Sat

Purpose

The purpose of this feature is to allow users the ability to automate control of LEO (Low Earth Orbiting) satellites while connected to a F6K radio (6500 or 6700).

Requirements

Software

• SatPC32 is required to obtain satellite name, frequency data and rotor tracking ability.
• QRZ.com XML subscription if QSO partner data retrieval is desired.
• DXLab's DXKeeper logging program if auto logging is desired.

Hardware

• 2m & 70cm transverters.

Setup

SatPC32 Setup

• Select Setup | Radio Setup
  • In the Radio #1 group
    • Select Kenwood for the radio type and Model = TS-2000.
    • Select one end of a virtual serial port pair where the other end connects to DDUtil's Sat setup port.

    Note: See the DDUtil Setup item below.

  • In the Radio #2 group select None (DDUtil takes care of the transmit frequency).
• Select Setup | Rotor Setup and setup your Az/Elev rotor as required.

SSDR Setup

• A Global Profile is required for each satellite you want to work. These profiles control all the parameters of the radio for a specific satellite as follows:
  • 2 Panadapters with one slice each as follows:
    • Panadapter 1 is for Slice A and is always the receive slice.
    • Panadapter 2 is for Slice B and is always the transmit slice.
  • Profile names must be prefixed with SAT followed by the satellite name so the profile name would be SATFO-29 for satellite FO-29.
  • Sample profiles are available here.
• An XVTR setup is required for each transverter (Settings menu | Radio Setup | XVTR tab).

Note: see the SmartSDR Software-Users-Guide for configuration details.

DDUtil Setup

Open the Settings form and select the Other tab and go to the Satellite group.

• Select one end of a virtual serial port pair for SatPC32.
• Enter the QRZ.com ID and Password if you want to be able to lookup call signs.
• Enter UHF and VHF macros if used.
• Select whether you want to use DXKeeper or an ADIF file for logging QSOs.

Operation

DDUtil Runtime Window

Controls

• Connect/Disconnect → Connect or Disconnect from the SatPC32 program.
• Calibr → Displays the calibration form.
• FDX On → Toggles the SSDR FDX (Full Duplex) feature On/Off.
• Burst → Sends a two (2) second 74.4 Hz tone to satellite SO-50 to activate its timer.
• Tone On → Press this button to work around a SSDR profile bug where the CTCSS TX is not persisted for FM satellites.
• Call → Enter call of QSO partner and press the Tab key to lookup call details. Note: requires a QRZ.com XML Data subscription account. Note: Double-clicking the call window will cleare call, name and grid info.
• Name → Name of QSO partner. Note: Double-clicking the name window will clear name.
• Sent/Rcvd → Sent and Received signal reports to be entered into the log. Note: program defaults to 59.
• Grid → Grid square of QSO partner. Note: Double-clicking the grid window will clear the grid.
• Green Button → Displays the ADIF log file.
• Red Button → Erases the ADIF file (use with caution).
• Log → Enters QSO contact data to either DXKeeper or the ADIF file depending on the log selection setting in DDUtil's Other tab.

Calibration Window

Controls

• Tx Offset &rrar; Shows the last entered offset frequency. Note: this value can be saved by pressing the Save button.
• Clear → sets the Tx Offset to zero.
• Save → Saves the Tx Offset value to memory by satellite and is recalled when next the satellite is called up.
• Tune → Pressing this button initiates the Flex SSDR Tune function. Pressing the button again will turn off the Tune function.
• +/- Buttons → Pressing these controls will increase/decrease the Tx Offset frequency by the number of Hz shown on the button that is pushed. Note: this works the same as the tune buttons in SatPC32, see special notes below.

Special Notes:

1. If you use the Calibrate feature described above DO NOT use the calibrate feature in SatPC32 as the two numbers will interact and cause problems. Set the SatPC32 Cat Tuning Up/Down Calibrate values to zero or blank.

Notes

1. The satellite feature is only available for Flex 6K (6500/6700) users.
2. Control explanations are available by hovering the cursor over the control of interest.