Hello,
The problem could be an old discone with old 60 foot long feedline. I am
happy that I can at least get something.
I have been reading up on the antennas and noticed the X-Wing type is
what I know as a turnstile antenna. I built a 2-Meter one for Mode A in
the 1980s. I may build one from these plans.
https://forums.radioreference.com/satcom-space-satellite-monitoring-forum/181378-mt-magazine-uhf-satcom-antenna-project.html
I also have two identical Create CLP-5130 LPAs in my basement that I may
drag out when the weather is better. I can try using one with a manual
elevation setup or try both on a manual cross boom. I may get a 90
degree hybird coupler and experiment with a circular polarized LPA.
https://www.minicircuits.com/pdfs/ZX10Q-2-3+.pdf
73 Eric
On 3/5/2018 5:29 PM, Matt Blaze wrote:
Hi Eric,
That's a bit less signal than I'd expect if you have a line-of-sight to the
satellites and a low local noise floor in that band (the likely culprit). OTOH,
if you're getting any signal at all with a discone, you should be in great
shape with a proper satcom antenna.
I've managed to see the transponders with a discone (with good LOS and in a low
noise environment) with the R&S PR-100, which is a somewhat above average
sensitivity receiver in that band, but not extraordinarily so.
-matt
On Mar 5, 2018, at 2:15 PM, Eric A. Cottrell <[email protected]> wrote:
Hello,
I thought I would give listening to the UHF Milsat listening a shot with the
R8600 and old discone. I had to turn on the preamp in the R8600, but I was able
to hear the Brazilian pirates on 255.550 MHz FM. The signals are not quite
full-quieting with some not that strong. The signals are barely showing up on
the waterfall and a really small peak on the spectrum display. I cannot see the
transponder noise floor.
I tried the SDRPlay RSP2Pro and got similar results with the LNA Gain of 0 and
Gain Control of 49. I can adjust the Spectrum Controls in HDSDR to see the
signal peak, but it is still a weak signal.
This is the link Matt gave at his talk. http://www.crypto.com/misc/uhf-sats/
73 Eric
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