Some more FUNCube dongle results: (not much new information, just want to share my few hours time today to spend on the FCD which I really enjoyed)
Using 2x6 elements 145 MHz: - VO52 USB downlink great, with and without preamp Using 1x12 elements 435 MHz - AO51 FM downlink great with preamp, without noisier - HO68 CW beacon great with preamp, good without OK. So with the normal antennas the FCD works great. Time to try thew absolute minumum: Outside in the garden, laptop plus a simple vertical for 145 MHz; ISS packet: nothing heared/seen. Was a surprise to me, as ISS is normally extremely strong. Also tried AO51 FM with just a dipole outside: nothing heared/seen. Both passes were >80 degrees elevation. So for now I guess you need either a beam or a preamp. Then again, the unit is the size of a USB memory stick and has a range 60MHz -1.7 GHz - no complaints ! Overal I am still very impressed. The dongle connected to my normal antenna system (beams + pre-amps) gives great results. Just listened twice to a VO52 pass, and listening in USB was very comfortable, audio sounds very nice until 0 degrees elevation (using WRplus). Amazing to be able to watch the entire downlink spectrum, and see a few QSOs in parallel, seeing multiple stations tuning (their signals going from left ro right and back until they hear themselves). Of course everyone else had SDR for satellites already :-) For me this is just amazing. Great work by the FUNCube Dongle team. We often see discussions on how to get SSB for a few $'s and start to compare various conventional transceivers. Well, the FCD is surely an option to reduce cost on the downlink: all mode / all bands. Henk, PA3GUO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFZGlqKPPQo _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
