November 2006 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

WispDDe com ports
by Len N9IJ 23 Nov '06

23 Nov '06

Finally got my rotor controller built but find that WispDDE (used with both Satscape and Orbitron) will only accept COM1-COM4. Before I try to force my Ethernet card off COM3 does anyone know of a means to use WispDDE on com-ports above COM4? TIA. -- Len Revelle N9IJ "My career goal is to retire"

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Home Brew antenna question.
by john heath 22 Nov '06

22 Nov '06

A question for antenna home brew experts. WA5VJB has some great designs for easy build "cheap yagi's", problem is they are optimised for the wrong end of the band for satellite use. The 70cms version is designed for 432MHz If I scale the element lengths and spacings by 432/436 will that move the antenna up in frequency to 436 Appreciate that its probably academic for receive, but it significant for transmitting. 73 John G7HIA

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Bird wattmeter element
by Joseph Trombino Jr 22 Nov '06

22 Nov '06

Dug a little deeper into the Bird web page and found the elements that I would need. They are the model 10K, 25K and 50K elements that cover 1100-1800mhz at 10w, 25w, and 50w. I would need a 10K to measure a soon to arrive 1.2ghz module for my IC910. Any idea what these units cost??? Any available for sale??? 73, Joe W2KJ

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Re: Bird wattmete element
by Joseph Trombino Jr 22 Nov '06

22 Nov '06

> Is there a wattmeter element that covers L band (1.2ghz) for the Bird 43 > wattmeter??? > > I checked out the Bird web page but couldn't find anything for the model > 43. > > My Bird 4304 only goes to 1ghz...can I still make accurate measurements on > L-band with this meter??? > > 73, Joe W2KJ

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Re: Question about tuning for doppler and SatPC32
by RogerKola＠aol.com 22 Nov '06

22 Nov '06

In a message dated 11/20/06 6:35:06 PM Eastern Standard Time, ehekman(a)cox.net writes: > Since I have found it easy to implement and it makes QSOs much easier to > maintain I am curious why computer controlled Doppler correction is not used by > all stations. Are there some radios still in use that do not have the > capability for computer control? > > Ed > WB6YTE > Hi Ed.... Just speaking for some of us Luddites, the thrill and challenge of a "pure" QSO, maybe with just CW, is part of the experience. I suppose I could get my computer to run consecutive QSOs, doppler tune, voice track, log, post my log in LOTW etc, but that is not what I enjoy. My opinion is that "I did it myself" applies to computer "programming," and to satellite operation seperately. I will reward you on your accomplishments, but reserve the right to set my own goals. That said...anyone want to try AM through AO-7? hihi Roger WA1KAT

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Office Closed
by MARTHA SARAGOVITZ 22 Nov '06

22 Nov '06

The AMSAT Office is closed until Monday November 27th. 73, Martha

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FO-29 CW telemetry simple decoder
by Mineo Wakita 22 Nov '06

22 Nov '06

I developed a simple decoder for FO-29 CW telemetry. http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/fo29cwts.zip --------------------------------------------- Name: Mineo Wakita / JE9PEL, JAMSAT member Mail: ei7m-wkt(a)asahi-net.or.jp URL : http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/ QTH : Yokohama Japan, GL:pm95tj Date: Nov 22, 2006 ---------------------------------------------

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TH-F6 Remote Control?
by Robert Bruninga 22 Nov '06

22 Nov '06

Has anyone tried remote control of the TH-F6 HT? We built the interface shown on http://www.misobras.com/esquemas/ham/MOD/kenwood/TH-F7-1.htm But using hyperterm and typing symple commands we get nothing. We have pressed the menu-9 key and set it to PC. We type a simple command like "ANT" and expect it to come back with the setting in response. Anyone done this? Bob

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Alliant rotor U100
by Ed Krome (K9EK) 22 Nov '06

22 Nov '06

Message text written by Norman W Osborne VE3CJE > Anyone use the Alliant rotors for tracking? Where would I look for information to interface these rotors, hardware and software? Presently have Nova tracking software. Norman< ---------------- Like many others, I used the U110 for elevation for years. Not very accurate, lots of backlash (flop in the breeze), no feeedback pot. Might (is) be a problem with a feedback system. Not the best, but cheap. As long as the antennas don't have too sharp a pattern, you should be OK. You will have to use an external position sensing arrangement. Have fun... 73 Ed K9EK EM69xd

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Re: TH-F6 Remote Control?
by John Mock KD6PAG 22 Nov '06

22 Nov '06

It works just fine for me, thank you. What's not documented is that when you set it up SP/MIC JACK (menu #9) to "PC", the 'speaker' and 'mike' lines (not shown in the F6A Manual) remain active. So in "PC" mode, you can send and receive audio as well as sending and receiving serial data at TTL compatable levels. So it sounds like it might be good for your application. So i have a TTL compatable serial interface in my USB/PIC rotor controller which uses a variant on the WB4APR Radio Shack rotor control circuitry), which allows me to track satellites and adjust for doppler on a laptop. Yes, i can use a LINUX terminal program (or the Windows equivalent) to talk directly to the F6A at 9600bps. But what i really use is an object- oriented PERL module to control the F6A, and that modality also allows me to 'predict' in server/client mode and thus lets me at least listen to satellites 'hands-free'. And i also use it to save and restore the state of the radio -- much easier than entering all this stuff by hand (or via a GUI). It turns out the hard part is the cable, as i don't think the standard programming cable passes audio. While the radio uses a 2.5mm connector, the case mechanically interferes with plugs that i've gotten locally and makes a rather unreliable connection. I just got new 2.5mm connector from Radio Shack that someone else on the 'Net mentioned and i'll have to see if works better than those from my local supplier(s). 73's and good luck! -- KD6PAG (Networking Old-Timer, Satellite QRPer) [Note: I'll be in CM98, and try to be on AO-51 and SO-50 from Wednesday evening through Sunday morning if anyone needs it. I still need DE, MA, IN and SC for WAS (but contacts from CM98 won't count for that).]

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