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

Re: Drake 2880
by John Mock 24 Aug '06

24 Aug '06

Scott, i saved a link to this message just in case this happened to me. But that's the output transistor, not the front-end FET, so that this might not help. 73's -- KD6PAG http://www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/amsat-bb/200306/msg00159.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: [amsat-bb] Fried Drake Downconverter Fixed!! From: "Ken Swaggart" <k.swaggart@xxxxxxxxxxx> Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2003 09:27:16 -0700 Thanks to those who provided the needed information, my fried Drake downconverter has been repaired. I replaced the final IF transistor pair, NEC 2SC3357, Mouser part# 551-85634 which are a 1.20 each plus shipping. (I ordered a few spares in case this happens again! The unit is working fine and is currently copying AO-40 telemetry. Now need to order one of those Protector or Safety Bias Tee devices... Interestingly, when I removed the old transistors the center pins on both of them (collector)had physically separated from the case, apparently occurring when I transmitted into it. Guess this protected the other devices upstream. 73, Ken, W7KKE ===============================================================================

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Helical antennae for VHF, UHF & Microwave
by Félim Doyle M3HIM 24 Aug '06

24 Aug '06

I'm considering constructing helical antennae for the VHF, UHF & Microwave satellite bands and would appreciate any advice on their suitability, design, construction and use. 73 de Félim M3HIM IO91ot Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, UK

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simple satellite tracking
by McGrane 24 Aug '06

24 Aug '06

Hi guys and gals thanks to brian, amir paul, and drew for the advice on a simple tracking program. Instanttrack looked pretty good but I chose not to use it as there is no demo version. I didnt want to buy without knowing if it worked on the handheld PC first. I found a little calculator program called Real95 in the archives that works very nicely on the Handheld PC. It only shows a tabular readout of elevation, azimuth, and range but thats fine. Thats all I need for portable operation. All the advice is greatly appreciated! 73, patrick N2OEQ

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CW to ringtones (was Re: Re: Noise problem)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 23 Aug '06

23 Aug '06

> There are websites that will convert your CW to ringtones FOR FREE....one > guy went as far as assigning all his "friends and family" individual > ringtones of their names in CW... There are programs that do the same thing. Some are $$$ but I have used one free Windows program called Morse Midi by VE3NEA: http://www.netvampire.com/ham/#MorseMidi I've used this for a couple of years, and have had no problems with the MIDI files generated by the program. It's a good way to know if my phone is the one ringing, if I hear the CW coming from it. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK - Phoenix, Arizona USA http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Re: Just got a visual on the ISS!!!!
by G. Beat 23 Aug '06

23 Aug '06

RoD - Wait until the second truss and set of solar arrays is installed on next shuttle flight (Atlantis, STS-115) next week !! That should improve the magnitude a bit more :-) w9gb Date: Tue, 22 Aug 2006 12:36:00 -0400 From: "Stargate" <stargatesg1(a)verizon.net> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Just got a visual on the ISS!!!! The thing that surprised me the most was how BIG it appears to be in the sky. What I could see with the naked eye looked like 2 large squares, connected at the points. VERY inspiring!! I wish I had taken my binoculars out with me. I will be watching for other passes. Strange thing is, I didn't hear any activity on 145.800. I figured I would hear some kind of activity. RoD KD0XX

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Re: Noise problem
by George Henry 23 Aug '06

23 Aug '06

Other cell phones also send "SMS" in CW when you receive a text message........ George, KA3HSW -----Original Message----- >From: Nate Duehr <nate(a)natetech.com> >Sent: Aug 23, 2006 12:17 PM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Noise problem > > >On Aug 23, 2006, at 9:18 AM, Bruce Bostwick wrote: > >> My neighbor at work drives me up the wall playing with his >> cellphone. I have to listen closely to it to be able to tell that >> it's not 5 WPM CW. ;-) (And it's just the right pitch to sound sort >> of like a navaid beacon on the aviation bands too .. which gets my >> brain really confused.) > >Many Nokia cell phones' "Loud and Long" ring tone setting sends >"Connecting People" in 5 WPM CW. > >Always wondered the history behind that... hams at Nokia? :-) > >-- >Nate Duehr - WY0X >nate(a)natetech.com

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Re: Noise problem
by jules＠g0nzo.co.uk 23 Aug '06

23 Aug '06

Also known as 'Contest Ear'. After listening for traces of weak CW for 12 hours, you start to hear them in any noise. You also hear them after the contest is over and you are well away from the radio! > > I think when you want you hear and see things that are > not there. You just hear/see them because you mind > expect it to be there (even you are not aware of it). >

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Satellite tracking on Handheld PC
by McGrane 23 Aug '06

23 Aug '06

Greetings from Patrick, N2OEQ I need advice on tracking satellites with a handheld PC ( not pocket PC ) I recently recieved a NEC mobilepro 750c HPC with a MIPS R4000 processor. I downloaded a DOS emulation program and tried running the DOS STSPLUS program. The map took 25 minutes to draw so this is impractical. Any ideas or experience would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for your suggestions, pat

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Re: ISS ham radio trio getting ready for space shuttleAtlantis
by Ransom, Kenneth G. (JSC-OC)[BAR] 23 Aug '06

23 Aug '06

Flight rules require the amateur radios to be turned off for any EVA and for any Russian vehicle docking/undocking operation. No other events are specified. Kenneth - N5VHO -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Trevor Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 2:16 AM To: AMSAT BB Subject: [amsat-bb] ISS ham radio trio getting ready for space shuttleAtlantis ISS ham radio trio getting ready for space shuttle Atlantis http://www.southgatearc.org/news/august2006/ready_for_atlantis.htm I've heard the Amateur transmitters onboard ISS are turned off during Spacewalks does anyone know if they are also turned off during orbital maneuvers as well ? 73 Trevor M5AKA --------------- Daily Amateur Radio RSS News: http://www.southgatearc.org/ News On Your Website: http://www.southgatearc.org/rss/index.htm News On Your PC: http://www.southgatearc.org/rss/newsreader.htm Upload Your News: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/your_news.htm --------------- ___________________________________________________________ Try the all-new Yahoo! Mail. "The New Version is radically easier to use" - The Wall Street Journal http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html _______________________________________________ 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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67 Hz PL Frequency Tolerance?
by Bill Ress 23 Aug '06

23 Aug '06

I've looked through the AMSAT web site and the AO-51 book but can't any information about the frequency tolerance of the satellite receive system to the 67 Hz PL tone. I believe someone way back when actually did some measurements after it was launched but I can't find it either. Does +/- 2 Hz sound right? What about the level (deviation) require? Is it the same for the Mode V and L receivers? Regards and thanks...Bill - N6GHz

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