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

GO-32 Mobile Receive Success!
by Bob Bruninga 09 Oct '07

09 Oct '07

Received over 150 packets from GO32 in the mobile! If you want to impress someone with handheld Satellite Communcications, just stand outside during the prime morning or evening pass of GO-32 with your D7 HT set for APRS 9600 baud receive on 435.230 (5 KHz high at the start of the pass) and watch the messages fly by... Switch to .225 and finally to .220 by the end for maximum packets. Tonight I finally remembered to set my D700 in my van to the GO32 downlink. Was out doing honeydoos around 7:50 PM and heard a few squelch breaks. This would be the first evening pass. So that told me to be out 100 minutes later for the prime pass of the evening. I was not disappointed! Received over 150 packes during the central 6 minutes of the pass. I was just making hash marks on the back of an envelope while watching the packets fly by on the front panel of the radio. I did tune 3 times for Doppler since I was just sitting there with nothing else to do. This confirms that an unattended D700 or D7 hooked to a simple OMNI antnena (and short coax) can make an excellent APRS satellite gateway. With say a dozen of these across the USA, then the APRS-Internet system should get a solid downlink! After the fact, I came in and looked at the pass on Instantrack. Here is the nitty-gritty showing the elevation angle versus number of packets received per minute. TIME EL PACKETS 0933 30 18 0934 40 23 0935 46 36 0936 45 35 0937 36 24 0938 26 13 For an unattended ground station without Doppler tuning, my guess would be that this station would have received the center full 3 minutes of this 45 degree pass. So, what is your handy D7 doing sitting on your shelf turned off? Hook it to a 19" vertical whip over a ground plane outside your window and contribute to the National GO-32 APRS downlink system! Ill get someone to write a simple turn-key APRS IGate background application, so you don't have to hasssle with all the other APRS stuff if you dont want to. This way, you can just turn on the D7, hook it to a serial port, run this application in the background, and you too will be a contributor to the solid APRS downlink from GO-32! Oh, On the D700, I had pressed the PACKET MONITOR button so that I was seeing all GO-32 downlink packets on the front panel, not just the APRS ones. The D7 does not have the PMON button, so you will only see the APRS packets. But I did receive the 3 APRS downlink bulletins perfectly many times, and every 30 seconds or so, I did receive the GO-32 TIME STATUS report on the front panel of the radio. So, even if you are not going to Igate, just hook that D7 to an outside 19" vertical whip (this serves as a 3/4 wave gain vertical on the 435 downlink) through a short coax (Antnena height does not matter, coax loss does!). You won't hear anything below 30 degrees anyway... And just leave the HT on all the time tuned to 435.230. Every morning and every evening, you will receive GO-32 and any other APRS operators playing that evening. When you hear good signals on 435.230, then 2 minutes later, switch to 435.225 and so on. When the pass is over, set your radio back to 435.230 for the next HIGH pass 12 hours or so later. You can leaave this on all the time, since it will not wake you up. GO-32 PEAK passes are within an hour or so of 9 AM and PM local time (maybe an hour later after the change back to standard time).. Thousands of AMSAT folks have these D7's, and I bet that 99% of them are not in use most of the time. All we need are a dozen or so serving this space-diversity ground station function... Thanks! Bob, Wb4APR

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Re: AO-51
by George Henry 09 Oct '07

09 Oct '07

It's been done on AO-27... see www.ao27.org for details. George, KA3HSW -----Original Message----- >From: Ron <rondp(a)hotmail.com> >Sent: Oct 8, 2007 3:18 PM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-51 > >Hi all: > >Can AO-51 do D-Star mode? > >K5AI / Ron Porter >

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Satellite IOTA Award
by Eric H Christensen 09 Oct '07

09 Oct '07

I've been considering petitioning the IOTA board to make a special award for IOTA contacts made via satellite. Right now their rules (http://www.rsgbiota.org/rules/rules.pdf, Para C.3.10) do not allow satellite contacts for any award. Are there others here that would support such a petition? 73s, Eric W4OTN

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Re: AO-51
by Andrew Glasbrenner 08 Oct '07

08 Oct '07

We don't really know yet. It depends on a few factors including any audio conditioning that happens in repeater mode. If more than one or two stations send in a request to ao51-modes(a)amsat.org, we can try to set aside a day next month to try Dstar on the repeater pair we normally use for QRP ops. 73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT-NA VP Ops -----Original Message----- >From: Ron <rondp(a)hotmail.com> >Sent: Oct 8, 2007 4:18 PM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-51 > >Hi all: > >Can AO-51 do D-Star mode? > >K5AI / Ron Porter > > >_______________________________________________ >Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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Quick wrap up on Sputnik night
by Andrew Glasbrenner 08 Oct '07

08 Oct '07

I just wanted to thank everyone for what looks like a well received little special event. Special thanks to our participating uplink stations: VE3NPC, Clare N8BBQ, Ed KD8CAO, Doug WA6FWF, Kevin K7WIN, Jeff G1OCN, Dave IW4DTU, Fer Our chief AO-51 Command Op, WA4SXM, Gould, and my wife Merete for compiling and equalizing the audio. Remember, send a report to Kevin WA6FWF at his callbook address with a 9x12 SASE and we'll return a nice QSL certificate. 73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT-NA VP Ops

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Re: AO-7 Weak signal
by Mika Siira 08 Oct '07

