[K6BW] Using the Yaesu 8800 (or any dual-band mobile) for satellites

[Bill Smith]

There are three sats up that are cross band FM repeaters. AO-51, AO-27 and SO-50. You can work these easily with your 8800 and a good antenna. The uplink (on 2 meters) can be done with a 1/4 wave whip. The 70cm downlink usually needs an antenna with gain, such as a small UHF yagi. Otherwise, with a omni whip, you will only hear them on close overhead passes.

Go to www.amsat.org and you will find a lot of information on these sats. There is information there also on tracking the sats so you know when to listen.