January 2007 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

P3E launch date
by Luc Leblanc 21 Jan '07

21 Jan '07

Hi I was asking myself lately if there was any new news about P3E project and launch. Here is some info's i get on AMSAT-DL web site. AMSAT Phase 3E, abbreviated P3E, will become the new satellite to enable stable communications from continent to continent for radio amateurs. The satellite, which is already under construction, should be ready for launch in mid-2007. With its transponders for 145, 435, 1268 and 2400 MHz, it continues the successes of its predecessors AO-10, AO-13 and AO-40. Radio amateurs, who were already active via those satellites, can be active over P3E immediately. Newcomers often already have at hand the most important elements for making radio contacts over the satellite. P3E is currently being built under the direction of AMSAT-DL by an international team, including groups from Finland, Belgium, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Hungary, AMSAT-NA (USA/Canada) and AMSAT-UK (Great Britain). The mechanical satellite structure is nearly finished and is being prepared for integration of electronic modules. An extensive test phase is planned to start in the spring of 2007. This info,s is dated on 2006-09-08. More info's at http://www.p3e-satellite.org/index.pl "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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AO-51 in V/S for 1 orbit, Sunday evening
by Andrew Glasbrenner 21 Jan '07

21 Jan '07

The command team will put AO-51 into V/S for one orbit this evening between 00:20 and 02:00 UTC 22JAN07 in order to collect some Whole Orbit Data. 73, Drew KO4MA

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ZASAT delay?
by Masahiro Arai 21 Jan '07

21 Jan '07

According to the NASA Space Calendar, Sumbandila launch date is set at April 2007. Is this mean ZASAT not to launch at December? Merry Christmas Masa JN1GKZ Tokyo Japan

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Re: Portuguese and Brazilian CAMÕES Sat-1 will be carrying the following items
by Luc Leblanc 21 Jan '07

21 Jan '07

QSP from AMRAD On 21 Jan 2007 at 16:42, AMRAD wrote: > http://www.amrad.pt/amsatct.php > > CAMÕES Sat-1 will be carrying the following items > General technical Payload specifications > > > > Mode V telemetry beacon: > Downlink: 145.850 MHz (AFSK) AX25 1200 bps > Output Power: 33 dBm (2 W) > On-board beacon: Digital voice message of greetings and hope > > Experimental stratospheric D layer beacon: > Downlink: 7.040 kHz CW (5 WPM) > Output Power: 33 dBm (2 W) > > Mode U/V FM Repeater: > Uplink: 435.250 FM > Downlink: 145.875 FM > Output Power: 33 dBm (2 W) @ -115 dBm RX input 12 dB SINAD > On-board beacon: CW (5 WPM) possible > > Mode U/L Linear Transponder (non-inverting) 50 kHz bandwidth: > Output Uplink: 435.850 - 435.900 MHz SSB/CW > Downlink: 1269.850 - 1269.900 MHz SSB/CW > Output Power: 33 dBm (2 W) @ - 105 dBm RX input > Beacon: CW (5 WPM) > > Mode U/V Linear Transponder (inverting) 30 kHz bandwidth: > Uplink: 435.235 - 435.265 MHz SSB/CW > Downlink: 145.965 - 145.935 MHz SSB/CW > Output Power: 33 dBm (2 W) @ - 105 dBm RX input > > Shape and structure of the satellite: > > The main body of the spacecraft is made by special aluminum, three vortex triangle shaped, but this could not be the definitive format; studies have been carried to determine a final shape in order to optimize the physical structure and therefore maintain a desirable amount of energy being delivered by these, to keep the satellite in operational condition. > > 21-01-2007 16:28 > > > Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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Re: AMSAT-NA totally metric?
by Tony Langdon (ATC) 21 Jan '07

21 Jan '07

> I am (lat 60.675)...so there :-) If you meant lat -60, well I did say "This side of the world", and I know you're not living among seals, whales and poenguins... ;)

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AMSAT-NA totally metric?
by G. Beat 21 Jan '07

