First steps into using QO-100 Ham radio satellite | DX Patrol Groundstation

[@wayneskiba1237]

Carl, a very interesting and informative video, I was really intrigued on your satellite reception demonstration. I have always been interested in satellite reception and transmission, just another great facet of our hobby. Thank you for sharing!

[@Alien_O1]

Yes I totally agree. This is something ive been interested in however never had the opportunity also Ive never seen a satellite dish used for satellites only a yagi. Yes very interesting.

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

An interesting change of direction Carl and I shall follow your progress with interest. That's the great thing about amateur radio, there are so many different facets to enjoy!

[@stevenyemc]

Love this. Good work fella. I used to swing a few dishes in. I got very creative with my vocabulary!

[@TheHamRadioJunkie]

Nice work Carl. You may wish to add a left hand skew to the LNB. Rotate the LNB clockwise to see an increase in signal. If you have difficulty finding the sweet spot turn the Rotate the LNB anticlockwise until you hear a null or dip in RX signal then rotate the LNB 90 degrees clockwise and you should be fairly close if not spot on. Keith G0FEA

[@M0SZT]

Thank you I’ll try that as Im trying to set it up at home but the signal is quite weak

[@garyhinson3876]

that chiffchaff, was 5/9 !

[@dxscotland5901]

Good job Carl,I was pulling my hair out trying to lock on the satellite as I have a 2m dish up 10ft an spent a full day up an down ladders for a few millimetres!! Enjoy the satellite an the dx coverage it has 👍73 Gm4zji Chris

[@1XX1]

Clearly a very interesting learning curve. Sadly, I can barely afford my cellphone. But more power to you young man!

[@o00scorpion00o]

I use Blue DV for Android and Windows, all you need is the DVMega DV Stick 30 and you can chat on DMR, D-Star and Fusion, it doesn't cost a lot and Blue DV for Windows is amazing. It also works on Chromebook with multitasking ability and on Android without multitasking but I use it on my phone and on my Samsung Tablet too. Best of all you don't have the headache of programming a radio for digital modes, DMR being a right headache to get going.

[@K1ZEK]

That was very interesting, I can't wait to build my own station. 73 de Leo

[@F5VMJ]

Don’t think you are in the footprint… but I heard rumours that a geo satellite covering the US was in the works.

[@julianrobertson3303]

Its really interesting information & thank you for sharing . Just a small tip , it's best to have a risk assessment certificate , just to show anyone who questions you using this type of equipment in public .

[@PhilG8PJH]

Another interesting video thanks. I built my own fixed QO 100 ground station from scratch, I took the SDR PC based system approach, so everything is controlled through a PC / laptop. A couple of points, your dish is a bit small, which will affect gain. You can’t have any trees in the way, and as you found, dish alignment is critical. Good luck! Phil G8PJH

[@keithskidmore1382]

Very interesting, love your videos no matter what subject. 73s M1DDI

[@davidholman2536]

For easier azimuth positioning I mount the dish bracket on kee klamp (hand rail fittings) sleeves. These rest onto a kee klamp collar onto the mast. My mast here is 44 diameter scaffolding pole mounted on a flat roof stand weighted with paving slabs. To rotate the dish I undo the grub screws on the sleeves and give it a nudge. Re-tighten the screws. It doesn't drop because it's rotating and resting on the collar. I'm using a 1.1m dish on the wide band transponder. To adjust the elevation I use an old scissors jack between the dish and the mast secured with long cable ties. BATC Portsdown 4 DATV system comes with a beacon signal strength meter on its display. So a series of moves to peak the meter is fairly civilised. I also have a LNB focussing slide made per an article in OSCAR news. It looks like you're doing great. 73 David M0YDH

[@stevemunro8559]

Interesting, I'm going to follow..

