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

Planning for the future, downconverter options.
by Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL 12 Sep '06

12 Sep '06

As Eagle won't have S band downlinks, I'd like to know if there is something simple out there that I can use in place of my AIDC 3731 downconverter to receive the higher frequencies on my 3' dish. I'd like something low cost, compact and simple like the transystems units were.

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Re: 10m band kibitzing
by William Leijenaar 12 Sep '06

12 Sep '06

Hi AMSATs, I like to give my comment on the message of N6GHZ. He wrote: "I am tried to get 10 metres looked at again by the AMSAT team but my comments have gone unanswered. I have also tried to query Peter to get an understanding why 29 MHz was dropped on P3E but no answer there either." As far as I know there will be a 29MHz receiver on P3e. Maybe things have changed but at the last designer meeting in Marburg, where I showed my MODE-UV prototype it was discussed. At that time the 29MHz receiver was a task of the Finish group. However this group was very busy with other parts of the satellite and 29MHz was on low priority. Another problem was the physical space, and it was agreed that is should join a small space in the MODE-UV box. As I had the MODE-UV transponder under my control I managed to join some PCB units together to make more space for a 29MHz receiver. Finally I even made the 29MHz receiver unit myself as I had the whole transponder here at home. The whole MODE-UV flight-mode transponder included the 29MHz receiver unit I delivered at AMSAT-DL in May 2005, as the first flight ready transponder for P3e. Unfortunatly the 29MHz I had to take out as the Finish group was choosen to design it, what I respect fully. The transponder included the 29MHz receiver can be seen on my webpage at the following link: http://www.qsl.net/pe1rah/p3e_mode-uv3/p3e_mode-uv3.html What supprizes me is that you tell me that 29MHz is not on P3e... I hope this is a mistake as I still have the receiver here at home for P3e in case the Finish group can not deliver their 29MHz rx. Unfortunatly I also didn't hear any sign from AMSAT after I delivered my MODE-UV flight-model. I mentioned many times that I will support in case of MODE-UV problems, as I do it for the world-wide AMSAT community in general... like I did with VO-52. This promise still stands... What ever will not fly on P3e and is of my design will be available for any other (long lifetime) amateur satellite project that has a good chance to fly and will support world-wide ham community. In case there is free satellite space available on an interresting OSCAR orbit (AMSAT or none-AMSAT satellite) I might sponsor a mode-uv or mode-vu linear transponder of my own design. I also hope some more 23cm uplinks will be available on satellites. I would love to test my 200W PA on a Ground Plane antenna, and see how it works on the amsats (and use this band widely so other none-ham users know ham activity is in this band (and hopefully they disapear soon) :o) Lets make some more sats like VO-52... I only need the box, solar panels and a rocket... The radio and antennas I will take care of ;o) 73 William --- __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Re: 10mtr and Galileo
by jules＠g0nzo.co.uk 12 Sep '06

12 Sep '06

Just for the record, the first Galileo satellite has already been launched: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4566264.stm Also there was a study made by the UK microwave group (the body representing UK amateur interests above 1GHz), which makes interesting reading. It suggests that the signals from Galileo would have little impact on terrestrial/EME 23cms opperation. Obviously the conclusions woule require a little re-interpretation, with respect to satellite based reception. But as Galileo transmissions will presumably be aimed at the earth, so that any amatuer satellite will receive signals greater than that on earth, for a minute part of it's orbit, I would think that the conclusions drawn would still be valid. It's an interesting read: http://www.microwavers.org/papers/iaru/C5-13_Galileo.pdf Jules G0NZO >Speaking of allocations being taken away, I just can't fathom the AMSAT >decision to drop L-Band up because of the "Galileo Affair." Now that's a >decision based on "crystal ball engineering" and not fact. I've even read >that if Galileo ever was launched - and that appears in the latest press to >be questionable" the US "would has threatened to shoot them down!" > >Regards...Bill - N6GHz

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Antenna Recommendation
by Steven Samuel Bosshard (NU5D) 11 Sep '06

11 Sep '06

Hello to the list, At present I hve a G-5500 AZEL Rotor, with the azimuth rotor on a rotor plate, and the elevation rotor about 5 ft above the flat top tower. An M2 fiberglass cross boom goes out 5 ft either side of the elevation rotor. There is a M2 7 ELE cp antenna on one side, and both a 432, 15 ELE CP antenna and a 35 ele 1296 antenna on the other side. Several questions. 1 - everything VHF and UHF are RH CP. 1296 is fixed horizontal. How much would I benefit adding polarity reversing switches? and is there any benefit trying cp on 1296? 2 - I am thinking about adding 2.4G to this mess. What antenna would this group recommend for out in the country - near Gatesville Texas - pop 15,000 (1/2 of whom are incarcerated). Yagi, parabola, etc - weight would be a factor with the elevation rotor, and fiberglass boom. Downconverter or transverter tower mounted, and IF back to the shack. 3 - Are plans for 2.4 down only or are there also plans for 2.4 up? ie, downconverter or transverter? I know these questions are very elementary, but I am new to AMSAT and learning. Thanks for your patience, Steve NU5D Ham Radio Spoken Here...NU5D EM11

