This is my early setup: (I say early , because it's in constant renovation... I've some ideas and project ongoing...)
Radios:
- 70 cm channelized Kenwood TK860 (top of the setup, adjusted for the 436 Mhz ham band)
- 2m Alinco DR-130T with subtone module (in the middle)
- 2m Yaesu FT-23R (laying on the right-center of the image)
- Power Supply is a commercial switching PS from a chineese manufacturer capable of adjustable 10 to 15 volts at 25 amperes (aluminum case at the bottom)
I use 5 channels for the downlink on 70cm for doppler corrections, the picture was taken with my radios at the end of the pass, that's why it's on channel five
1 = - 10 Khz
2 = -5 Khz
3 = Center freq.
4 = + 5Khz
5 = + 10 Khz
Antennas:
- 70cm 6 element home brewed DK7ZD yagui for 70cm (~17dBi, 75 cm the antenna and 1,05 meters of total boom made from white PVC.
- 2m Jpole at 12 meters from the ground with 30m of Heliax LDF-4 50 Ohms cable (not picture at the moment)
- Planned is a 2m DK6ZB kind 28 ohms Yagui with 3 elements (~9 dBi) home brewed in an Arrow style with the 70cm yagui (not picture at the moment)
I use the DK7ZB yagui model to build these antennas, two benefits as I see:
- Direct feed to the element (I know, I must put a 1:1 balun, but not toroid found yet for the task)
- Reduced dimensions, please note the separation of reflector and 1st director to Dipole... in a normal yagui it will be maybe around twice the length. Remember this is a hand held setup.
I use a PC headset with phones and mic, the mic is for the 2m Alinco and the phones for the kenwood... no picture yet...
Future improvements...
- Finally made the 2m yagui to mount in cross style with the 70cm yagui for make and homebrew "arrow"
- Improve the mechanical strength of the cables and connections... I have some ideas on mind... but I've not decided yet.
- Make a U shaped stand to fix the radios to it and also use the PS as the base for it... the goal is to have a PS+2m radio + 70cm radio as one unique block for transport.