49 Confirmed DXCC
158 Confirmed Squares - VUCC
QO-100 Ground Station
In 2023, my first station to access QO-100 was based on the ADALM Pluto, however this failed over the winter and therefore I had to decide if I was to buy another Pluto, or change the station build. I have now had two Pluto units which have failed for different reasons and therefore decided to go another route.
The 2024 station is based on the DX Patrol QO-100 Upconverter MK4, retaining the Pluto for RX with SDR console for the time but this will move to an SDRPlay RSP1B at some point. The exciter radio will be my Yaesu FT-857D, which is a portable radio used previously when I took part in SOTA.
For antennas, I already have the POTY which has worked ok, but compromises receive somewhat so I started to build a DC6YCL YATT Helix, however I don't have that much spare time, so have purchased an Icecream Cone v2.1 antenna to get back on the air. I will continue to make the YATT and see how it performs.
In 2023, I used SSTV, FT4 & FT8, 300 baud Packet and SSB, I had a number of contacts which has been very enjoyable thus far so I want to get back on the satellite as soon as I am able to re-build.
QO-100 DX Club Bronze Award - 50 Entities (Oct 2023)
The operators on QO-100 have been very helpful and courteous, some sending me received SSTV pictures for analysis, and SSB QSO's are always an interesting discussion on the station builds and related radio subjects. With a less congested band, there is always time for a qso !
| Callsign | Date | Mode | Name |
| YL2GC | 07/04/2023 | FT8 | Vlad |
| DL9RAN | 07/04/2023 | SSB | Norbert |
| G4GIR | 22/04/23 | FT4 | Ian |
| PA3DSB | 07/10/2023 | CW | Paul |
| RP78DS | 01/05/2023 | SSTV | Special Event Stn |
| EI2GYB | 16/04/2023 | 300 Baud Packet | Steve |
| CT7AOV | 23/12/2023 | RTTY | Hugo |
First QSO's per mode on QO-100
Station build in progress, but this is how it will be configured ;
Station Schematic diagram
The Upconverter is located in the cabinet, behind the dish along with the SG-Labs PA and power supplies. The IF (144Mhz) Coax is fed from the shack along pre-routed buried conduit.
The SDR is located in the shack directly connected to the Sat PC, along with the Yaesu FT-857D via CAT. The PC uses SDR Console to track the RX and TX frequencies.
Dish and Garden Cabinet - (2023 install)
The dish is located alongside my other Satellite dishes and antennas.
**PIC
Dish, amongst Friends
Parts List
| Part | Source | Cost | Notes |
| RX Station | |||
| SDRPlay RSP1B | ML&S | £126.00 | SDR Receiver |
| DC blocking Cap (SMA) | Ebay | £7.00 | |
| Bias T Circuit Board | Passion Radio | £15.00 | |
| Bullseye LNB | Passion Radio | £23.00 | |
| Mercury LTE Filter | Amazon | £5.99 | DC Pass-through |
| Triax TDS80 Dish | CPC | £39.00 | 80cm Steel Dish |
| 20v to 5v USB PSU Board | Ebay | £4.00 | USB Power Board |
| 20cm USB-A to USB-C Cables | Ebay | £3.00 | |
| USB-C to USB-A OTG | Amazon | £6.00 | UGreen |
| USB Ethernet Adaptor | Amazon | £12.00 | UGreen |
| RG6/U Coaxial Cable and Plugs | CPC | In-Stock | £1.60 per m |
| 13.8v PSU | In-Stock | 3-5 Amp | |
| Dish Mounting Pole | In-Stock | ||
| Postcrete Mix | £6.00 | ||
| TX Station | |||
| Yaesu FT-857D | In Stock | Portable Radio | |
| DX Patrol Up Converter | DX Patrol | £150.00 | 144Mhz to 2.4 Ghz Txvtr |
| -3db Attenuator | Ebay | £15.00 | Lower input power from 857 |
| POTY Antenna | Passion Radio | £41.00 | Kit |
| 20v to 28v PSU Board | Ebay | £12.00 | Step-up Voltage for Amp |
| SG Labs 30w 2.4Ghz RF Amp | SG Labs | £138.00 | QO-100 amplifier |
| Leo Bodnar GPSDO | Bodnar | £110.00 | Clock Source |
| M+P Ultraflex 10 and Connectors | ML&S | £36.00 | 1m and 7m lengths |
Project Total : £ 749.00