I was fortunate enough to live in Indonesia, where most of the Direct to Home TV use S-Band frequencies and you can buy cheap S-Band LNB for $10-15 or even as cheap as free of you can get it
I know what you mean, those circular ones that go in the focus of an offset dish, I've been looking for one but they are usually sold out or extremely expensive to ship to Europe
@@dereksgc Well, that's a bummer. I was about to find the cheapest way to get S-Band reception and find out it was literally in my backyard for years all along, lol. Maybe if you want I can sent you one if I can get a cheap shipping. Btw, just found your channel a month ago and so far I loved it! edit: Welp, yeah hopefully I can find a shipping that not cost more than 5 times the LNB brand new 😅
@@alphaadhito There are other options for different parts of the world. In the US there is the SUP-2400 DirecTV upconverter which can be modified into a downconverter, anywhere else an MMDS converter is a cheaper option, probably what I'm going to end up getting
I like your show. Happy your getting some attention. I'm about to take my Swiss Amateur Radio test and already a member of the Bern Radio Club, a member of the larger Swiss Amateur Radio Society. I am having to take the test in my second language. It's a harder test then the US. I share your interest in satilites. Your fortunate to have a huge dish to play with as you could actually do a little but of real radio astronomy scince with that dish! I will move to a more conducive location next year where I could find a place to mount any kind of antenna (I would love to build a large parobala). I have an adulm Pluto which I have not even opened yet. I want to wait to use it with a GPS disaplined clock, you also have to turn on the other cores in the CPU as default it's using only one, it has a FPGA as well, and one of the two USB ports can be turned into an Eithernet port. And, you have to code in the full range. I would like to see what you were using the others day with the Sat TV. I also have two HackRf Ones one with an additional add on clock, one is in the form of the HackRf Portpacks with Mayham.
Really enjoyed the video, downconverter seems to be exactly what I was looking for. Also intrigued by the Smart SDR. Do you know if later production models were able to receive up to 2300 mhz? Would love to have self contained unit that would cover 2304 ham band!
As far as I know the XTR unit simply can not receive that high. A good SDR that you could look into is the HackRF, specifically some of the "clone" boards of newer PCB revisions (2020 or later), those should have no problem receiving (and even transmitting a little bit) in the 13cm ham band. I will also hopefully soon do a video on a much cheaper converter for these frequencies
I'm pumped to see upcoming videos about GEO weathersat options available here in Europe! Damn, this must be some sort of quantum entanglement with Nooelec. :) I've just dusted off an MMDS LNB and two SUP-2400s this week which I bought like 2 years ago. Modded the latter. It's current consumption I found to be between 60-90mA@12V. Both the MMDS and SUP use the good old 74HC4046 PLL+VCO with a crystal of unknown ppm deviation for the LO. Can't speek for myself yet on the MMDS, but I've heard it hasn't got very steep filters. I will still need to build me a bias tee for these to try it myself. Excited to see this downconverter coming, but yeah, makes me think of getting a HackRF One instead and keep the RTL SDR v3 for direct sampling stuff.
I guess the question is when is it more affordable/practical to buy a purpose-built SDR instead and get the frequency range built in? In any case, great video as always!
Great bandwidth comes with great risk of image reception. I am running HackRF which has filter width settings for RX but still has a lot of mirrors of cellular and tetra bands in the higher frequencies. So I might give the converter a go to test the difference.
Can you receive s-band signals (especially 2200mhz and above like proba, noaa poes hinode)connecting only the ham it down to the antenna and the RTL-SDR if not what LNA are you using on this video? So far I've tested the ham it down without an LNA with the L.O at 1500mhz on satdump, it picks up signals at 2450Mhz without any problems, so i guess at least it works
Hi Derek! If you're looking for a video idea, could you do one on focusing a feed on an offset dish? Every time i've tried to do it I dont get any signal from the geo sat :c and it seems like everyone else can grab a rusty paperclip off the road and receive the world lol
Same. Just printed a helical feed with Derek's model for 1700, LHCP, 80cm offset dish. I get maybe a 10dB carrier on HRPT but no actual signal. The ground plane was kitchen foil around cardboard. Nooelec GOES, RSP1A. Feeling a bit downhearted 😢
I suggest you join the discord server and send more info there. But the ground plane probably sounds like the most likely cause of the issue, I can't imagine how you could connect that to the coax reliably
I appreciate that. My main fear is just causing trouble not just for myself but also for the sender. I don't know how the customs situation is so bad, every time someone sends me something, even if it's all filled out and prepaid, I still have to pay what seems to be a completely random amount as a fee on pickup
@dereksgc Yeah, and I don't know much about how that works there. I know I sent some handmade wood pens to Sweden awhile back, and as I recall that guy had to pay some fees too. Anyhow, if you want to try, I'll do it. Again, just let me know.
