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

RAFT voice synthesizer recorded
by Mineo Wakita 07 Jan '07

07 Jan '07

RAFT 145.825 MHz AX.25 1200bps AFSK Jan 7, 09:12-09:21 JST, 2007 Jan 7, 00:12-00:21 UTC, 2007 Max ele, 78.5 deg http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/70107raf.wav --------------------------------------------- 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 7, 2007 ---------------------------------------------

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Re: "Emilyshouse.com" expired?
by W3NJ＠aol.com 06 Jan '07

06 Jan '07

All, AO-7 home page and log can be found here. Looks like the original AMSAT status page needs to have the link updated to the one below. Thanks to all that responded! http://www.planetemily.com/ao7/main.php 73 Bruce- W3NJ In a message dated 1/6/2007 14:29:03 Central Standard Time, pagreen(a)gmail.com writes: > > > Registrant: > Pending Deletion > P.O. Box 821650 > Vancouver, WA 98682 > US > > Registrar: DOTSTER > Domain Name: EMILYSHOUSE.COM > Created on: 29-DEC-00 > Expires on: 29-DEC-06 > Last Updated on: 30-DEC-06 > > That is according to whois. > > 73 de Pat --- KA9SCF > Amsat #35741 >

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"Emilyshouse.com" expired?
by W3NJ＠aol.com 06 Jan '07

06 Jan '07

Hi Emily, I went to pull the log from the satellite status page to look at AO-7's mode and received the infamous "404-not found" message + a banner that says this domain has expired. Please say it ain't so!! ;-) tnx es 73 Bruce- W3NJ

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TrackBox Backlight LCD
by Vincenzo Mone 06 Jan '07

06 Jan '07

Hi to the list, I've made Jim's N6OYY circuit for the LCD backlight on the Trackbox. Unfortunately it is a while that it seems I cannot see anymore The light in the LCD. I have tried to check the circuit and saw that the 70 V AC is present On the LCD terminals. Do you have any idea what can it been happened? Any help will be really appreciated. 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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Equipment
by Stephen Thornber 06 Jan '07

06 Jan '07

Hello all, First some facts I am new to Satellite. I have subscribed to amsat ORG (G6SGA(a)amsat.org) and I will be joining AMSAT-UK. The UK National Space Center is in my City - Leicester - UK (IO92jo) I currently have the following equipment: FT817 Tonna 144(9)/435(19) element F9FT mounted as an 'X' not '+'. KAM98 (TNC) BUXCOMM (Soundcard TNC thing) I also have various software inclluding HAM Radio Delux and Commander for the FT817. The questions: What Rigs are recommended if I get serious about amsat? What tuners/ Preamps - masthead or otherwise? What software. I would like to have as many of your views as possible and any hint tips and tricks I should look out for. I thank you all in advance. I have also configured EchoLink (Node: 192750) and I am on Skype:(skthornber). So anybody should be able to get hold of me if they wish. Kid regards and many thanks in advance 73's Stephen

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RAFT beacon Jan.6
by Mineo Wakita 06 Jan '07

06 Jan '07

RAFT 145.825 MHz AX.25 1200bps AFSK Jan 6, 16:54-17:03 JST, 2007 Jan 6, 07:54-08:03 UTC, 2007 Max ele, 75 deg RAFT>BEACON,SGATE [01/06/07 16:58:09] <UI>: T#157,087,091,037,053,104,00000000,999 --------------------------------------------- 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 6, 2007 ---------------------------------------------

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"Westfest" hamfest in Glendale AZ - 13 January 2007
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 06 Jan '07

06 Jan '07

Hi! I will be part of the AMSAT table at the Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club's "Westfest", at Glendale Community College in Glendale AZ on Saturday, 13 January 2007. The hamfest starts at 0600 local time (1300 UTC) and runs until 1400 local time (2100 UTC). As part of the AMSAT table, I will demonstrate the AO-51 and SO-50 satellites on up to 4 passes during the morning subject to satellite availability: SO-50: 1317-1330 UTC (south to northeast) 1458-1510 UTC (west to north) AO-51: 1509-1522 UTC (east) 1647-1702 UTC (west) Thanks to the hamfest organizers, I am authorized to use the hamfest's special call sign W7W for the demonstrations. I will provide the hamfest with a copy of the satellite log, which will be combined with the log for the HF contacts the hamfest's station makes. QSL information, and more details about the hamfest, can be found at: http://www.w7tbc.org/Westfest.html The grid may not be exotic (DM33), but I hope to work you next weekend from the Westfest. Have a great weekend, and 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK - Phoenix, Arizona USA http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Fw: Satellite Database Update
by Roger Kolakowski 06 Jan '07

