I hate saying "me too" but I think you've put it succinctly. There used to be a range of VHF/UHF capable satellite rigs but these days the user seems left to secondhand, huge base station or complex Yaesu menus (with tiny display). Elecraft could wipe the floor.
Sent from my iPhone > On 24 May 2016, at 18:56, Barry Baines <bbai...@mac.com> wrote: > > Ed: > > Please allow me to second your suggestion for a “KXV3Sat”, though a KX2 > derivative with FM + VHF + UHF and full duplex would certainly be another > option that would be very intriguing. Whether such a design built into a > K2/K3 footprint (with or without HF) is feasible from an engineering/cost of > production perspective is something else… > > Given the rapid growth of the amateur satellite ’fleet,’ there are plenty of > opportunities to take advantage of such a product for satellite operations. > AMSAT-NA’s AO-85 (FM) was placed in service in October, 2015. Between now > and January there will be three more FM Cubesats built by AMSAT-NA that will > be launched. In addition, AMSAT-NA is building a 30 KHz wide linear > transponder satellite (Fox-1E). AMSAT-UK launched FunCube-1 (AO-73) which is > also a linear transponder satellite. The Chinese placed a number of sats > last fall in orbit on one launcher with a variety of capabilities, including > liner transponder. These satellites, coupled with FO-29 and AO-7 are > certainly candidates for operating with a low power, SSB/CW capable > transceiver operating duplex. > > As you know, a number of satellite operators are working these satellites in > the field using an Arrow or Elk Antenna with the FT-817x class transceivers > which to my knowledge is the only backpack size QRP-capable HF-VHF-UHF > multimode radio with built-in battery for portable operation in the field > currently on the market. The FT-817x is not full duplex, so satellite > operators use two of these radios to be able to hear their downlink when > working the linear transponder satellites. While the FT-817x does work well > for this type of operation, it does have a confusing set of options in the > menu and in my opinion is more difficult to learn to operate than what > Elecraft offers in their firmware architecture; having to use for FT-817s > for full duplex adds to the complexity and cost of such operations. Interest > in satellite operations is increasing and such a product would spur further > growth. It seems to me that an Elecraft-designed radio capable of FM + UHF + > VHF + full duplex in an integrated package with the footprint of a KX2 or the > KX3 would be a winner; a HT-size transceiver (KX2) capable of working the > linear satellites plus the FM sates would be a game changer for satellite > operators. > > FWIW, > > Barry Baines, WD4ASW > Westborough, MA > (Currently in Deshler, OH after ’surviving’ Hamvention) > > > > >> On May 24, 2016, at 1:11 PM, Edward R Cole <kl...@acsalaska.net> wrote: >> >> One type of radio that Elecraft has avoided making to date: >> multi-band, multi-mode VHF/UHF, cross-band duplex radio. >> >> I recently bought a (not new) radio that, at its time, was considered one of >> the finest radios for this: >> Yaesu FT-736R. It is still held in considerable respect. >> >> I wanted a VHF/UHF multi-mode radio capable of satellite operation and had >> considered a cross-band duplex-capable FM mobile radio, but it would have >> limited me to FM. For approximately $200 more I obtained a "cherry" FT-736R >> with basic 2m/70cm capability. >> >> The radio is capable of expansion to two more bands via installation of >> internal modules for 6m, 220, and 1.2 GHz. Quite a remarkable model of >> adaptability for its time. >> >> I previously owned its successor, the FT-847, which was HF, 6m, 2m, 70cm. >> But on used market cost double what I spent on the FT-736R. >> >> Had Elecraft offered a VHF/UHF cross-band duplex multi-mode radio I would >> have considered it. Nothing on the current market equals the Elecraft radio >> quality (my opinion). I chose the K3/10 plus transverters for eme, but the >> K3 is not capable of duplex operation. >> >> If a KVX3sat were produced - I think the market is there. Current >> competitors: IC-9100 and TS2000X;Yaesu is out of the satellite radio market. >> >> 73, Ed - KL7UW >> http://www.kl7uw.com >> "Kits made by KL7UW" >> Dubus Mag business: >> dubus...@gmail.com >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> Message delivered to bbai...@mac.com > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to a...@rickham.net ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