Osobně chápu, že autor natáčí svá videa raději v angličtině, přeci jen v Česku by publikum pro tak specializované téma videí bylo nejspíš poměrně malé. Krom toho, autorova angličtina je na velice dobré úrovni a osobně s ní nemám problém - a pokud bych měl, použil bych automatický překlad.
@@AsciiWolf Ano, máš pravdu. Ale myslel jsem to tak, že kdyby natáčel česky (aspoň občas jedno video) tak se bude o to zajímat více lidí v čr, jinak angličtina dost dobrá a také mi nevadí
Taky mě to napadlo, ale špatně by se to realizovalo, co jsem si všiml je že když kanál na UA-cam míchá více jazyků tak se to algoritmu nelíbí, zatímco samostatný cz kanál by měl minimální publikum. Taky je otázka zda se to vůbec vyplatí, vzhledem k tomu že většina lidí co by o tohle zájem měla tak anglicky umí
Don't do the clone! Do a real HackRF, you should see my pictures of the chip differences. That would make upgrading the firmware a potential big issue.
Skvělý nápad ze strany Nooelecu, ale extrémně špatná realizace připomínající horor. 90dolarů za 3 filtry (přičemž ten nejkritičtější z nich si stejně musíš doplnit sám), směšovač a ADF4350 je trochu zlodějina.
Chápu to no. Mně to prostě přijde jako situace genuine hackrf vs klon hackrf, když na to ty peníze jsou a zákaznická podpora a záruka jsou důležité faktory tak to smysl dává
Yeah I was initially thrown off when the antenna moved quite a lot between the first and second test. The important context was provided later - 8:09 it doesn't really matter where the antenna is pointing.
Nooelec finds new ways to cut into my paychecks
Quality getting better with every video! Great sound brother
I was fortunate enough to live in Indonesia, where most of the Direct to Home TV use S-Band frequencies and you can buy cheap S-Band LNB for $10-15 or even as cheap as free of you can get it
I know what you mean, those circular ones that go in the focus of an offset dish, I've been looking for one but they are usually sold out or extremely expensive to ship to Europe
@@dereksgc Well, that's a bummer. I was about to find the cheapest way to get S-Band reception and find out it was literally in my backyard for years all along, lol. Maybe if you want I can sent you one if I can get a cheap shipping. Btw, just found your channel a month ago and so far I loved it!
edit: Welp, yeah hopefully I can find a shipping that not cost more than 5 times the LNB brand new 😅
@@alphaadhito There are other options for different parts of the world. In the US there is the SUP-2400 DirecTV upconverter which can be modified into a downconverter, anywhere else an MMDS converter is a cheaper option, probably what I'm going to end up getting
man needs an motorised equatorial mount for tracking down those passing satellites!
great video. keep up the good work.
always looking forward to your videos!
I like your show. Happy your getting some attention. I'm about to take my Swiss Amateur Radio test and already a member of the Bern Radio Club, a member of the larger Swiss Amateur Radio Society. I am having to take the test in my second language. It's a harder test then the US. I share your interest in satilites. Your fortunate to have a huge dish to play with as you could actually do a little but of real radio astronomy scince with that dish! I will move to a more conducive location next year where I could find a place to mount any kind of antenna (I would love to build a large parobala). I have an adulm Pluto which I have not even opened yet. I want to wait to use it with a GPS disaplined clock, you also have to turn on the other cores in the CPU as default it's using only one, it has a FPGA as well, and one of the two USB ports can be turned into an Eithernet port. And, you have to code in the full range. I would like to see what you were using the others day with the Sat TV. I also have two HackRf Ones one with an additional add on clock, one is in the form of the HackRf Portpacks with Mayham.
Great Video! Glad i found this channel👍
I like yours videos bro :D
Thank you so much.
Thank you for this video and review.
Great video, thanks a lot. Are you using DC Block in this build?
If your paying attention you'll see a random Microwave transformer, a very fitting use in this case...
Nice video Derek!
I’m the MMDS downconverter discord guy. My issue will be solved with this!!!
Excellent video
Really enjoyed the video, downconverter seems to be exactly what I was looking for. Also intrigued by the Smart SDR. Do you know if later production models were able to receive up to 2300 mhz? Would love to have self contained unit that would cover 2304 ham band!
