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

Re: front-end overload was: echo
by Pughkeithd＠cs.com 27 Aug '06

27 Aug '06

Amen, Andy! Excellent explaination. I can't use my Yaesu VX-5R HT with an Arrow attached in a metropolotin area for the very reasons you describe. It works fine with a long "Rubber Duck" but with all of the aluminum in the Arrow attached it becomes very deaf due to front end overload. 73 - Keith, W5IU

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Re: echo
by G0MRF＠aol.com 26 Aug '06

26 Aug '06

In a message dated 26/08/2006 16:33:29 GMT Standard Time, tmcgrane(a)suffolk.lib.ny.us writes: Thanks for the info drew and bob, with at least 18 watts from the solar panels and maybe 6 watts being consumed by the satellite, I believe there must be a way to recoup all that solar power. Thanks to anybody who can eek out more power in the future. Can amsat afford to consult with the original satellite manufacturer in virginia on the subject? BTW, I have bothe the original and current ECHO books. Thanks, pat n2oeq Hi Pat. The answer would seem to be: Echo works very well at it's current power setting requiring only modest equipment to use the onboard systems. To receive the satellite down to the horizon on every pass could be done by increasing the power towards its maximum of 4 Watts. However, the penalty would be to limit the other functions available to users and increase the depth of discharge of the batteries during each eclipse period. The effect of this would be to shortern the life of the batteries and the satellite. All of the above gleaned from messages and material referenced in the past few days. We don't need to ask Spacequest anything, we just need to improve our ground stations to cope with the power that is deemed optimum for maximum satellite lifespan. 73 David G0MIN AMSAT 51 on 51 award No fortysomething. "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country" -JFK 20th Jan 1961

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echo
by McGrane 26 Aug '06

26 Aug '06

greetings Please note I am not mad at amsat so please dont take my messages so personally. Just trying to report my observations then things get carried away. The coloradosatellite telemetry graphs only show TX A power which is the digital transmitter. I am interested in the TX B which is the phone transmitter. Thanks for the info drew and bob, with at least 18 watts from the solar panels and maybe 6 watts being consumed by the satellite, I believe there must be a way to recoup all that solar power. Thanks to anybody who can eek out more power in the future. Can amsat afford to consult with the original satellite manufacturer in virginia on the subject? BTW, I have bothe the original and current ECHO books. Thanks, pat n2oeq

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TALK on P3E from Continent to Continent
by i8cvs 26 Aug '06

26 Aug '06

Congratulations to AMSAT-DL for the new page dedicated to P3E http://www.p3e-satellite.org/ 73" de i8CVS Domenico

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Re: STS-121 / STS-115
by Félim Doyle M3HIM 26 Aug '06

26 Aug '06

I guess you know by now that Enzo meant non-amateur up-/down-link frequencies. I think that Trevor M5AKA and others (me!) have posted some suggestions. However, as an insider perhaps you could publish a definitive list of good places to listen during launch and docking. See also www.dxtuners.com where the local Florida nodes tune in to launch frequencies. 73 de Félim M3HIM IO91ot Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, UK ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ransom, Kenneth G. (JSC-OC)[BAR]" <kenneth.g.ransom(a)nasa.gov> To: "Vincenzo Mone" <vimone(a)alice.it>; "Amsat - BBs" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006 6:58 PM Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] STS-121 > STS-121 does not have any amateur radio gear on board. > > > Kenneth - N5VHO > > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of Vincenzo Mone > Sent: Wednesday, July 05, 2006 12:07 PM > To: Amsat - BBs > Subject: [amsat-bb] STS-121 > > Hi to the list, > pleas which are the up/downlink frequencies for the STS-121? > Thanks > > 73 de Enzo IK8OZV > EasyLog 5 BetaTester > EasyLog PDA BetaTester > WinBollet BetaTester > D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania > Skype: ik8ozv8520 > > > > > *************************************** > > ***** GSM +39 338 9749786 ***** > ***** SMS +39 338 9749786 ***** > ***** FAX +39 328 7244294 ***** > *** 2nd e-mail: vimone(a)tin.it *** > *************************************** > ---- > Sent via amsat-bb(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe amsat-bb" to Majordomo(a)amsat.org > ---- > Sent via amsat-bb(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe amsat-bb" to Majordomo(a)amsat.org

