[NLRS] Re: OSCAR antenna

[Mark Oswood]

There was an article in Mar 2003 QST  called "Work
OSCAR 40 with Cardboard-Box Antennas!"  I haven't
built one, but it looked pretty simple.  It is a
corner reflector made with a cardboard box and
aluminum foil.  I have to look the article up.  I
don't remember if this was for V/U or L/S band.  Might
be an easy way to try things out without a big
investment.

As for AO-51, I think you can hear it on an
omnidirectional gain antenna like a J-pole.  See

http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/Echo_Linkbudget.php

for power calculations.

Of course, if you want to try the microwave downlink,
you will need a dish or loop Yagi, etc.  I have one of
the dual-band crossed Yagis from Arrow antenna (3el on
2 meters, 7el on 70 cm).  This works well for hearing
the low orbit birds, and can also be used as a
portable beam for VHF/UHF operations.  I have used it
to check into the Sunday night net 2 meter net with 5
watts in the past.  

The problem with the handheld beam is trying to
coordinate tuning for Doppler shift while aiming the
antenna by hand.  I think the Ham Radio Deluxe
software can be set up to auto-tune for Doppler on the
FT817.  I will probably give this a try when the
weather warms up a little.

73,
Mark W0LM

----------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 7 Mar 2006 07:09:59 -0600
> From: "Carl Estey" <cestey at mn.rr.com>
> Subject: [NLRS] WTB:  S-Band 2401 Mhz Antenna
> To: <nlrs at mailman.qth.net>
> Message-ID:
> <000001c641e8$736fc240$6601a8c0 at CAROLNEW>
> Content-Type: text/plain;	charset="us-ascii"
> 
> After seeing a message about 2401-Mhz downconverters
>  for sale I have
> started to consider listening on AO-51 but need an
> antenna.  Does anyone in
> the area have any surplus antennas for 2401?  I am
> also interested in
> knowing about antennas that are fairly easy to
> build.
> 
>  
> 
> 73
> 
> Carl Estey WA0CQG
> 
> wa0cqg at arrl.net
> 
> (952) 250-3110 (Cellphone)
> 
>  

----------
Mark C. Oswood, MD, PhD
oswoodm at yahoo.com

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