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S-band on Eagle
by John Mock KD6PAG 11 Sep '06

11 Sep '06

I'm too busy with other things to read AMSAT-BB or digest Eaglepedia (or whatever it's called). Speaking only as an satellite QRPer, i do have a naive question... Various amateur satellites, such as AO-7, AO-13, FO-29, AO-40, and AO-51, have been programmed to operate in a variety of different modes. Generally speaking a given frequency is usually an uplink or a downlink. On Eagle, i believe we are contrained by size considerations in terms of antenna placement, so we can't put everything we like on that bird. Assuming S band is not on all of the time, might it be feasible for it to be switchable between being an uplink or a downlink? I see this as allowing newcomers to use existing and/or inexpensive S-band downconverters some of the time, and others to use the wider bandwidth of S-band uplinks for digital experiments at other times. This might also be a way of occupying our allocated S-band spectra enough of the time to make an impression on other users while still providing an easy path for people to get beyond mode J-FM. And perhaps allow the kinds of experiments that i really had hoped that would have happened with RUDAK in parallel with AO-40 voice operations. -- KD6PAG (Networking Old-Timer, Satellite QRPer) P.S. I was able to work AO-40 QRP via a pair of homebrew quagis. I'm looking forward to doing something similar on P3E and Eagle.

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Re: DIY 70cm preamp ideas?
by Kyle Yoksh 11 Sep '06

11 Sep '06

--- Original Message --- Hi Kyle How about this one: (http://www.g0mrf.freeserve.co.uk/432LNA.htm) 73 David ------------------------ Hi David, Thanks for this link. I was looking this over and it sounds quite impressive, but I did not find a parts listing. Seems a kit can be purchased, but must then be shipped overseas, etc. Do you happen to know where I can find a parts listing? I likely have most of the necessary parts in my 'junk box'. 73, Kyle K0KN

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Re: DIY 70cm preamp ideas?
by G0MRF＠aol.com 11 Sep '06

11 Sep '06

Hi Kyle How about this one: _http://www.g0mrf.freeserve.co.uk/432LNA.htm_ (http://www.g0mrf.freeserve.co.uk/432LNA.htm) 73 David In a message dated 11/09/2006 18:08:13 GMT Standard Time, yokshs(a)sbcglobal.net writes: Hi, I am interested in building a couple of preamps for 70cm. I've Googled a little bit, but several designs require finding a specific version of the ARRL Handbook, etc. Does anyone have a complete plan available including parts list, etc? Thanks, Kyle Yoksh KØKN Olathe, Kansas Amsat# 35249

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DIY 70cm preamp ideas?
by Kyle Yoksh 11 Sep '06

11 Sep '06

Hi, I am interested in building a couple of preamps for 70cm. I've Googled a little bit, but several designs require finding a specific version of the ARRL Handbook, etc. Does anyone have a complete plan available including parts list, etc? Thanks, Kyle Yoksh KØKN Olathe, Kansas Amsat# 35249

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Latest info on P3E
by i8cvs 11 Sep '06

11 Sep '06

Hi, All Tanks to Reinhard DJ1KM r.richter(a)dj1km.de who sent me a letter dated April 14 2006 you will find the latest info on P3E at: http://www.amsat-dl.org/pic/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_i temId=6497 The address is very long so that is truncated. Be sure to copy both lines It is a 5.6 MB large PDF document (download) in English language. Best 73" de i8CVS Domenico

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Re: S-Band Not 2.4 but 2.3
by Matt 11 Sep '06

11 Sep '06

VK is 2300~2302 and 2400~2450 Lost most of 2.3 GHz for wireless cable paytv broadcast, which by the way failed and is now only a couple of narrowcasts in major cities which are failing too! JA is 2400~2450 only ZL is 2396~2450 HL is 2400~2450 I see a trend here for region 3! >--- Emily Clarke <emily(a)clarke-design.com> wrote: > > Currently there is a 5MHz > > amateur allocation at 2300-2305 in all three regions and a 10MHz > > allocation at 2390 - 2400. I believe the 2390-2400 is primary as it > > appears in all caps and 2300-2305 may also be primary. > >Neither the United Kingdom or Germany have an Amateur allocation at 2300-2310 >MHz. > >The UK's allocation is 2310 - 2450 and Germany's 2320-2450, hence the adoption >of 2320 for weak signal (CW/SSB) terrestrial working in Europe. > >So at present I think only 2390-2400 is common between US/Europe. > >73 Trevor M5AKA

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