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

Re: Data on Sats
by Andrew Glasbrenner 08 Nov '07

08 Nov '07

Some of us have played with Hellschrieber on AO-40, AO-7, FO-29, and VO-52. It is very low tech, but very doppler tolerant. 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: Eric H Christensen <eric(a)christensenplace.us> >Sent: Nov 8, 2007 9:56 AM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] Data on Sats > >Has anyone or does anyone use RTTY or PSK31 or the like on any of the linear birds? > >73s, >Eric W4OTN >_______________________________________________ >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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IC-910 Pre-amp Problem
by Steve kb9ups 08 Nov '07

08 Nov '07

Hello all, I have an IC-910. Just tried to power up the Icom pre-amps with No Luck.. I set pre-amps to "on", pushed the button and "?". The display indicator flashes 5 times and goes out..no power. Tried the amps on my other 910 and they work great and the indicator stays on...both bands. Does anyone know what may be wrong with the 910? Steve/kb9ups ARISS Mentor AMSAT area coordinator, Toledo, Oh. AMSAT area coordinator, Streator, IL. www.qsl.net/kb9ups _______________________________________________ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web!

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IC-910 pre-amp Problem
by Steve kb9ups 08 Nov '07

08 Nov '07

Thanks everyone! In taking a look see inside..I found a burnt part (ouch). On the B5573L board "PA unit", part L720 behind the 144 antenna connector, a coil, is burnt. I guess the owner didn't tell me everything about his year old, still under warranty rig.. I hope that's all I find..but should I look elswhere? Steve/kb9ups ARISS Mentor AMSAT area coordinator, Toledo, Oh. AMSAT area coordinator, Streator, IL. www.qsl.net/kb9ups _______________________________________________ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web!

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FO-29 schedule Nov.
by Mineo Wakita 08 Nov '07

08 Nov '07

Nov. UTC 13 3:35 - 14 4:26 - 15 3:33 - 16 4:22 - 17 3:27 - 18 none 19 none 20 4:13 - 21 3:18 - 22 4:08 - 23 3:13 - 24 none 25 3:10 - 26 none 27 3:05 -, 4:50 - 28 3:55 - 29 3:00 -, 4:45 - 30 3:50 de JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

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Possible source of QRM on AO-51
by andy thomas 08 Nov '07

08 Nov '07

Those of us in N Europe suffer from qrm on AO51, southbound from the poles, from fm transmitters thought to be in N Russia. I have just come back from China, where thanks to Michael and others, I met the Shandong ARS in Jinan. Amongst other hospitalities, the group took me to a street selling handhelds as well as other stuff like mobile phones, mobiles and I think repeaters. There I bought a VHF handheld for 180 RMB, about £12 UK or $26. (Including battery, charger, belt clip and antenna!) This promises 2.5 W out into keyboard entry and/or stored channels, either simplex or separate tx/rx. The model has the PU HUANG brand name, model PG5118 and covers 140 to 170 MHz, no tone or ctcss. The keyboard entry will only accept 5khz steps. The company name is Guang Yuan Electronic Co Ltd; I can't read the address -it's in Chinese - but was told it was made 100km from Xiamen in Fujian province. The instructions offer bands as follows: 145-175, 150-170,136-`74, 200-270,400-420,430-450,450-470, 400-470 MHz. Other handhelds on sale in Jinan covered 70cms and the 145-175 and 450-470 MHz bands - these were more common. In Beijing at the Silk market (4th floor) there were a few stalls selling "Walky talkies" with the same frequencies, and they recommended a "Chinese Kenwood" that looked like my Pu Huang but had Kenwood written on it instead. They had other "Kenwoods" and "Motorolas" but your guess is as good as mine. Another name is Bei Feng (BF) and their address is: Fujian Quanzhou BeiFeng Telecom Sytsems Ltd http://www.bfdx.com email: beidian(a)pub2.qz.fj.cn Also in Beijing I got hold of some flyers for the HONGO range produced by the Fujian Quanzhou Hongda Electron Industry Ltd. Specs are: HD-45AT : 136-174, 400-430 0r 440-470, 4/5w, ctcss, 12.5 khz channels. A-88: : same bands, 2.5w, no ctcss, 12.5 khz channels. HD-8800:400-470,no ctcss, QT/DQT (don't know what that is),5w, 12.5 khz steps. What's all this got to do with AO-51, well the box my Pu Guang came in is written in Chinese, English -and Russian. The Russian reads "Seriiniaya osobennaya vnutrisvyazhaya sistema" (I'm transliterating from the cyrillic) which reads something like "serial personal home system" - I'll get a better transaltion from my Russian tutor tonight. So I conclude that these sets are being sold on the Russian domestic market - why else write in Russian on the box? And they are therefore a strong candidate for the FM uplink qrm on AO-51 when the ctcss access is off. Finally, looking at all the above specs., while some of them do have ctcss, and they could have 5 or 12.5 or 25 kHz steps, none have the odd 6.25 kHz steps. Maybe future FM sat builders could get around unintentional qrm this way? If anyone wants a scan of the "manual" or flyers please email me off the list. 73 de andy G0SFJ ___________________________________________________________ Want ideas for reducing your carbon footprint? Visit Yahoo! For Good http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/environment.html

