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

Posat
by Vincenzo Mone 09 Sep '06

09 Sep '06

Hi to the list, is there anybody which has heard the POSAT in the last days? It is a while that I cannot hear it anymore. Today I've tried to update the keplerians but I still do not hear it. Anybody has heard it? 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 *** ***************************************

1 0

Using TH-7DA As a Crossband link
by Mike Hooles 09 Sep '06

09 Sep '06

Hi guys, I have a non satellite problem and you all know this radio better than I do. Is there any way of using the TH-7DA as a crossband link on FM, even using an external cable ? I cannot find anything in the handbook. Regards Mike G3LGR 33643

5 4

S-band on Eagle
by yokshs＠sbcglobal.net 09 Sep '06

09 Sep '06

Hi, I've been following the thread about Eagle, and like many others I am sad to hear that S-band will not fly. I do look forward to working S-band on P3E, and hope the Eagle team will reconsider, and fly an S transmitter, even if it is considered a backup or emergency transmitter. I understand why the team wants to drop it, but I have a feeling that if we DON'T fly it, we'll wish that we had. Sort of putting all the eggs in one basket to depend on U/v to work for the life of the bird, isn't it? Remember AO-40 - I never heard the S1 TX, but aren't we all glad there were two S transmitters aboard? I DO look forward to working U/v on Eagle, but I doubt that my budget will allow experimenting with new modes such as C-band anytime soon. With this in mind, as far as I'm concerned, Eagle will be a U/v bird only. While I won't argue that the 2.4 GHz spectrum is a 'sewer' in some areas, I've only had serious QRM on one occasion. The radar pulses or spread spectrum noise was cured by my radio's Noise Blanker. One evening while copying AO-40, the bird's signal dropped completely off the S-meter. It was like my dish had fallen off the roof or something! Seems a neighbor down the street got a new 2.4 GHz analog cordless telephone, and (you guessed it) she was the dreaded full duty-cycle type - a high-school age girl! Her phone must have broken or was returned to the store soon after (WHEW!) I never got a chance to DF it, as I only heard it the one time, but was in absolute horror at the possibility of losing my S-band RX. For those of you that doubt a non-licensed device can swamp your new downconverter, believe me, my AIDC 3731 could hear nothing else. On a related subject, seems like I read somewhere that some C-band experimenters were considering using s-band units for the final conversion from 5 GHz? In other words, the C-band converter would only need to convert from 5 GHz to 2 GHz, and let the surplus s-band units do the rest? Anyone know any more about this subject? Another use for S-band converters might be for RF linking purposes? A small transmitter and helix or dish at each end should work well for control links or linking repeater sites maybe? 73, Kyle Yoksh KØKN Olathe, Kansas Amsat # 35249 VUCC Satellite # 150

2 1

Hawaii activity
by Tim Tapio 09 Sep '06

09 Sep '06

Hi all, I'm planning a trip to Hawaii (Oahu) for a few days in January..how much activity is there on AO-51? I'd like to bring a handheld along, see if I can work someone while I'm there. 73 de Tim, K4SHF

2 1

Not too late
by MARTHA SARAGOVITZ 09 Sep '06

09 Sep '06

If you have not mailed your AMSAT ballot, you still have time. Ballots MUST arrive at the AMSAT office by Friday, September 15th. Martha Saragovitz AMSAT Manager

1 0

Re: S band downlink on P3E
by sco＠sco-inc.com 09 Sep '06

09 Sep '06

> I do not wish to duplicate that >which was designed in 1980 for a complete different era. The phase 3 >program is an engineering marvel. It is essentially one man's absolute >genius (Karl) incarnated and captured to varying degrees by the rest of >us as the supporting cast. But I do not believe it is appropriate for >2010-2020 given the launch environment, the RF environment, and the >legal environment. The frame is too small to support the antennas >required to use multiple satellites even to support 7/24 operations. >We need a larger frame to support the phased arrays to meet the 70% >availability and on and on and on. Ok that makes sense. How does the size of P3E compare to AO-40? Could we design a larger version of the P3E spaceframe that would fit into the mounting ring used for AO-40? if so would that give us a bird large enough to do what you think needs to be done, for the future needs of the sat community? We know that the P3E (AO10/13) shape seemed to work as I hope P3E will also work. Would not a large version work on the same principals? Les W4SCO

1 0

SO-50 Not Heard at
by Eric H Christensen 09 Sep '06

09 Sep '06

Just took the arrow and the HT out to the driveway to work SO-50 and didn't hear anything. I attempted to activate the bird numerous times but still nothing. Did anyone hear/work the bird on this pass? 73s, Eric KF4OTN

3 3

Re: 2.4 GHz Comments and Proposals
by Bob Bruninga 09 Sep '06

09 Sep '06

> ... if the inference problem at 2.4 GHz is as severe > as you repeatedly state - how come the cordless > phones and WiFi systems don't drown themselves > out an collapse with their own sea of mutual > interference? Because they are less than 150 feet away from their transmitters. And that is 74 dB stronger than a signal coming in from 40,000 km away... 74 dB is something like 25,000,000 times stronger... Bob, WB4APR

2 1

Re: want this
by Matt 09 Sep '06

09 Sep '06

> >The above was gleened from all the lateset gnashing. Is or does >anyone know of work being done of 5ghz receive systems? I have a >bunch of old C band receivers and C band LNA/LNB a 12 foot TVRO. I >am not and engineer, but I can follow directions. Just get me >started I would like to get ahead of the curve. 5ghz will be in >our future, ready or not! >73 Bob W7LRD >Seattle Well grab one and have a play with it. See what you come up with. I have converted 12 GHz sat LNBs to 10 GHz by super gluing an extra puc onto it's exiting puc, to change the Lo to 9 GHz. Played around with the LNBs pre-amp and filters by cutting/adding pcb tracks. No reason the same can't be done on C band LNB. You will be moving the LO about 2 GHz might be bit of stretch but it's going to be fun to find out. I did read a page about moding 12 GHz LNBs for 10 GHz ATV. Here is one page that gives step by step mods and there are a couple of others around http://www.qsl.net/pa3gco/zelfbouw/blauwkap/bluecap.html I have also seen the same done for a 2.4 GHz transmit converter on drake type downconverter which I can't find the page for at the moment. C band LNBs are cheap to get and there are heaps of them out there. So let's get at it!

1 0

Mode L/S Equip for P3E
by sco＠sco-inc.com 09 Sep '06

09 Sep '06

I have an Ft-847 setup for working sat. What are some ideas for adapting an L band uplink. My S band downconverter has a 2m IF. Les W4SCO

3 2