,13, and RS days Are there 
> still SSB/CW UHF/VHF birds up there?   I just find no interest in sending 
> packets, or repeater like FM activity on them
> You answered another question of mine. I understand I can get a Yaesu 
> AZ/EL rotor for about $600....but the interface is another 600!!!   Your 
> email states that there are non-Yaesu versions of the interface, the W0LMD 
> item. That got my wheels spinning.... I could get a small VHF/UHF array, 
> put it on a tripod....even in the back yard or deck...purchase perhaps a 
> used G5400B AZ EL rotor and the interface...and get back on the birds for 
> about 500 bucks!!!    I may pursue this, If my thinking is on track
> Thanks for any info!
> ....Dave
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "John Germanos" <wb9pnu at swbell.net>
> To: "ICOM Reflector" <icom at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 6:36 PM
> Subject: Re: [ICOM] IC-910H Satellite Work
>
>
>> Joe,
>> I use the Icom 910H for satellite communications. What you are doing is 
>> the best that you can expect from the radio.
>> The use of external preamps (like the Icom preamps) are very helpful, but 
>> not necessary.
>>
>> It is difficult to keep up with Doppler when working the LEO satellites. 
>> I finally bought SatPC32 from Amsat. With this program, a serial port 
>> (comm port), an Icom CT-17 or equivalent aftermarket interface, working 
>> the birds has become as easy as working your local repeaters.
>>
>> If you have an AZ-EL rotor such as the yaesu 5400 or 5500 and an 
>> interface for connection to a second com port, (I use the W0LMD Sat. 
>> Junior Interface) this program will also steer the antennas.
>> If you don't, that's OK as well. I know many satellite uses who operate 
>> very successfully without AZ-EL capable antenna systems. My friend uses 
>> egg-beaters and preamps as does a great job.
>>
>> Rule of thumb, with radio in sat. mode (full duplex) with separate 
>> antennas for 2 and 70cm, If you here yourself, then most others will here 
>> you.
>>
>> Good luck, the 910H is overall a great radio for sat. operations.
>>
>> 73 John WB9PNU
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Joe - KC2TN" <kc2tn at comcast.net>
>> To: <icom at mailman.qth.net>
>> Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2005 11:31 AM
>> Subject: [ICOM] IC-910H Satellite Work
>>
>>
>>> Anyone on this reflector use the 910H for satellite?
>>>
>>> I've looked on other sites (i.e. AMSAT and such) but can't seem to find 
>>> any
>>> other info on this rig.
>>>
>>> I find myself using the satellite mode to store the memories of the 
>>> various
>>> satellites only.
>>>
>>> When a pass is forthcoming I select the memory for that satellite and 
>>> then
>>> transfer the frequencies to the VFO's, lock in the transmit and then 
>>> adjust
>>> for Doppler with the other VFO.
>>>
>>> The reverse/normal mode seems useless other than to get me close to a
>>> transmit frequency.
>>>
>>> Any help would be appreciated either here or offline.
>>>
>>> Joe - KC2TN
>>> "If you're sure of everything,
>>>        and it still doesn't work,
>>>           one of the things you're sure of is wrong!"
>>>
>>>
>>> ----
>>> Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC, icom-owner at mailman.qth.net
>>> Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
>>> Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
>>>
>>>
>>> -- 
>>> No virus found in this incoming message.
>>> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
>>> Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.7.11/26 - Release Date: 6/22/2005
>>>
>>>
>>
>> ----
>> Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC, icom-owner at mailman.qth.net
>> Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
>> Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
>
> ----
> Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC, icom-owner at mailman.qth.net
> Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
> Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
>
>
> -- 
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> Version: 7.0.323 / Virus Database: 267.7.11/26 - Release Date: 6/22/2005
>
> 