Field Day Satellite Contact Using The IC-9700, Ham Radio Satellites

We made a contact through the SO-50 amateur satellite using the Icom IC-9700 and a handheld Arrow antenna. Years ago I made 1 contact into a satellite with a VX-6R handheld direct overhead pass, and since then I forgot everything about satellites. This year at Field Day 2019, we got the contact, made the bonus points and now I will be focusing on satellite using this 9700 at home. Please keep the negative comments to yourself, everyone out here is a satellite professional I am certain. LIKE the video for the effort.
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W4OT VBARC amateur radio club in Vero Beach has the best operators and set up I have been to around here... Good times.
Thanks John and Rick and my camera man who helped as well.

[@turtlekoff1]

We learned so much and were finally successful in making a Sat contact. Can I also say we just had a ton of fun! That's the beauty of Amateur Radio. Learn and have fun! de Rick, N4WRW

[@mikeklemens8970]

Nice demonstration for a field day satelite contact using the icom 9700. Great job Eric, Rick and John! Mike N6IMY

[@myradiovideos]

This video makes me appreciate my Yaesu G-5500 Rotor and GS-232B adapter... :-)

[@alzeNL]

This looked alot of fun with the IC9700 ! I have one here but never used it in SAT mode. I'm just getting started with sat's and going to use my THD7 to start with. I'm using the same antenna and learned alot from this video !

[@TK-Radio-Adventures]

Worked a satelite from my truck using an ftm-400 and my mobile antenna. I definitely got hooked just by that. Saving up my pennies for an arrow antenna!!! Just wish I would have gotten mine on video.

[@nivid01]

PUT THE ANTENNA ON A CAMERA TRIPOD WITH QUICK 3-AXIS MOVEMENT. ANYWAY YOU ARE HAVING FUN!!!

[@jfranke3]

Congrats on your first satellite contact!

[@Allocated_Brain]

Congrats. That is so cool. I am still studying for my tech test and went to introduce myself to the greybeards of the local club yesterday.

[@HamRadioConcepts]

Keep watching, and LET ME KNOW when you get your license.. 73

[@Allocated_Brain]

@@HamRadioConcepts Hey thanks a bunch. Awesome video to post after what I assume was a very long and hard fought field day. 73

[@kn6bst349]

That was exciting. This type of contact should be 10X more the points they give you.

[@W1RMD]

Thanks for sharing this! I'm looking to get into satellites myself. 73's.

[@dcolb121]

If you're going to hand hold your antenna, you might want to attach a piece of pvc tubing about six foot long or a broom handle (don't remove the brush part) to the antenna handle. Let the assembly rest on your shoulder. The tube/broom will act as a counterweight and make it a lot easier to hold & aim.

[@fher4615]

You're brave! My recommendation for ops that want to get the 100 point bonus in future field days is to practice ahead of time. Satellites like AO-91, AO-92 and SO-50 are very popular during normal daytime weekends passes, ten times that crowded during Field Day. Try working nighttime passes. This year we had PO-101 available and since is a new one, it wasn't as packed. My strategy is to focus on one station and not call CQ Field Day repeatedly. Unfortunately, FD over sats is full of people who CHS (Can't hear s.....). If a station won't reply after you call (and you know you're making it because you're working full duplex) move on to someone else. If you're done with your QSO and a station calls you, go ahead and work him. It might not count for you but that might be his only chance to get his QSO. Also, if you have the equipment to work linear birds, try getting your bonus on sats like FO-29, CAS-4A, 4B or XW-2A, 2B, 2C or 2F. 73 and hope to work you soon. NP4JV in AZ

[@W1RMD]

great comment!

[@tonycantrell9547]

Nice to put a face with John km4mck he was my first contact on your dstar reflector

[@thinkingofothers353]

I enjoy this my friends . I will ask my friends to come over and visit your channel. The BEST to your channel.

[@MrTurnermason]

The contact you lost was W4J 1A SFL, that was me!

[@HamRadioConcepts]

Yah, And a day later I watched the video again and heard you, clearer on the video. I guess there was just too much going on, but I worked you LOL 73

[@billsmotrilla6215]

Thanks for the vids. For FM Birds, don't use satellite mode. Use regular mode and let the AFC track the 2m downlink freq which it will do nicely with the 9700, while you manually tune the UHF Uplink until you can hear yourself. Use headphones to prevent a feedback squeal. You can use the touchscreen on the waterfall display to track the sub receiver 2m downlink on the waterfall for the initial tune before you press the AFC button.. I have found this the easiest way to work the FM birds with the Arrow. AFC tracking works, but not quite as well on the UHF downlinks. N5SMO

[@HamRadioConcepts]

i think that is my problem i know exactly what you mean, I am going to just leave the downlink freq and adjust uplink for dopler shift

[@Dimensvlz]

Nice work Eric! I suppose your attempts have brought you a nice feeling of the first QSO :) UB4AEN, 73!

