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

Symposium presentations
by Jim Sanford 25 Oct '07

25 Oct '07

All: I have the display computer which will be used to show presentations during symposium. If you can, please get them to me early. I can accommodate a "stick", CD, or DVD. I'll be in the BOD meeting and "around"today and tomorrow. I can be reached at my cell, 757 869 7892. 73, Jim wb4gcs(a)amsat.org

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ISS & STS-120
by Jeff Yanko 24 Oct '07

24 Oct '07

Hi all! Around 0117z the ISS and STS-120 passed over Las Vegas, NV with a spectacular view. With the sun already behind the Spring mountain range to the west, it was leaving a light orange glow along the the top of the range. According to the keps, STS-120 was to appear first from the NW direction, followed by the ISS approximately 45 seconds later, both reached a zenith of 71 degrees in the clear desert sky. However, upon viewing the objects it appeared that the ISS was first and STS-120 was the one following. I am basing this observation on the magnitude of the objects. In any case, it was a nice sight to behold and will look forward to future sightings. 73, Jeff WB3JFS

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1st ISS Contact
by John Marranca, Jr 24 Oct '07

24 Oct '07

Hi all....well just wanted to "brag" a bit about having just worked Bruce, KE0LX via the ISS today! That was totally cool! I think the best part about it, besides the hi-tech factor, is the efficiency of it all. By that, it is cool how SO MANY can use it at the same time...and so easily. I literally came home from work, opened the package from Buxcomm that had my MDIN cable for my FT-817ND (already had the Rascal Interface), plugged it in, hit the PKT button, loaded UISS/AGWPE and that was it. I feel like a teenaged Novice again! 73s all...and enjoy the Conference. (I'll be listening via Echolink) John KB2HSH -- _______________________________ John Marranca, Jr PBX Technician/Shop Steward CWA Local 1122 BN Systems, Inc Orchard Park, NY (716)972-2006

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Re: 2 meter transverter
by George Henry 24 Oct '07

24 Oct '07

You mean you don't want to try a Drake TC-2? :-) (actually, I made LOTS of contacts on RS-10/11, RS-12/13, and RS-15 with that, an SC-2, and my B-line twins....) George, KA3HSW -----Original Message----- >From: Robert McGwier <rwmcgwier(a)gmail.com> >Sent: Oct 24, 2007 9:29 AM >To: amsat bb <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Subject: [amsat-bb] 2 meter transverter > >My 2 meter DEMI is Tangu Uniform, I think the front end is zotted. If >there is anyone who can bring a 28 MHz IF, 2 meter transverter to the >AMSAT symposium, and has time to coordate that with Jim Sanford, please >do by emailing Jim. We only need one. ;-). > >I will not try to guess the infinite possibilities on hook up but the >drive will be XVTR IF output on the Flex 5000 (small) and the connector >to the Flex 5000 is via a BNC. The keying line on the 5000 is a RCA >female plug and it can be set for myriad ways of keying. I would prefer >a DEMI low power in 10+ watts out since I am familiar with those. > >73's >Bob > >P.S. The last minute is the most productive. Just keep telling yourself >that.

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Visual Opportunity for ISS - Tuesday
by JoAnne Maenpaa 24 Oct '07

24 Oct '07

Hi everyone, There will be a good opportunity for visual sighting of the ISS today at around 18:20 Central time for the midwest USA. Check out http://www.heavens-above.com for the visual specifics for your area. Clear skies! -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org

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2 meter transverter
by Robert McGwier 24 Oct '07

24 Oct '07

My 2 meter DEMI is Tangu Uniform, I think the front end is zotted. If there is anyone who can bring a 28 MHz IF, 2 meter transverter to the AMSAT symposium, and has time to coordate that with Jim Sanford, please do by emailing Jim. We only need one. ;-). I will not try to guess the infinite possibilities on hook up but the drive will be XVTR IF output on the Flex 5000 (small) and the connector to the Flex 5000 is via a BNC. The keying line on the 5000 is a RCA female plug and it can be set for myriad ways of keying. I would prefer a DEMI low power in 10+ watts out since I am familiar with those. 73's Bob P.S. The last minute is the most productive. Just keep telling yourself that. -- AMSAT Director and VP Engineering. Member: ARRL, AMSAT-DL, TAPR, Packrats, NJQRP, QRP ARCI, QCWA, FRC. ARRL SDR WG Chair “An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why must the pessimist always run to blow it out?” Descartes

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AMSAT annual meeting
by Robert McGwier 24 Oct '07

24 Oct '07

Please come to the AMSAT annual meeting this weekend for a major announcement or two. MAJOR relief is within reach. AMSAT-DL will be present in the form of Hartmut, DL1YDD, with Phase 3 Express news. http://n4hy.smugmug.com/gallery/2408353#126251813 AMSAT-NA will be telling you of major news and a shift in our satellite building efforts towards our new goal. You too can say you were there when the AMSAT's told us how we were going to be given an opportunity to literally change amateur radio forever BUT ONLY IF YOU ARE THERE. Otherwise, wait for a month or two for the journal to come out. You first step in the info hunt. My paper for the symposium contains the words "Phase IV Lite". Be there or be square. Rick will have lots to say and content filled. Bob -- AMSAT Director and VP Engineering. Member: ARRL, AMSAT-DL, TAPR, Packrats, NJQRP, QRP ARCI, QCWA, FRC. ARRL SDR WG Chair “An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why must the pessimist always run to blow it out?” Descartes