21 Jan '07

The news article below, leads to a question about the current Eagle project as well as future AMSAT-NA projects. All metric measurement based? Greg. w9gb =================================== NASA boldly goes with Metric System (SI) http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=eca86baf-b80e-4941… TOM SPEARS, CanWest News Service Published: Friday, January 12, 2007 NASA has finally agreed to fly to the moon in metric - a move its scientists have wanted ever since they mixed up kilometres with miles and crashed an expensive spacecraft near Mars. Space is an international business. And NASA says that only scientists of the United States, Myanmar and Liberia still measure distance in miles. NASA's Vision for Space Exploration calls for returning astronauts to the moon by 2020 and eventually setting up a manned lunar outpost. This week, the agency announced it will make the lunar project a metric-only job. NASA quotes a senior moon mission manager, Jeff Volosin, as saying: "I think NASA has been seen as maybe a bit stubborn by other space agencies in the past, so this was important as a gesture of our willingness to be co-operative when it comes to the moon." The change, announced after talks with space agencies from Canada and 14 other nations, could leave any space experts in Myanmar and Liberia on their own. Canada, however, seems pleased. "Space engineering is tough enough without continuously having to remember all the conversion factors between various units," said Ben Quine, a professor of space engineering at York University. "So it's good news that they're joining us, and good news for international collaboration. "All of our courses are taught in SI (metric measure, abbreviated from the French Systeme international) so it will make it easier for our graduates to get jobs south of the border." A probe called Mars Climate Orbiter reached Mars in 1999, but entered far too low in orbit and crashed on its first loop around the planet's far side. NASA later said its engineers had messed up a conversion of orbital information from metric to imperial units. NASA started using metric measurements in some operations in 1990, but much of its work - such as aspects of shuttle missions and the International Space Station - continues in miles, pounds and gallons. "My favorite imperial unit is the slug. The launch force of the shuttle is measured in slugs," Quine said. (The slug is defined as the mass that receives an acceleration of one foot per second per second when a force of one pound is applied to it.) Making the change won't be easy for the Americans, he noted. "Everybody has to be careful with their units when they convert." But he says it will make calculations easier in the long run. Everything fits together by tens, hundreds and so on. "The foot was based on the size of the foot of one of the kings of England. I can't remember which one it is now. That's no way to run a space program, based on the size of a dead king's foot."

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Trakbox and LCD Display
by Vincenzo Mone 21 Jan '07

21 Jan '07

Hi to the list, I own a trakbox. I've made time ago the circuit by Jim K6OYY called: Backlight Trakbox Display. It is a while that the backlight is not working anymore. I've checked Jim's circuit and saw that the 70V AC is present on the LCD Pins so I think that the lamp has blewed but not sure. I've tried to take off the shield of the display and measured the lamp with an ohmmeter and saw there is no continuity. I would like to substitute it with a new one but I could not find the one I already have on the trakbox. On the diagram circuit of the trakbox I can read: LCD DISPLAY HITACHI 44780 COMPATABLE. Is there any body which can help me to find it? Thanks in advance 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 *** ***************************************

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Re: Voltage Requirements of ICOM IC-910H
by richard＠g3rwl.demon.co.uk 21 Jan '07

21 Jan '07

Michael Hatzakis Jr MD wrote > I have an SGC PS-50 supply that is not regulated, per se, it is a huge supply > with massive transformers. It appears to work fine, but I am worried about > the fact that is starts at 16v or so. I had a car that produced a voltage higher than 13.5v. My solution was to put some silicon power diodes in series with the supply, each will drop about 0.6v at whatever current is passing. I also had a switch to short them out when running the mobile rig without the engine running. You just need to pick diodes that can handle the maximum current the rig will take. Cheapest solution I ever found. 73 Richard W L Limebear G3RWL

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RAFT telemetry Jan.21
by Mineo Wakita 21 Jan '07

21 Jan '07

RAFT>BEACON,SGATE [01/21/07 11:07:36] <UI>: T#406,088,145,052,075,090,00000010,999 Bus Voltage 8.8V Solar Current 290mA Battery Current 104mA Load Current 150mA TX Temp 11.6°C Statusbits 00000010 http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/anderaf2.htm http://www.dk3wn.info/sat/afu/sat_raft.shtml --------------------------------------------- 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: Jan 21, 2007 ---------------------------------------------

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Re: AMSAT-NA totaly metric?
by Fred A Parker 21 Jan '07

21 Jan '07

It is not as easy as one thinks to manufacture parts for Eagle or other projects for Amsat using metric. Where does one find metric drills and other tooling in northern Minnesota? Also to working with an older BridgePort mill or lathes that were manufactured before the USA ever thought about going metric, plus having all my measuring tools in English. I have scrapped many Amsat parts because of it. Guess I have to admit it is hard for an old dog to learn new tricks. Fred (KF0AK)

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