[@MrTurnermason]

Great job!

[@va3ase]

Great video, you guys look like a fun group to spend field day with. Especially with that pool! Congratulations on the first satellite contact. If I can offer some advice, it is good practice to wait until you have a clear copy on the downlink, then put out a call or answer one. You don't need to call CQ - someone is almost always there - so if you transmit first you are probably stepping on someone. That is for FM satellites, the linear sats are a different game and you'll get there quickly. Field day on the satellites is like the wild west anyway so good job getting the contact at all. Looking forward to your future videos!

[@uncledodge9396]

Well done young man! I've never worked a sat, so you've beat me! 73 DE M0TTN, Norfolk UK.

[@krazytrinisteve]

Uncle dodge, on the other side of the pond with a Norfolk 30 min away, Portsmouth 10 min away and I live in Suffolk Virginia. Some one is a copy cat. Please try the satellites they are a lot of fun and very variable in acquiring them. I am a new to the side of the hobby but I find it the most fun. So 73

[@user-yl1tt9de3l]

VERY BEAUTIFUL !!!!! MNI TNX !!!from US4ET Victor . 73!!!!!!

[@michaelmaloy7849]

That's rough with a pool lol great job de kb2vqs

[@walteredwards544]

They can be quite cliquish on the Bird's too. There's a small circle that talk to each other almost every pass and they will ignore anyone that's not part of their group.

[@patricksharimccarthy9495]

Heard you tonight on SO-50 at FM29MA. Pretty cool stuff!! 73 K2SCH

[@HamRadioConcepts]

you did? Cool.... I heard myself going through the satellite but i have more learning to do

[@meteor8076]

cool

[@KY4BDP-TinyFangorn]

Boom! Great contact! KY4BDP

[@wecontrolthevideo]

I haven’t made a satellite contact in a long time. My first was through AO7 not long after it was launched. K7DR

[@ranulph314]

Nice rig

[@K3RRR]

Enjoyed the video, Eric… We are in the process of moving from Maryland to Texas in the next dozen days so I had to pull down my AMSAT LEO PACK satellite antenna system for the move… However, I plan on using a similar set up to yours with my own ICOM 9700, Bioenno battery and Elk antenna… Hence, my keen interest in your video. Note to self: check RF gain! (I've been working the satellites for over 30 years and make much worse dumbass mistakes on a daily basis!) 73 de Robert K3RRR

[@dj_ath]

Wow I had no idea they have ham satelites

[@ranulph314]

Great ! We can not have fear to learn. 73 CD3NDC

[@LU7HQW]

2:30 It's and old joke, but still works.

[@HamRadioDX]

Very good video. The 9700 hooked up to a PC running satellite tracking software will be handy to compensate for the doppler next time

[@billsmotrilla6215]

Overkill for the 2m downlink FM birds. AFC on the radio works great for tracking the 2m downlinks with a gain antenna like an Arrow or Elk. For uplink, all you need are 5 programmed VHF memories.

[@alexitaliahamradio4097]

Great job guys !! Your antenna?

[@realFoxBox]

You should have tried a SSB satellite, not as many people use it, so its a little easier to get into them. Also more people can use them.

[@Mmaltesej]

Satellites are fun i dont bother with a Yagi and have no problems. Only work the ones i know ill be able to get. The furthest i got was Nova Scotia from Northeast Pa. Hope to hear you on one sometime soon. N1MJM

[@stuarthall3874]

What antenna do you use?

[@Mmaltesej]

@@stuarthall3874 Tidradio na-771 or the base antenna (1/4 wave 2 meter/440) like i said i work the satellites i know ill get (above 70 degrees). One day ill try a yagi out for the ones that are lower.

[@stuarthall3874]

Thanks Matthew. All the info I've seen on contacting through satellites seems to imply the necessity of a yagi (or automated tripod). It's encouraging to know that I could try it out without much investment. Maybe you could do a video? : )

[@CurtFaulk]

Yes, Matthew. I second that! A video!

[@myradiovideos]

WAIT,,, For Satellite contacts on Field Day you need to be in the back country in a dust old FIELD!!! Being next to a swimming pool wont work, the pool will absorb all your energy!!!! LOL...

[@HamRadioConcepts]

But the 2:30am swim followed by the hot outdoor shower made it so much more enjoyable..

[@andrewevanoff1192]

Unless quietly you put 1,000 lbs of salt into the pool and it will release all that energy back into the airwaves. LOL.

