[PPRAANet] HAM projects

[Earl Watkins]

Greetings all,

On tonight net I discussed working satellites as well as using a TX SDR.
Below I will describe what I know and if anybody is interested in working
with me on one or both tasks please contact me at: titaniumblades at gmail.com.
<titaniumblades at gmail.com>
If you are interested please contact me, I understand that terms like Linux
and SDR can be intimidating, shoot it intimidated me until i passed the
phase where I knew enough to be dangerous. I have adept at the tech side
and can likely bring you up to speed with references and experience, either
mine or a phone number away. The biggest thing for me is that I need to
break my cycle of working alone and this is the only way for me to do that.
One last detail is that When these projects are completed I will use my
professional skill set to document these such that future parties can build
upon our success, and maybe avoid some mistakes.

A small disclaimer: I have tested the following links but it is always a
good idea to vet the details before following a hyperlink. Also I have not
followed any of the links on those pages and it is at your discretion to
follow them.

*Working Satellites:*
*Jim Bishop, KD0KQL, had told me about an individual starting to get a
satellite setup going and I would like to touch base with this individual.*

Working Satellites seems to go well with the 2m /70cm bands. I have found a
setup I believe to work.

   - Antenna: Arrow 146/437- 10W(BP) 2m / 70 cm with duplexer for 1 radio
   operation. (http://www.arrowantennas.com/arrowii/146-437.html).
   <http://www.arrowantennas.com/arrowii/146-437.html>
   - Radio(have): Kenwood THD72-A 2m / 70 cm radio with dual band operation
   (https://www.kenwood.com/usa/com/amateur/th-d72a/).
   <https://www.kenwood.com/usa/com/amateur/th-d72a/>
   - Satellite Tracking Software (have): Satellite-AR track any satellite
   in the air from a smart phone with google (space view?) overlay
   (https://agi.com/satellite-ar). <https://agi.com/satellite-ar>
   - Satellite details(public availability): https://www.amsat.org. Amateur
   Radio Satellite details
   <https://www.amsat.org>

The idea is to mount the phone to the base of the antenna handle and have a
view of where the antenna is pointed. Then use the details at AMSAT to make
contacts.

*SDRs:*

SDR is Software Defined Radios. This means one unit could potentially work
ALL bands. These setups have the potential of being mobile, efficient, and
massively configurable. The only thing keeping it from being done is
generally software/firmware.

   - Linux PC (have): I run Ubuntu 18.04 on a 17" Dell laptop for an
   interface.
   - SDR software: GNU radio or the like to command the transceiver unit
   (https://www.gnuradio.org/). <https://www.gnuradio.org/>
   - SDR: HackRF which is an open source RF
   (https://greatscottgadgets.com/hackrf/).
   <https://greatscottgadgets.com/hackrf/>
   - Mast (have): I have acquired a mobile mast for operation
   (http://www.kg4jjh.com/mast.html). <http://www.kg4jjh.com/mast.html>
   - Power Amplifier: TBD Research needed
   - Antenna: TBD Research needed.


Regards,

Earl W.

Earl Richard Watkins II
Phone: (785)639-1717
Call Sign: AE2RW