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ICOM R20
by nader omer 08 Nov '07

08 Nov '07

Hello all dose any one use or test Icom R20 reciever on satellite ? tnx in advance st2nh __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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Amplifier progress
by Greg KJ6KO 08 Nov '07

08 Nov '07

Hello to all that have amplifiers coming. Just a note to let you know how the first batch of amps is turning out. They don't re-tune quite as well as I thought they would, but are averaging 65W out w/5W input at 1269MHz. When tuned for 1269, the output at 1296 is averaging about 55W. The biggest problem seems to be input tuning. The input return loss changes greatly when moved 28MHz, but is still useable on both ends of the band. I won't let one go out that doesn't do at least 60W minimum with 5W input. I should be getting the first batch out by the end of the week! 73 de Greg

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Re: GO-32 Question.
by John Ronan 07 Nov '07

07 Nov '07

Doh! Why not use the original....microsat application in microsat-0.9- Xaw.tar.gz Thanks for the replies. de John EI7IG On 7 Nov 2007, at 14:27, Alan wrote: > Brilliant move on my part but it is still early in the morning here... > > The URL is > http://www.filewatcher.com/p/pb-pg-1.0.oz6bl.tar.gz.36556/pb-pg-1.0/ > pb-pg.tx > t.html > > > 73... Alan > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Alan [mailto:ve4yz@mts.net] > Sent: November 7, 2007 8:26 AM > To: 'John Ronan' > Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] GO-32 Question. > > Hi John, from what I understand from the old days of using the DOS > versions > of PB, it first gets a directory listing of files ( each message > and binary > is a file ) and then you can request a download from that directory > listing. > > Here is a URL that might assist you. > > When GO-32 is working there are always a few test JPG's available to > download. > > Hope this helps... > > 73, Alan VE4YZ > AMSAT LM 2352 > http://www.mts.net/~ve4wsc/ > AMSAT A-485 > > > -----Original Message----- > From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb- > bounces(a)amsat.org] On > Behalf Of John Ronan > Sent: November 7, 2007 7:53 AM > To: AMSAT-BB BB > Subject: [amsat-bb] GO-32 Question. > > Hi, > > I'm trying to debug the Linux version of PB/PG. Having never used it > before. Are there any small files on the satellite that I could > get it to > attempt to download while attempting to debug it? And I apologies > to GO-32 > users for the intrusion. > > Regards > de John > EI7IG > _______________________________________________ > 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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thanks and great job!
by Nate Duehr 07 Nov '07

07 Nov '07

Thanks once again to Chris Huber, N6ICW for providing the excellent quality audio feed for the Space Shuttle audio on IRLP Reflector 9877. Also thanks to Matt Sturtz KB0KZR for being "on-call" for backup audio feed duties and having built a backup audio feed in case of problems with Chris' system in California, to be used if needed. The IRLP Reflector channel has been placed back into 2-way communications mode, and will be available for comments/discussion, etc... Of course, Chris is still feeding the after-landing audio at this time so any comments/etc will have to "share" with the audio uplink feed until it is disabled. It looks like once again that the landings and launches are the most popular phases of flight (of course): http://www.natetech.com/munin/irlp.net/ref9870.irlp.net-if_eth1.html (The large gap in the bandwidth/telemetry data last night is due to a lockup/failure of the monitoring server, not the Reflector.) Congratulations to STS-120 and Commander Pam Melroy for an excellent flight, and some very interesting on-orbit repair work of a damaged solar array. Quite impressive! 73, -- Nate Duehr, WY0X nate(a)natetech.com

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GO-32 Question.
by John Ronan 07 Nov '07

07 Nov '07

Hi, I'm trying to debug the Linux version of PB/PG. Having never used it before. Are there any small files on the satellite that I could get it to attempt to download while attempting to debug it? And I apologies to GO-32 users for the intrusion. Regards de John EI7IG