[@massoud999]

Thanks for this informative video and all the others you load up. Just one question: what battery do you use? Hope to meet you on one of the bands. 73 GL GDX from the other side of the globe, Uriah 4Z5UY

[@HamRadioConcepts]

Bioenno LifePO4 12ah

[@massoud999]

@@HamRadioConcepts Thanks B-)

[@HamRadioConcepts]

@@massoud999 Oops, error, 12AH

[@2j4ez]

I was told when I done my 2e0 course don’t use 2 much power as the satellite will try and put out the power you put in . And your ruin it for the rest. Good video

[@HamRadioConcepts]

exactly. There were a couple stations that wanted a contact so bad, they blanked out the satellite and all you heard was him.. I know he had way to much power.. The satellite is only transmitting 250mw with a 19 inch antenna, why put 100 watts into it.

[@2j4ez]

HamRadioConcepts which battery was you using to power your radio??. Also got told don’t use power unless you have to. If you can get into a station on 10w then use 10w just because you can run power doesn’t mean you have to

[@turtlekoff1]

@@2j4ez we were using the Bioenno 12 Amp hour. Works like a champ and stays charged for a long time!

[@honeybeesbyg303]

I used a yaesu 891 @ 100 watts with a 12ah bioenno and an 80 watt foldable solar panel during JOTA last year. Operated about 6 hrs each day and never got below 12.8 volts

[@kc0isw]

We only 2 satellite contacts K0AJW

[@davistroy]

What make/model is that trailer y’all are using? Looks really “cool”.

[@jfranke3]

Troy Davis we had 3 trailers there. The camper is a Work and Play 18EC. It really makes the ultimate go kit. I could easily be deployed to a disaster area for a week to 10 days and be totally self sufficient plus have plenty of room to haul supplies.

[@TheKiltedHam]

Have you done a orbitron or gpridect setup for the ic-9700

[@maverickgunner5666]

What power supply you were using?

[@DAVIDGREGORYKERR]

It would have been very bad if the battery went dead before your finished

[@krazytrinisteve]

How long will that powerwerks battery last with the 97000 and approx watt. Would you get a bigger battery? I am doing the same thing and your experience my save me time and money 73

[@krazytrinisteve]

What battery is that? Very curious because I want to do this with my 9700

[@elliothuh669]

I've had several contacts but most of the time the satellite is just slammed with RF... ANd you can't get through. Kinda discouraging and not a whole lot of fun to put call sign out and get nothing back.

[@hobojon44]

how is the 9700 with Satellites using the Dimound atttena

[@thomasmanson1119]

To Which antenna connector on the 9700 did you connect your arrow II coax? Tom kc3qac

[@HamRadioConcepts]

Used a Comet diplexer and joined them together to both the VHF and UHF antenna ports

[@kc0isw]

Bands sucked total of about 600 contacts mainly on 40 and 20 meters on K0AJW our club uses ts590s (K0AJW 1F ND)

[@K2WH]

Wondering if you had any de-sense between VHF and UHF ?

[@billsmotrilla6215]

Totally depends on the radio you use and how good the duplexor is. With a KW DH72 handheld running full duplex 5 watts there is no noticable de-sense on receive when you transmit with the Arrow using their supplied duplexor and a single feedline to the radio. With the 9700 you can bypass the duplexor and feed each gamma match on the arrow directly with a separate feedline to the radio.

[@brettberger-KM6MCI]

Where did you get that Icom shirt?

[@HamRadioConcepts]

Dayton hamvention

[@ARUSApacecarHAMPTON]

Check out what our local High School club built and runs @ K4AMG.ORG Our club used it this weekend and learned quite a bit about how the satellite side of the hobby works. 73 KN4STV

[@radioroadmedia]

Only downside is the RF Exposure from hand holding the antenna

[@billsmotrilla6215]

No, not an issue at all, RF exposure is Minimal for a gain directional antenna with you behind it, and you only run 5-10 watt transmit for working FM birds. So your exposure is LESS than an HT next to your head since majority of the energy is going forward and the antenna is at arms length.

[@ubik372]

What is Ah of that Bioenno battery?

[@turtlekoff1]

12 amp hour version of the Bioenno

[@HamRadioConcepts]

This is the 12AH version.

[@casanova419]

I rather be in the pool.

[@troyr57]

There are camera tripods mounts to keep track of the earth movements, for shooting the milky way, and telescope tracking systems, could any of them be adapted to hold the antenna and track the satellite? Good luck and 73. By the way this was my First Field Day, was visiting Pierre South Dakota and visited with W0PIR, Pierre Amateur Radio Club. WWW.SDHAMS.COM. Troy K5TLR

[@HamRadioConcepts]

I am already ready to buy something like that, lots of viable options out there, just want to find the right one. I will share them in a video when I figure it out. Thank you for watching and glad you enjoyed field day

[@jeff2424]

Yes, Troy, a tripod is an excellent idea for the satellite antenna. I've got a cheap Walmart video tripod that does a fine job. If you're using the Arrow antenna shown in the video, pull back the black foam handle and there are holes for mounting the antenna to the tripod.

[@larryg6507]

You need to clean your ears out so you can hear the calls!

[@Shahidulislam-me5rx]

Bad sound