Hello,
I got my Mini-Circuit order today and wired up the ZX60-P103LN+ LNA to 5
volts. I hooked it up to the discone and fed it into the R8600. I can
now see the noise floor of the transponders! The amplitude scale on the
R8600 is fixed at 10 dB so it is not a tall plateau. I can see the
smaller data transponders as well. The LNA has a 0.5dB NF.
I tried my vertical Log-Periodic Antenna on the roof and noticed I could
also see the 255.550 MHz transponder noise floor with a higher signal
level when pointed to the SE. I can barely see it with no LNA.
73 Eric
On Mon 3/5/2018 6:19 PM, Eric A. Cottrell wrote:
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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