[@neilgodfreybartley3143]

🙏🏾🤞🏾👌🏾👍🏾😊

[@rjy8960]

Hi Carl, I have the Groundstation and it's a pretty good box - I use mine for portable use. I'm not sure if you have the later version with the PTT input? If you have I'd use it. Mine doesn't and it can be a bit choppy on TX as the VOX delay seems a little short (on mine anyway). Not bad signals for a 60cm dish! At home I use a 90cm and a 60cm for portable which I think is probably a little small. Great video and intro! Good luck!

[@CaptainK007]

A steely eyed missile man lurk 👌👍

[@brianfields4479]

Hi Carl, what a fascinating video, iam surprised you didn't have lots of onlookers . I must admit I know nothing about that side of the hobby, but after looking at all the equipment and expense, and my lack of patience, it's no wonder iam cw through and through hi. Good luck Carl, I look forward to seeing your success. Ps: was that some kind of metal mesh around The carpark floor, if so , what a great spot for a vertical ant hi.

[@berndwoloszczak2623]

I used to sell/install T-Com C-Ku 3meter dishes. Luckily I still have one left. While you are home look at your dish and receiver. Note the direction of the antenna and the signal strength. When you go out and set up your dish set the vertical main pipe at 90 deg. Work the installation one variable at a time. Set the height. Find out what the angular path the satellite takes. Remember true North. Set the dish accordingly. Fine tune and snug up all of the bolts. You should be alright. I am sure that Cal from DX Commander could throw a few pointers your way. KD2WBK 73's

[@G0GCQ]

Nice one Carl 👍🏻 Did you source the ground station transverter from within the UK, please?

[@M0SZT]

I got it from DX Patrol in the EU

[@danielgiraud2192]

That is interesting,I have Baofeng UV-5 R Hand held,do I need a special antenna to work Satellites? 73 de ZS5DG in South Africa.

[@M0SZT]

I would read up via Amsat but it’s possible amsat-uk.org/

[@Bob814u]

A higher gain or yagi is GREATLY preferred for the Baofeng satellite use. It can be done with the higher gain antenna but a yagi is preferred over the high gain. I have used both. Mostly as a challenge to myself.

[@M0NXF]

I would go with 80cm dish min we use 100cm and 120cm dish for our set ups

[@philkennedy342]

I’ve worked fm and ssb birds great fun not tried that satellite because my privileges won’t allow it use minimal power and limit your losses as much as possible even objects like trees and even heavy cloud coverage has a marked affect on signal quality nice work though love to see further attempts 👍👍 73’s de M6dnu

[@josephcooksley3219]

G1XZL , here lol ... you probably will need to use a Larger dish ... for more signal gain ... Example digi tv with 60cm dish in fine weather one has great reception . However heavy cloud with rain or falling snow the reception is attenuated . Sadly i am outside the foot print of this stationary satellite that you are chasing ... G1XZL

[@QSkyLive]

That's a lot of money to shell out for a ground station that doesn't do Duplex :( Jason GU7DAI

[@M0SZT]

It is for off grid operation.

[@josephcooksley3219]

50 ohm ultra low loss cables would be a better option G1XZL

[@Ei2iP]

On QO100 quite a while, kinda got bored of it, as same European stations on it. I still have it setup, but don't use it. No a fan of the ground station as it's not full duplex, you can't hear yourself on downllink

[@rasputinputin8103]

The dish is too small, thus the gain is low.

[@larspettersson1337]

Eliptical dishes are useless on TX

[@M0SZT]

Aha! This could be the reason! I’ve got another video coming out later this week where I try portable satellite from my car and the TX was terrible

[@larspettersson1337]

I have exactly the same setup DXpatrol GS and Helix but 60 cm offset , If you look on the construcion of an eleptical dish you will understand that its diddficult to iluminate. I am aprox S9 on the QO100 when listning on my 2m dish at home so the euqipment works. So get your self a proper dish NOT Eliptical like an egg :-) de SM4IVE

[@paulsharp5473]

If the tress are in the way perhaps you’d be better off testing at home.

[@UnkleJustin]

Wasted my time again 🙄

[@M0SZT]

Maybe one day 😟