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

Symposium Information - BOFS
by Emily Clarke 18 Jan '07

18 Jan '07

For those of you who are attending the Symposium there is a new feature we are going to try this year called BOFS - Birds Of a Feather Sessions. BOFS are generally free-form meetings that are held after-hours and may be called by anyone wishing to start a discussion group. They have been common at software conferences I've gone to in the past and were very popular. An example of a BOF for the AMSAT Symposium might be to start a discussion about groundstation antennas. I have set aside two rooms (one holding 12 people, another holding 20) beginning at 6pm on Friday evening. The procedure is pretty straightforward: 1) Develop a title for your BOF - say "Homebrew Groundstation Antennas" 2) Estimate the amount of time you would like for your BOF - BOFS usually last 30 minutes or an hour 3) Go to the registration desk and tell someone there that you want to start a BOF. They will give you a flip-chart sized (2 foot by 3 foot) Post-It note and assign you a room and time. 4) Write your title, time and room on the large Post-It note and tack it on the wall outside of the Symposium meeting room. And that's it! 73, Emily --------------------------------- N1DID formerly W0EEC - CM87tm Support Project OSCAR - http://www.projectoscar.net

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Help - Alliance U-110 as an elevation rotator
by Emily Clarke 24 Dec '06

24 Dec '06

I'm mounting an old Alliance U-110 rotator horizontally to use as an elevation rotator, and I have noticed that if it is sitting with the mast clamp on the top everything works very well. If it's flipped with the mast clamps on the bottom (so it can connect to the azimuth mast) it seem stall and jam. I'm not sure if this is normal or just a sign of age but I traced the problem to a small gear under the shaft that "drops" when the rotator is in the clamp-bottom position and then slips over the top of the gear it is supposed to drive. Since many people have used this rotator for elevation in the past, has anyone run into this problem before? If so, did you find a solution for it? 73, Emily --------------------------------- N1DID formerly W0EEC - CM87tm Support Project OSCAR - http://www.projectoscar.net

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How to decode the sound of HITSAT FM on MixW2
by Mineo Wakita 01 Oct '06

01 Oct '06

I was successful in the decode the header of HITSAT FM 437.425MHz packet data. These signals were switched on ONLY in the range of Japan. And these 1k2 AFSK (FM 437.425 MHz) be able to decode by modem of IC FX614, becauce NOT AX.25 (not NRZ-NRZI). I was successful in the decode of the header "JR8YJT" of these FM data by using a soundcard program MixW2 (ver2.17). > JR8YJT#!5020000100927205504,305,366,8;7A,34,388,99,2,5,8C,12D 1. Click_right the volume button on your PC. 2. Click the adjustment of Audio_property. 3. Click the audio tab. 4. Click the volume button of the audio record. 5. Check the button of the monaural mixer. 6. Run MixW2. 7. Mode - RTTY 8. Mode - Mode Settings - Check "Inverted, AFC, and Squelch" 9. Mode - Mode Settings - Input "1800" Hz in TX and RX frequency box 10. Mode - Mode Settings - Input "Single filter" in Demodulator box 11. Mode - Mode Settings - Input "1800" in Shift box and Baud rate box 12. Mode - Mode Settings - Select "ASCII 7" 13. Run Sound_Decoder "sndrec32.exe". 14 Playback "60928hit.wav" in the following URL. 15. http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/hitsat03.htm 16. Then the signals are decoded automatically on MixW2 window. Tnx.> JH4DHX/3 / Mr. Ohtani --------------------------------------------- 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: Oct 1, 2006 ---------------------------------------------

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Directive Systems 1.2 antenna for sale
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 30 Sep '06

30 Sep '06

I am selling my Directive Systems 1.2Ghz 12 turn helix. I am redoing my system and the antenna is now surplus. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=001&item=110039356818&rd=1… 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle

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70cm preamp
by Bill Bruno 30 Sep '06

30 Sep '06

On my V/U setup I have a SP7000 70cm preamp. Working FO29(JAS2) my 2 meter signal overloads the preamp, my signal splattering like an adjacent strong station. With preamp off the problem is not there. In testing I found the overload happens in any combination of 70cm 2m frequency pairs. I can eliminate the problem by lowering the tx power, but by doing so I have a hard time copying my own signal. How can I eliminate the 2m sig overloading the preamp while still maintaining adequate power? Antennas m2 436cp30, Gulf Alpha 2m5el, both right hand polarization. I could use some suggestions. Thanks Bill

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LS patch feed [was: L/S antenna redseign]
by John Mock KD6PAG 30 Sep '06

30 Sep '06

W0LMD also has a nice patch feed for 1.2 GHz / 2.4 GHz http://www.ultimatecharger.com/Dish_Feed_SL.html Here are step-by-step pictorial instructions on contructing this patch feed using ordinary hand tools: http://www.qsl.net/kd6pag/LS-patch-feed.html My metalworking skill are such that if i can make one of these things, then you probably can, too. I got my N-connectors locally, but they also do mail order: http://www.halted.com 73's and good luck! -- KD6PAG (Networking Old-Timer, Satellite QRPer) P.S. Still looking for sked with Delaware or South Carolina in mode J-FM.

