User Reports

[G8GKQ]

Once HamTV is transmitting, we ask that receiving stations post here with reports of the reception and their equipment. Please include as many items as possible of the following information:

Station details:

• Ground station location
• Dish size
• Dish feed
• LNA/LNB type (and NF if available)
• Receiver hardware
• Receiver software
• Tracking hardware
• Tracking software
• Sun noise during testing

When a signal is received:

• Time and date of the pass
• Maximum elevation of the pass
• Peak received MER

Attach a screenshot of the received spectrum if possible (from an SDR or Portsdown BandViewer)

The aim is to give other constructors ideas as to how they can build their own station.

[G8GKQ]

In advance of receiving any signals, I'll start with my station that is very similar to the one I used to successfully receive Tim Peake:

• Offset dish 85 cm (2 ft 9 inches) F/D 0.4
• Feed 4 turn helical G3RUH design
• LNA kit designed by G3WDG, NF 0.7 dB +/- 0.2 dB
• MMDS downconverter to 731 MHz, 2 line amps and then 30m coax to shack. Picotuner and Portsdown 4 receiver.
• Software Portsdown 4 and Ryde on a Raspberry Pi, with OpenTuner on a PC also available.
• Yaesu G5500 az/el rotator
• PstRotator and G5500pi software https://www.clearskyinstitute.com/ham/G5500/
• Sun noise about 2.5 dB

• On high elevation passes, MER was at least 5dB

Dave G8GKQ