06 Jan '07

For everyone's perusing pleasure: ----- Original Message ----- From: "SatelliteData Mailbox" <SatelliteData(a)ucsusa.org> To: "SatelliteData Mailbox" <SatelliteData(a)ucsusa.org> Sent: Friday, January 05, 2007 2:57 PM Subject: Satellite Database Update - Union of Concerned Scientists A new version of the UCS Satellite Database, which includes launches through December 27, 2006, has been posted at http://ucsusa.org/satellite_database . The new Excel format file is called "UCS_Satellite_Database_01-04-07.xls" and the tab-delimited text version is called "UCS_Satellite_Database_01-04-07.txt". The tab-delimited text version in which the "Name" column contains only the official name of the satellite in the case of government and military satellites, and the most commonly used name in the case of commercial and civil satellites is called "UCS_Satellite_Database_officialname_01-04-07.txt". The other changes to this version of the database include: * The addition of 27 satellites * The deletion of 11 inactive satellites * The addition of and corrections to some satellite data We have incorporated your corrections and suggestions as we were able, and continue to welcome your comments. The UCS Satellite Database Manager SatelliteData(a)ucsusa.org

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RAFT/ANDE Progress report
by Robert Bruninga 05 Jan '07

05 Jan '07

ANDE and RAFT are operatonal. There is a local TV clip now on the web page where the students discuss their satellite projects. See http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/ande-raft-ops.html Both signals are weak and require a beam and high elevations to hear them. As of this time, RAFT speech is enabled for special testing only in accordance with the User Service Agreement: http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/ande/ANDEcontract.txt During a 58 degrees max elevation pass, at about 45 degrees elevation, PA3GUO reports a successful voice packet via RAFT. The MP3 file is on the ANDE-RAFT-OPS web page above. A high elevation pass usually required. PLEASE NOTE! RAFT is underpowered for this voice mission, and so this capability should only be used by special demo stations and for special events or tests. The downlink is very weak and needs a beam and a high elevation pass to hear it. DO NOT TRANSMIT A VOICE PACKET IF YOU CANNOT HEAR THE DOWNLINK. You must adhere to the user service agreement above to use this capability. When ACTIVATED, RAFT will speak an APRS formatted MESSAGE addressed to the callsign of TALK. This APRS Message packet was Transmitted by PA3GUO: > PA3GUO-8>APRS,RAFT*::TALK :henk says hello First the packet is digipeated (lets you know it received it). Then (up to 10 seconds later), it should SPEAK the packet. In this case RAFT spoke: > "PA3GUO" + "says" + "henk says hello" Although the Speech synthesizer is ENABLED, it is normally OFF. To use it, someone in the footprint has to activate the voice module with a CONNECT REQUEST to "RAFT". On hearing a connect request, (the connecting station can do nothing else), RAFT responds in voice with "Welcome to TextSpeak". At that point, RAFT will speak any APRS formatted MESSAGES from anyone to TALK. Again, notice that if you see the successfully DIGIPEATED packet, then it will speak it, although there might be up to a 10 second delay. If you see such a successful APRS MESSGE to TALK digipeated, then everyone should hold off until it gets a chance to speak it. Notice the APRS MESSAGE format carefully. The callsign TALK is bracketed with colons and is padded to 9 characters with 5 spaces on the end. Oh, This speech was enabled with simply the connection of an off the shelf $200 text-to-speech module connected to the serial port (monitor) of the spaeccraft TNC. Kantronics made a slight software mode to replace the normal packet header with "CALLSIGN SAYS" before the packet is sent out the serial port. With this mod, you can use a radio, TNC and this voice module to create "voice at a distance"... But the high cost of the voice module will probably prohibit much terrestrial applications.. Bob Bruninga, WB4APR US Naval Academy Satellite Lab.

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Calculating Link Budgets
by john heath 05 Jan '07

05 Jan '07

Hi Bruce and the list, As usual, Satellite Handbook by Davidoff K2UBC has the answer. Chapter 8 page 12 has a fully worked out calculation on predicting signal levels. Its for a geostationary satellite with a 35W transponder and 70 users as follows: "The average power allocated to each user is therefore 0.5 watt." Hope this helps 73 john g7hia

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