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Re: Helical antennae for VHF, UHF & Microwave
by WILLIAMS MICHAEL 26 Aug '06

26 Aug '06

Felim, Here are some helix info websites. 1.http://www.qsl.net/ve3cvg/antennas/ Good antenna website plus 2400 MHz helix. 2.http://www3.sympatico.ca/b.zauhar/ A lot of info on this page with 2400 and 435 MHz helix projects. 3.http://www.g6lvb.com/index.htm Great site! Check out quadruple helix for AO40. 4.http://members.aol.com/k5oe/ Jerry's site has a lot of useful helix data. Check out the helix projects by clicking the home brew page at left bottom. 5.http://www.electric-web.org/2m_helix_antenna.htm VK5ZAI's 2 meter helix 6.http://webpages.charter.net/n4wyk/ Click satellite website then click 2401 MHz helix at left. 7. The 2006 ARRL Handbook has a excellent "L" band helix project. If I can be of any further assistance, please email. 73, Mike K9QHO AMSAT 33589

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Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 1, Issue 24
by Ellis 26 Aug '06

26 Aug '06

Hmmm. What happened to the ECHO voltages on 13 August? see http://www.coloradosatellite.net/echo/graph.php There were three 'excursions'. This may have already been discussed to death, but I can't see anything obvious in the list messages. Peter VK1KEP Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2006 14:01:54 -0400 From: "Bobby Lacey" <amsat(a)duaneallman.net> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: ECHO To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <00c901c6c870$97d181a0$0e00000a@rosehill> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Patrick, Have you checked out http://www.coloradosatellite.net/echo/graph.php ? 73 Bobby - KF4GTA EM80 http://www.bobbylacey.com/KF4GTA

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Re: ECHO
by Armour, Randy (ITS) 25 Aug '06

25 Aug '06

I think the database is already available... see recent post from Bobby - KF4GTA. Have you checked out http://www.coloradosatellite.net/echo/graph.php 73 Bobby - KF4GTA However, there seem to be only a few records in the database. We have 10 records in July and 6 records in August. I am not sure if older records in the database are deleted on a frequent basis. Or, maybe nobody is taking the time to upload telemetry data. Randy - KI4LMR -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Patrick Green Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 2:09 PM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: ECHO Perhaps the TLM data could be dropped into a central database such how APRS data is into APRS-IS/findu. This could give fancy reporting and alert command stations that aren't near their stations to perhaps look at the next pass of TLM, etc if there is an issue. Just an idea. 73 de Pat --- KA9SCF Amsat #35741 On 8/25/06, Andrew Glasbrenner <glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com> wrote: > > How about copying the telemetry yourself instead of asking someone else to > do it for you. It's there whenever the digital transmitter is, and you can > download software for free to decode it. > > 73, Drew KO4MA > _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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More on GPS time (was Re: Accuracy?)
by George Henry 25 Aug '06

25 Aug '06

According to the US Naval Observatory web site and gpsinformation.net, the leap second offset is contained in the NAV message sent every 12.5 minutes, along with 2 correction values (time difference and rate of system time change referenced to the USNO master clock), allowing most current generation time receivers and software to calculate UTC to within better than 40 nanoseconds of the master clock. GPS time itself is automatically "steered" to USNO UTC on a daily basis to keep system time within 1 microsecond, but has generally been "within a few hundred nanoseconds" over the last several years, since selective availability was turned off. No doubt this is how my Motorola Oncore software supplies accurate UTC time info. George, KA3HSW >-----Original Message----- >>From: Ray McKnight <shortsheep(a)worldnet.att.net> >>Sent: Aug 25, 2006 1:16 AM >>To: George Henry <ka3hsw(a)earthlink.net> >>Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Accuracy? >> >>You are aware that GPS time and "earth" time are two different critters? >>The GPS constellation is not adjusted for leap seconds, so the time your >>GPS receiver displays is something like 13-14 seconds off actual earth time. >> >>Could make for some big problems trying to track a highly eliptical orbit >>or even LEO with that much error.

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REMINDER
by MARTHA SARAGOVITZ 25 Aug '06

25 Aug '06

This is a reminder that the AMSAT Office will be closed from Monday, August 28th - Friday, September 8th. I will back in the office September 11th. Here is my last nag for two weeks: 1. Send in your AMSAT Ballot 2. Register for the AMSAT Space Symposium 73- Martha

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