I agree with Dee, but I'll add my opinion. The fixed elevation option is a good approach to reduce your costs.
If you are going to fix the elevation, do *not* use a very high gain antenna with a narrow beam width. You are better off with a moderate gain antenna (for example, the Elk or 4-7 element vertical or 2x7 circularly polarized) so that you have a wider beam width. 73, Steve N9IP -- Steve Belter (s...@wintek.com) My Desk: 765-269-8521 Indiana Dataline Corp Billing: 765-269-8502 427 N 6th Street, Suite C Wintek Internet: 765-269-8503 Lafayette, IN 47901-2211 Wintek Consulting: 765-269-8504 > -----Original Message----- > From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb- > boun...@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Dee > Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 2:18 PM > To: 'Ted'; gw1...@aol.com; amsat-bb@amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Antenna discussions > > The actual fixed elevation on the AZ rotor is determined by the beam width > of the yagi antenna used. If at all possible, all the calculations based on > the average pass elevation is near 30 degrees. If you believe that you will > use lower passes, say if the beam width is 25 degrees, putting it fixed at > about 20degrees gives you the split of + - 12.5 degrees. It IS a tradeoff. > The higher the gain of the Yagi, the lower the beam width. > Good Luck... > Dee, NB2F > > -----Original Message----- > From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb- > boun...@amsat.org] On > Behalf Of Ted > Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2011 2:02 PM > To: gw1...@aol.com; amsat-bb@amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Antenna discussions > > Agree !! > > Along those lines, before I put up my Kenpro az/el rotor, I plan on testing > various locations using my Elk with a fixed el but on a small rat shack > rotor for az. I have seen here recommendations for 15 deg and some for 30 > deg fixed el. Thus there seems to be 2 schools of thought on this. Is there > any compelling argument for one or the other? I'm almost inclined to split > the diff at +-22 deg. (most passes for me are N/S and to the E - not so good > to W > > Any thoughts appreciated > > 73, Ted, K7TRK > > -----Original Message----- > From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb- > boun...@amsat.org] On > Behalf Of gw1...@aol.com > Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2011 2:36 AM > To: amsat-bb@amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Antenna discussions > > Hi all, > Regarding the discussions on antennas - I am not into any debate about the > pro's and con's, but would just like to encourage anyone to just have a go. > Sure the argument will always prevail perhaps under the " Must do Better" > comment and I am sure > that one can always improve or progress with experimenting - ( AMATEUR > RADIO ) > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 _______________________________________________ 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
