DX Packet Cluster Tune, Satellite Operation

11 SPECIALIZED COMMUNICATIONS

DX PACKET CLUSTER TUNE

DX Packet Cluster is a packet network which consist of nodes and stations who are interested in DXing and contesting. If one station finds a DX station on the air, he or she sends a notice to his or her node. This node then passes the information to all its local stations as well as another node. This transceiver can display received DX information and hold the latest information on up to 10 DX stations.

Node

Station

This transceiver is also capable of automatically tuning in a reported DX station. In order to use the Auto Tune function, access Menu No. 49A and select AUTO; the default is MANUAL.

1Press [A/B] to select VFO A or VFO B.

2Press [SUB] to activate the sub-receiver.

3The SUB LED lights.

4Tune to the frequency of the target DX Packet Cluster node on the sub-receiver.

5Press [FUNC], [SET/ P.C.T.] to enter the Packet Clusters Monitor mode.

•Each time new DX Packet Cluster data is received, an alarm sounds and the information is displayed on the sub-receiver as shown below:

•Press [FUNC], [SET/ P.C.T.] again to exit this mode.

6If you are using the Auto Tune function, press [SET/ P.C.T.].

•The main band is tuned to the frequency of the reported DX station, on the sub-receiver.

•Transmitting on the tuned frequency deactivates the Auto Tune. Press [SET/ P.C.T.] again to reactivate it, if necessary.

To access desired DX information from memory, press QUICK MEMO [MR], then turn the MULTI/ CH control. Press [SET/ P.C.T.] to tune the main band to the selected station. Press QUICK MEMO [MR] again to quit the DX information display.

The transceiver can be set to output a Morse code instead of a beep when new DX Packet Cluster data is received. Access Menu No. 49B and select MORSE. VOICE or OFF can also be set.

Note:

◆You cannot send DX information to a node using this function.

◆The DX information in memory is cleared when the transceiver power is turned OFF.

SATELLITE OPERATION

Amateur satellites receive on one band and transmit on another. This transceiver can handle uplink/ downlink frequency combinations simultaneously as shown below.

			UPLINK

	Band	HF ~	144 MHz	430/	1.2 GHz
	Band	50 MHz	144 MHz	440 MHz	1.2 GHz
	HF ~		√	√	√
	50 MHz		√	√	√
DOWN	50 MHz

	144 MHz	√		√	√
LINK	144 MHz	√		√	√
LINK
	430/	√	√		√
	440 MHz	√	√		√
	440 MHz

	1.2 GHz	√	√	√

Some satellites require a rotator that allows azimuth and elevation control, plus a high-gain directional antenna. The antenna must track the satellite which travels from horizon to horizon. Even so, many hams have been successfully using fixed omnidirectional antennas. If you are using a directional antenna, it would be wise to obtain a pass prediction program.

Doppler Shift is another aspect that you must take into account when working the satellites. As a target satellite travels away, frequencies on which you will receive change. This transceiver has a function that automatically keeps the sum or difference between the two frequencies identical when you change the receive frequency.

For further information, consult Internet Web pages relating to Amateur satellites. On Internet search engines, use “AMSAT” as key words to find those Web pages. Or, you can directly go to the AMSAT (the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) homepage at http://www.amsat.org. From AMSAT Web pages, you can download a variety of utilities, including pass prediction programs, which will ease your satellite operations.

BASIC OPERATION

When you enter the Satellite mode, you are always controlling one of 10 Satellite Memory channels with the adjustable frequency function. The Satellite Memory channel number (0 ~ 9) appears on the main transceiver’s display when you enter the mode.

1Press [SATL] to enter Satellite mode.

•The default downlink (435.9 MHz) and uplink (145.9 MHz) frequencies appear.

•“TRACE”, “R”, and “SATL” appear to indicate the current selections.

2On VFO A, tune to the downlink (RX) frequency of the satellite.