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AMSAT Meeting in Pittsburgh
by Robert McGwier 23 Oct '07

23 Oct '07

The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation, Inc. (AMSAT), a non-profit 501c3 organization in the U.S. which designs, builds, launches satellites for the use of radio amateurs worldwide is holding its annual meeting in Pittsburgh, Pa. this coming weekend. http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/2007/index.php As with all amateur radio endeavors of any significance, a lot happens as a result of holding these meetings, and usually in the last hours before the event. This one is no different but I take the time to write to you because of some significant things that will happen at this meeting. The following well known amateurs will attend in addition to the usual list of AMSAT suspects. Frank Brickle, AB2KT Designer and co-author of DttSP, the software core used in PowerSDR (Flex-Radio), uwSDR (http://uwsdr.berlios.de) , jSDR, DttSP-shell, and several others. Designer and author of the VR, a radio kernel to be used in software/cognitive efforts for robust distributed computing radio systems and recently described at the DCC. Contributor to GnuRadio and HPSDR. For a general introduction to the entire area please http://www.nitehawk.com/w3sz/start.htm Phil Covington, N8VB Designer, author, leading developer in the HPSDR offerings (http://hpsdr.org) including Atlas, Ozymandias with contributions to Janus, Mercury, Penelope, and more. Matt Ettus, N2MJI GnuRadio. Design of USRP and USRP2 for GnuRadio. And lead designer on the AMSAT Advanced Communications Package. http://ettus.com http://gnuradio.org/trac Hartmut Päsler DL1YDD (AMSAT-DL V.P.) Hartmut will be telling us of the current status of Phase 3E and their launch opportunities and about Bochum 66' Dish that has been used to receive signals from planetary probes. Bruce Perens K6BP formerly of Pixar and amongst other things, editor of the Bruce Perens Open Source series of books. http://www.informit.com/promotions/promotion.aspx?promo=135563&redir=1 http://perens.com/ Gerald Youngblood, K5SDR Owner of Flex-Radio, designer of the SDR-1000, Flex5000 CONTRIBUTOR OF A MAJOR SYMPOSIUM PRIZE!! At this meeting AMSAT-NA will announce a major new satellite opportunity for us and how we intend to take advantage of it if all the stars line up! President Rick Hambly, W2GPS, has been working nonstop on this and we are excited to tell you about it in the first level of detail we are able to give and how we will be proceeding. We have an international audience attending and the symposium agenda is available from the URL above and many great speakers. Ya'll come. I realize that this is the last minute but more than a little bit of this stuff happened in the LAST TWO WEEKS and until it was ready to release, we just couldn't. I am hoping to reach amateurs who are within driving distance of Pittsburgh or those who can decide at the last minute to come. I believe this is an AMSAT symposium you do not want to miss. Bob McGwier, N4HY -- AMSAT Director and VP Engineering. Member: ARRL, AMSAT-DL, TAPR, Packrats, NJQRP, QRP ARCI, QCWA, FRC. ARRL SDR WG Chair “An optimist may see a light where there is none, but why must the pessimist always run to blow it out?” Descartes

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Re: Visual Opportunity for ISS & Discovery - Tuesday
by gregory.beat＠comcast.net 23 Oct '07

23 Oct '07

There was a beautiful pass on Sunday evening (7:10 PM CDT), with clear skies -- ISS passed just south of Chicago (only 344 km from my QTH), reaching - 2.4 magnitude (quite bright) and passing through the heart of the Cygnus consellation. -2.419:09:4010NW 19:12:3187WSW19:13:5527SE Tonight's pass is will be same magnitude, but about 50 minutes earlier 23 Oct-2.418:20:2410NW 18:23:1588WNW18:26:0810SE HAVE FUN -- LOOK for STS-120 Space Shuttle Discovery -- about thirteen minutes later in the "Race to Catch ISS" 23 Oct-1.118:33:1310WNW18:35:5464SW 18:38:3710SE Greg w9gb Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:44:54 -0500 From: "JoAnne Maenpaa" <k9jkm(a)comcast.net> Subject: [amsat-bb] Visual Opportunity for ISS - Tuesday To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <001001c8159c$6be85990$6601a8c0@familyroom> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Hi everyone, There will be a good opportunity for visual sighting of the ISS today at around 18:20 Central time for the midwest USA. Check out http://www.heavens-above.com for the visual specifics for your area. Clear skies! 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org

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Office Closed
by Martha 23 Oct '07

23 Oct '07

The AMSAT office will be closed on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. I should be back in the office on Monday, October 29th. -- 73- Martha

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