08 Oct '07

> Hi John & Amsat's > > yes indeed, I agree with your note. > >Probably it wasn't Mode-B, but Mode-C. > >73, Mak SV1BSX > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "John Meeks" <jmeek(a)harbor.gaslightmedia.com> >To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Sent: Monday, October 08, 2007 04:56 >Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-7 Weak signal > > >> Hi All, >> >> The last few passes of AO-7 (Mode B) have been extremely QRP. I have not >> even been able to discern the the usual peak noise nodes on the passband. >> Anyone else have similar observations? Perhaps related: the beacon has >> not been heard for several weeks. >> Hoping for the best. >> >> 73 >> John Meeks >> KC8ZFN >> Hello Mak and bb-readers, Same observation here about yesterdays AO-7 signals, extremely weak. I heard your CQ and answered it but then lost your signal completely. That's why I didn't log the QSO to AO-7 website. Does anyone have any idea what could be the current TX power of AO-7 nowdays, as it uses only solar panels? I assume it is not anymore 8W on mode B/2W on mode C, the difference is 6dB and that shouldn't drop signal levels from "usual" S7-9 to barely heardable... You guys are much more experienced AO-7 users, feel free to correct me if I am wrong :) Mika, OH8MBN

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Harry Yoneda, ex-JA1ANG, SK
by RaySoifer＠cs.com 08 Oct '07

08 Oct '07

Tak, JA2PKI, has asked me to forward the following very sad news on behalf of himself and JAMSAT: It is with deep sadness that I must report the passing of ex JA1ANG Harry Yoneda. Harry was a founding member of JAMSAT (Japan AMSAT) and he also served on the AMSAT Board of Directors. Harry passed away this morning, Monday October 8, due to pneumonia. He was 88. Funeral service at Setagaya Heian Church, 2-41-5 Shimouma, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 154-0002 Japan, Phone +81-3-3421-4993 Fax +81-3-3421-4084 at 14:00JST (05:00UTC), Wednesday, October 10. If you wish to express your condolences to his family, please email them to me. I will forward them. 73, Tak Okamoto, JA2PKI JAMSAT

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FS: GR-5400B Pittsburgh
by Ronald Long 08 Oct '07

08 Oct '07

I am suggesting that someone who is driving to the Pittsburgh conference might be interested in this rotator. That would relieve me of packing and shipping. FS: GR-5400B: The AZ portion was outdoors for a short time but is in excellent condition. The G-500A EL has never been outside. It was used in the shop during testing of a hardware controller project. The EL has a terminal strip not the connector used on latest versions. The two rotators are mounted together with the usual U-clamp from Yaesu. The The control box is like new. Asking $385. ron long, w8gus

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Re: Landwehr 2m Preamp Help/Info & Manual Request
by Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL 08 Oct '07

08 Oct '07

At 01:29 PM 10/7/07 -0400, dpapay(a)chartermi.net wrote: >I recently obtained a Landwehr 2m preamp which I plan to use for AO-7 >operation. The preamp did not come with any significant >documentation besides what is printed on the cover (and thats a bit faded). > >The preamp appears to be functional, except that it has a tendency to >switch back and forth between RX and TX by itself (when no RF is >present and the PTT is not connected). This has made the preamp >unusable. Does anyone have experience with this preamp and/or know >how this issue can be resolved? > >I am looking for any suggestions as well as any documentation >(manual/schematic) for this preamp that you might have. Your help is >appreciated. > >Thanks & 73, > >Doug, KD8CAO I have both the two meter and 70cm Landwehr preamps and the documentation for them. The only problem I've ever had is with the two meter preamp. I get desense on mode J whenever it's in line. So I leave it on the self in the shack. I really don't need it until we get another P3 bird or something else that has a weak two meter downlink. If you don't get a copy of the docs I'll scan and email it to you. Just email me and let me know. KB7ADL

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Re: AO51 L/U BB
by Mark L. Hammond 08 Oct '07

08 Oct '07

Thanks for the very important correction, Colin! 73, Mark N8MH ----- Original Message ----- From: "Colin Hurst" <cjhurst(a)bigpond.net.au> To: "Mark L. Hammond" <n8mh(a)embarqmail.com> Sent: Monday, October 8, 2007 8:50:40 AM (GMT-0500) America/New_York Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Re: AO51 L/U BB Mark, Just a correction. Broadcast Callsign is PECHO-11 BBS Callsign is PECHO-12 Best regards, Colin VK5HI. > -----Original Message----- > From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org]On > Behalf Of Mark L. Hammond > Sent: Monday, 8 October 2007 8:36 PM > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO51 L/U BB > > > Hi Bruce, > > It looks like you need to change your Wisp settings for > AO-51--both the Broadcast Callsign and BBS Callsign values need > to be PECHO-11. That will fix your "frames heard" issue, and > you should get some BB data. > > I haven't been able to get into the BBS on L band yet either; I > have about 1 watt at the antenna (20 turn helix) and with trees, > etc. it apparently hasn't been enough. > > I saw both WA4SXM and KO4MA in the queue, so it appears to be > working. We have reports of a few others' success, too. You > might do as I am--keep trying :) > > A lack of success has caused me to browse around for a 1.2GHz > amplifier; I see Down East Microwave carries nice amps; wonder > where else somebody might suggest looking? > > 73, > > Mark N8MH > > >Date: Sun, 7 Oct 2007 20:54:48 -0400 > >From: "Cox" <snyderb(a)cox.net> > >Subject: [amsat-bb] AO51 L/U BB > >To: "Amsat-bb" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > >Message-ID: <000701c80945$d3ea4c00$6701a8c0(a)mshome.net> > >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > > >BB > > > > During the AO51 pass tonight most of the Wisp D/L data showed, frames > >heard PECHO-11. When it was just north of my grid, FM16vt, > KO4MA was able to > >get into the queue but no others including my station. > > > >73 Bruce KG4YEV > > > Mark L. Hammond [N8MH] > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur > satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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