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L/S antenna redseign
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 30 Sep '06

30 Sep '06

Hello Bob is planning a new L/S redesign. Before I pick up my hack saw I would like some opinions/advice etc. The dish-a 54X48 inch prime star. The feed -a short helix for L & S side by side in line with the fan pattern. I beleieve W0LMD tried co-wound helixes with mixed results. On the same boom is a 2M & 70cm yagi. With all this antenna and counter weight is it too much for my G5400 elevation rotor? Plan "B"- use a actuator similar as described in http://www.qsl.net/sv1bsx/actuator/actuator.html . I have some actuators and a lot of hacksaws and I'm not afraid to use them. With only 10watts and some hardline I feel this dish might be necessary for a HEO on L band, and I might as well use it on S. I also have a 12foot TVRO but that's another story (project) for another day. As always your opinions/advice even ridicule is appreciated. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle

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Re: L/S antenna redseign
by G0MRF＠aol.com 30 Sep '06

30 Sep '06

In a message dated 30/09/2006 05:12:32 GMT Standard Time, w7lrd(a)comcast.net writes: Hello Bob is planning a new L/S redesign. Before I pick up my hack saw I would like some opinions/advice etc. The dish-a 54X48 inch prime star. The feed -a s hort helix for L & S side by side in line with the fan pattern. Hello Bob. If you mount them side by side, there will be a compromise as there is only one focal point. The concentric feed can be made to work as long as you have some filters to keep the 1.3G signal out of the 2.4G RX. Here is a good page on the topic. _http://www.g3wdg.free-online.co.uk/dual.htm_ (http://www.g3wdg.free-online.co.uk/dual.htm) 73 David G0MRF

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HITSAT 0647 UTC
by Mike Rupprecht 30 Sep '06

30 Sep '06

AOS 0647 UTC Sep 30 (JN49lr) Hit4 c0d7d1e2 Hit1 jr8yjt Hit2 9301546512b Hit3 2b4b4f4a4e49484a Hit4 c0d7d1e2 Hit1 jr8yjt Hit2 9301550452a Hit3 034.. LOS 0654 UTC Date: Sep, 30 Time: 15:46:51 JST HIT2 9301546512b HIT3 2b4b4f4a4e49484a HIT4 c0d7d1e2 Temp +X face : 111,648 °C --> this sensor seems to be faulty Temp -X face : 34,779 °C Temp +Y face : 25,171 °C Temp -Y face : 37,181 °C Temp +Z face : 27,573 °C Temp -Z face : 39,584 °C Temp Transceiver: 41,986 °C Temp Battery : 37,181 °C Prim. Battery : 7,500 V Sec. Battery : 8,398 V 5 Volts : 4,951 V 5.5 Volts : 5,353 V RSSI : 0,840 V 73, Mike DK3WN

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HITSAT 0514 UTC
by Mike Rupprecht 30 Sep '06

30 Sep '06

AOS 0514 UTC Sep 30 (JN49lr) Hit1 jr8yjt Hit2 9301412412c Hit3 0e4d4e484e4c4a4a Hit4 c1d7d2e2 Hit1 jr8yjt Hit2 93014163433 Hit3 334b514b4e4c484b Hit4 c1d6d1e2 LOS 0522 UTC Date: Sep, 30 Time: 14:16:34 JST HIT2 93014163433 HIT3 334b514b4e4c484b HIT4 c1d6d1e2 Temp +X face : 92,431 °C ??? Temp -X face : 34,779 °C Temp +Y face : 20,366 °C Temp -Y face : 34,779 °C Temp +Z face : 27,573 °C Temp -Z face : 32,377 °C Temp Transceiver: 41,986 °C Temp Battery : 34,779 °C Prim. Battery : 7,539 V Sec. Battery : 8,359 V 5 Volts : 4,951 V 5.5 Volts : 5,353 V RSSI : 0,996 V 73, Mike DK3WN

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