As far as I know the XTR unit simply can not receive that high. A good SDR that you could look into is the HackRF, specifically some of the "clone" boards of newer PCB revisions (2020 or later), those should have no problem receiving (and even transmitting a little bit) in the 13cm ham band. I will also hopefully soon do a video on a much cheaper converter for these frequencies
I'm pumped to see upcoming videos about GEO weathersat options available here in Europe! Damn, this must be some sort of quantum entanglement with Nooelec. :) I've just dusted off an MMDS LNB and two SUP-2400s this week which I bought like 2 years ago. Modded the latter. It's current consumption I found to be between 60-90mA@12V. Both the MMDS and SUP use the good old 74HC4046 PLL+VCO with a crystal of unknown ppm deviation for the LO. Can't speek for myself yet on the MMDS, but I've heard it hasn't got very steep filters. I will still need to build me a bias tee for these to try it myself. Excited to see this downconverter coming, but yeah, makes me think of getting a HackRF One instead and keep the RTL SDR v3 for direct sampling stuff.
I guess the question is when is it more affordable/practical to buy a purpose-built SDR instead and get the frequency range built in?
In any case, great video as always!
Great bandwidth comes with great risk of image reception. I am running HackRF which has filter width settings for RX but still has a lot of mirrors of cellular and tetra bands in the higher frequencies. So I might give the converter a go to test the difference.
Can you receive s-band signals (especially 2200mhz and above like proba, noaa poes hinode)connecting only the ham it down to the antenna and the RTL-SDR
if not what LNA are you using on this video?
So far I've tested the ham it down without an LNA with the L.O at 1500mhz on satdump, it picks up signals at 2450Mhz without any problems, so i guess at least it works
Hi Derek! If you're looking for a video idea, could you do one on focusing a feed on an offset dish? Every time i've tried to do it I dont get any signal from the geo sat :c
and it seems like everyone else can grab a rusty paperclip off the road and receive the world lol
Same. Just printed a helical feed with Derek's model for 1700, LHCP, 80cm offset dish. I get maybe a 10dB carrier on HRPT but no actual signal. The ground plane was kitchen foil around cardboard. Nooelec GOES, RSP1A. Feeling a bit downhearted 😢
I suggest you join the discord server and send more info there. But the ground plane probably sounds like the most likely cause of the issue, I can't imagine how you could connect that to the coax reliably
That's for both of you btw, link to the discord is on my website
Why do you need a separate LNA when using the Ham it Down? Is it a downconverter without amplification?
FWIW, I am in the US, and would be happy to find a SUP-2400 and post it to you if you would like. Just let me know.
I appreciate that. My main fear is just causing trouble not just for myself but also for the sender. I don't know how the customs situation is so bad, every time someone sends me something, even if it's all filled out and prepaid, I still have to pay what seems to be a completely random amount as a fee on pickup
@dereksgc Yeah, and I don't know much about how that works there. I know I sent some handmade wood pens to Sweden awhile back, and as I recall that guy had to pay some fees too. Anyhow, if you want to try, I'll do it. Again, just let me know.
It might be worth it to pick up a cheap usb hub so you're not juggling devices as much, otherwise great video! Keep it up!
Lock the exposure on the camera. Which camera do you use, anyway?
EDIT: a phone I see. Hmm....
Bylo by fajn kdybys natáčel aji pro české publikum, je nás tu taky dost nadšenců do rf, sdr... dokonce mám i discord server na tohle téma pro cz/sk 😂
Osobně chápu, že autor natáčí svá videa raději v angličtině, přeci jen v Česku by publikum pro tak specializované téma videí bylo nejspíš poměrně malé. Krom toho, autorova angličtina je na velice dobré úrovni a osobně s ní nemám problém - a pokud bych měl, použil bych automatický překlad.
@@AsciiWolf Ano, máš pravdu. Ale myslel jsem to tak, že kdyby natáčel česky (aspoň občas jedno video) tak se bude o to zajímat více lidí v čr, jinak angličtina dost dobrá a také mi nevadí
Taky mě to napadlo, ale špatně by se to realizovalo, co jsem si všiml je že když kanál na UA-cam míchá více jazyků tak se to algoritmu nelíbí, zatímco samostatný cz kanál by měl minimální publikum. Taky je otázka zda se to vůbec vyplatí, vzhledem k tomu že většina lidí co by o tohle zájem měla tak anglicky umí
Don't do the clone! Do a real HackRF, you should see my pictures of the chip differences. That would make upgrading the firmware a potential big issue.
Skvělý nápad ze strany Nooelecu, ale extrémně špatná realizace připomínající horor.
90dolarů za 3 filtry (přičemž ten nejkritičtější z nich si stejně musíš doplnit sám), směšovač a ADF4350 je trochu zlodějina.
Chápu to no. Mně to prostě přijde jako situace genuine hackrf vs klon hackrf, když na to ty peníze jsou a zákaznická podpora a záruka jsou důležité faktory tak to smysl dává
Maybe you should reorient your helical antenna when you test a new receiver. You did for the downconverter! What a joke!
what?
Yeah I was initially thrown off when the antenna moved quite a lot between the first and second test.
The important context was provided later - 8:09 it doesn't really matter where the antenna is pointing.