Short video of me setting up getting ready to try and catch the AO-51 Satilite – with my Arrow Antenna, and Kenwood TH-D7.
Video Rating: 5 / 5

Using 2 hand held transceiver’s into an Arrow satellite antenna to speak around Europe via AO-51 Earth Orbiting Satellite. My hand held transceiver’s are Kenwood TH7 (UP Link) and Yaesu FT-470 (Down Link). Stations worked from my location – Yorkshire England. 1) IZ3ALU – ITALY 2) F0DIH/p – FRANCE 3) SP9FPP – POLAND 4) ON4CAP/p _ BELGIUM

26 replies
  1. VictoreCelia
    VictoreCelia says:

    Ok, maybe one of this days. Tell me were i can cath your signal… same times i am on 20 m on 14189.00. 73 from Portugal

    Reply
  2. honigmonster
    honigmonster says:

    Once again..great vid SI, I like the way you used the cam looking down the set-up.

    catch you soon buddy…love to Louise and Dudley :O)

    73 de Steve DL1YAL

    Reply
  3. toiosoiovoio
    toiosoiovoio says:

    Hi all, specially 2E0HTS Simon,

    Can anyone explain me what does “5 by 9” signal report means ?

    Thanks !

    Reply
  4. 2e0hts
    2e0hts says:

    Hi there,

    It comes from morse code when short sentences a bit like sms was used to save time.

    these days It now means

    audio quality measured 1 – 5
    signal strength 0 – 9

    good copy would be 5/9

    73 good luck

    Reply
  5. M3XGV
    M3XGV says:

    Hi Simon,
    Another great vid.Inspired by your other videos I have just constructed a homebrew arrow antenna and need to fine tune the VSWR.Hopefully we will QSO soon via the Sats.
    Keep the videos coming .
    Vy 73
    Mike M3XGV

    Reply
  6. 2e0hts
    2e0hts says:

    Hi Mike,

    thanks for the flowers and great to hear that you are to be active on “The Birds” . I will listen out for you.

    GL & 73

    de Simon

    Reply
  7. PortableQRP
    PortableQRP says:

    Very interesting, something that really interests me, but never tried, YET! But after seeing this video, I think I will put an serious effort into it.

    Thanks
    VE3UK

    Reply
  8. 2e0hts
    2e0hts says:

    Thank You, and I know what you mean about the compass working properly hi. I set up horizontally and go through the pass before the sat get here.

    all the best 73

    Reply
  9. dorslv
    dorslv says:

    Great vid, I see that you are using two HT’s wouldn’t the TH-F6A (using a duplexer?) be able to handle SAT Comms by itself? I only have TH-F6A, the other half won’t let me get two 😉

    Reply
  10. 2e0hts
    2e0hts says:

    Tnx, you can use the one rig but it is easiest when you can TX on one and RX on the other. You hear when your in to the bird as well as changing down freq adjusting Doppler same time as TXing. But single unit and duplexer will do the job but not for me!

    Reply
  11. dorslv
    dorslv says:

    Thx again call sign is kd0iqr, truck’n round the country need’n better antenna, wiped out last one on tree wanna try a beam on top of some mtn’s 73.

    Reply
  12. laakman
    laakman says:

    Way cool! Amazing that you need so much gain to receive, but you can sometimes hit the sats with with a rubber duck!

    Reply
  13. 2e0hts
    2e0hts says:

    tnx, I made it out of ally sheet, nice and easy to fold etc. Its rivited to the boom extension which is also ally folded into an L shape.

    I am lucky as I am a qualified Welding and Fabrication Engineer/Lecturer, so its just a bit of playing around with metal hi hi.

    Good Luck and all the best

    Reply
  14. 2e0hts
    2e0hts says:

    @walter50m Hi Walter,

    I imported the antenna from US – Antenna Warehouse. The model is ARROW MK2.

    G L & 73

    Simon

    Reply
  15. iNf3rNuSdI4bLuS1
    iNf3rNuSdI4bLuS1 says:

    wanna make your same antenna for myself, is there somewhere i can get any diagram for its contruction?

    Reply

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