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The club has been involved in some satellite ops for many years mostly because of the mentorship of Keith Pugh W5IU (SK). Having a permanent ground station at the clubhouse was a dream of his and he donated quite a bit of equipment to create it. Unfortunately he left us before the job was completed, but we are forging ahead.
The club has been involved in some satellite ops for many years mostly because of the mentorship of Keith Pugh W5IU (SK). Having a permanent ground station at the clubhouse was a dream of his and he donated quite a bit of equipment to create it. Unfortunately he left us before the job was completed, but we are forging ahead.
Short term plan is to have a robust permanent 2M/70CM ground station, and a group of club members well versed in it's operation.
Short term plan is to have a robust permanent 2M/70CM ground station, and a group of club members well versed in it's operation.
Long term plans involve becoming a ground station for ISS telebridge school contacts through ARISS.
Long term plans involve becoming a ground station for ISS telebridge school contacts through ARISS.
The club operates a 'portable' station for field day or school outreach programs. It includes a Yaesu FT-847 radio, Yaesu G-5500 Rotor, circularly polarized 2M and 70CM antennas, and ARR preamps. We deploy this system to our Field Day location and running QRP in a low spot (below buildings and trees) and despite the pileups, still manage to get plenty of contacts...as with any field day operation, there is always something to fix or improve on.
The club operates a 'portable' station for field day or school outreach programs. It includes a Yaesu FT-847 radio, Yaesu G-5500 Rotor, circularly polarized 2M and 70CM antennas, and ARR preamps. We deploy this system to our Field Day location and running QRP in a low spot (below buildings and trees) and despite the pileups, still manage to get plenty of contacts...as with any field day operation, there is always something to fix or improve on.
May 2023 - The club started building a 'permanent' ground station at our club facility in Fort Worth. We have an Icom IC-910H (now replaced with an IC-9700), SPID RAS Az/El Rotor with Green Heron controller, M2 Antennas 2MCP14 and 436CP30 with polarity switchers, and more ARR preamps.
May 2023 - The club started building a 'permanent' ground station at our club facility in Fort Worth. We have an Icom IC-910H (now replaced with an IC-9700), SPID RAS Az/El Rotor with Green Heron controller, M2 Antennas 2MCP14 and 436CP30 with polarity switchers, and more ARR preamps.
Entire assembly was tested for SWR, electrical controls, and mechanical movements at ground level, then moved to the roof. It is on a Rohn NPRM with about 500# of ballast...mast is 10' tall...we looked into making it shorter, but the current height fits well with obstructions etc. Note Preamp Box half way up mast.
Entire assembly was tested for SWR, electrical controls, and mechanical movements at ground level, then moved to the roof. It is on a Rohn NPRM with about 500# of ballast...mast is 10' tall...we looked into making it shorter, but the current height fits well with obstructions etc. Note Preamp Box half way up mast.
Preamp box contains two ARR preamps (powered over coax from radio) and a Duplexer for a desence filter (for 70cm receive).
Preamp box contains two ARR preamps (powered over coax from radio) and a Duplexer for a desence filter (for 70cm receive).
LMR-400 coax runs from the antennas to the preamp box. LMR-600 runs from preamp box to AlphaDelta surge protectors at building entrance, and then on down to club radio room. Finally LMR-400 from a bulkhead to the radio.
LMR-400 coax runs from the antennas to the preamp box. LMR-600 runs from preamp box to AlphaDelta surge protectors at building entrance, and then on down to club radio room. Finally LMR-400 from a bulkhead to the radio.
Rotor power and control wires also go through a surge protector at the building entrance.
Rotor power and control wires also go through a surge protector at the building entrance.
We have a dedicated PC running SatPC32 connected to the Green Heron RT-21AzEl controller and the Icom IC-910H.
We have a dedicated PC running SatPC32 connected to the Green Heron RT-21AzEl controller and the Icom IC-910H.
We also have a camera mounted to the club tower with a view of the satellite system...so we can inspect and monitor operation (camera has full movement and optical zoom)
We also have a camera mounted to the club tower with a view of the satellite system...so we can inspect and monitor operation (camera has full movement and optical zoom)
15Dec23 Update - basic system is fully operational, but have not yet run cabling to polarity switches. (we wanted the big parts working first)
15Dec23 Update - basic system is fully operational, but have not yet run cabling to polarity switches. (we wanted the big parts working first)
Mar 2024 - club bought IC-9700 to improve local experience and more easily enable remote operation.
Mar 2024 - club bought IC-9700 to improve local experience and more easily enable remote operation.
Sep-Oct 2024 - had to completely disassemble and reassemble the system so the roof could be replaced. Improved some cable routing while we were at it.
Sep-Oct 2024 - had to completely disassemble and reassemble the system so the roof could be replaced. Improved some cable routing while we were at it.
4 Feb 2025 Update - The complete planned system is now assembled.
4 Feb 2025 Update - The complete planned system is now assembled.
This addition is the 2.4Ghz receiving system. It includes a 1.2meter dish and a LHCP helix feed mounted above it. (for those who wonder M2 antennas say no metal within 12" of the end of the element...we have at least 12")
This addition is the 2.4Ghz receiving system. It includes a 1.2meter dish and a LHCP helix feed mounted above it. (for those who wonder M2 antennas say no metal within 12" of the end of the element...we have at least 12")
The purpose is to receive high speed video feeds from the ISS via the ARISS HamTV (DATV) transmitter mounted on the ISS. The ARISS system is primarily designed to stream live astrounaut video while doing ARISS school contacts.
The purpose is to receive high speed video feeds from the ISS via the ARISS HamTV (DATV) transmitter mounted on the ISS. The ARISS system is primarily designed to stream live astrounaut video while doing ARISS school contacts.
This addition was always the complete goal of our satellite ground station build.
This addition was always the complete goal of our satellite ground station build.
Our AMSAT/ARISS club member and mentor Keith Pugh W5IU (SK) proposed this system to the club in around 2017. Keith passed away in 2019, so he never saw us even start building the system. (the build was on pause because the ISS HamTV transmitter had failed in 2018)
Our AMSAT/ARISS club member and mentor Keith Pugh W5IU (SK) proposed this system to the club in around 2017. Keith passed away in 2019, so he never saw us even start building the system. (the build was on pause because the ISS HamTV transmitter had failed in 2018)
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