Radio

To transmit and receive in full duplex I use the Icom IC-9700. It is essential to have full duplex (transmit on one frequency while listening to another frequency) capability to ensure you can hear your own transmitted signal coming back from the satellite. This ensures you are making contact with the satellite and not talking over others transmitting at the same time.

Antennas

I have chosen two beam antennas, one for VHF and one for UHF. The two Wimo X-Quad antennas have a number of benefits over other beam antennas. It is possible to switch polarization plane (horizontal/vertical/circular right/circular left/diagonal) to accommodate the variations in satellite travel. They have a high gain compared to other antenna forms due to the stacking effect, this despite their short boom length and compact design.

Masthead Preamplifiers

    MVV144VOX (VHF) & MVV432VOX (UHF)

• Powered via coax from transceiver
• <0.9dB NF (VHF), <1.2dB NF (UHF)
• 10-20dB Gain – adjustable (VHF), 22dB Gain (UHF)
• 750W SSB/250W FM Handling
• RF or hard switching

Rotators

The Yaesu G-5500 Azimuth Elevation Rotator  is a high-quality rotator designed for precise positioning of antennas. It features both azimuth and elevation control, allowing for accurate tracking of satellites. The rotator is built with durability in mind, with a sturdy construction that can withstand harsh weather conditions. It also comes with a user-friendly interface, making it easy to operate and control.

Satellite Tracking

To ensure that my antennas track the selected satellite I use a CSN Technologies S.A.T. interface. The unit provides active satellite tracking, rotator control, radio frequency synchronisation. With built in GPS and WiFi the S.A.T. displays a highly detailed web interface.