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Problem on TXing
by Vincenzo Mone 07 Nov '07

07 Nov '07

Hi to the list, i need an help. I have a problem while I have to work analog satellites. I have encluded my three preamplifiers 2m 70cm and 23cm in a box on the roof. I have noticed that every time I transimt I can hear my own voice on my downlink Signal or the downlink signal drops down a lot sometimes it disappear. Can somebody help me to solve the problem? 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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antennas
by w3vvp 06 Nov '07

06 Nov '07

Other than beams,what are the best antennas to xmit & rec. AO-51 & VO-52. I have az/el 22C & pr 18 c's. Thanks for any reply's. George

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need Symposium photos
by David J 06 Nov '07

06 Nov '07

I have been asked to do a presentation on our 2007 AMSAT Symposium for next week at our local QCWA meeting. I need some more photos in addition to what had taken. If you have a few that are interesting and can send them that would be great. If you have or know of any links to web sites that have them posted and I can download them, that is even better. PLEASE DO NOT SEND TO AA4KN(a)AMSAT.ORG. Only send them to n4csitwo(a)bellsouth.net. Thanks and 73s, Dave, AA4KN

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GO-32, Linux, PBPG.
by John Ronan 06 Nov '07

06 Nov '07

Success, I managed to get APRS packets through GO-32 from both the mobile and home station. With all that other data flying past, I was going to try out PBPG but PB is segfaulting. Is there anyone running it successfully on linux at the moment? I'm just wondering before I go confusing myself by looking at the code :) Regards de John EI7IG

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Alogger, UI-VIEW filter
by Chris Bloy 06 Nov '07

06 Nov '07

Hi all, Just a quick question to ask, I have been playing with Alogger to see if I can see only the PCSAT/ANDE/ISS traffic. I have set a p/ARISS/PCSAT* etc, is this only for passing traffic to the server? Anyway I can get that info to my UI-VIEW/ALOGGER pc? Thanks, Chris

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Re: A Fantastic Monday Morning Sky Show...or Tuesday's wasn't so bad, either.
by John Marranca, Jr 06 Nov '07

06 Nov '07

Good Morning, Everyone. OK...so as I woke up this morning at 6 am, I was greeted by the beep from the Orbitron program letting me know that the ISS was close. This morning...overhead...it was perfectly clear. I could see the Moon and Venus (I think). To the south were Lake Effect Snow clouds...and in the early dawn sky they appeared JET BLACK. At approximately 6:15, the ISS flew past and was absolutely glowing from the sun rising and the black background. Again, truly an awesome sight. 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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Email via Satellite Simulated Emergency Test
by Robert Bruninga 06 Nov '07

06 Nov '07

The value of sending an Email via APRS Satellite in an emergency is that it is a set-and-forget outward bound communcations mode. Perfect for real emergencies. You don't need anything but a 2m radio and a TNC. No special software. No special hardware, no satellite predictions, and no time consuming operating. Just set the Email message in your TNC beacon, turn it on, and then return to all the emergency tasks at hand. Think Katrina. You wanted to report your status, but had no time for the tedium of "operating" to find a means to get your traffic out. There was just too much else to do... In real emergencies, those affected have far too much else to do than to try to make a satellite contact to report back their location and status. But using an APRS beacon allows you to set up your outgoing message (or email), with no knowledge required about satellite pass times. Sooner or later an APRS satellite will pass over your location and your beacon and EMAIL will get in without any effort on your part. Your emergency health and welfare email will not only get relayed by the satellite to a SATgate, but should then be automatically emailed to the intended recepient. You did not need any special software, no satellite predictions, no special hardware other than a TNC and 2m radio. This is the ideal first-response health-and-welfare-status reporting mechanism. Put your beacon on the air and then do all the rest of the emregency work you have to do, and do not get burdened with having to sit and "operate" to try to get your message out. The Satellite Simulated Emergency Test web page shows you how to use any TNC to set up your outgoing EMAIL... http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/sset.html Try it with your old TNC. Anyone can do it. But the format must be correct for the packet that you place in your BECONTEXT: BT :EMAIL :email@address.com your_message_goes_here... Where 4 spaces are required after the word EMAIL and then the "email(a)address.com" must be the intended recepient. Its only one line. But in an emergency, ONE LINE is exceptionally valuable, and has a great chance of getting through. Not only will it get delivered (if the infrastructure works) but you can also just check the downlink yourself to see if it got through on: http://pcsat.aprs.org Try it this week while PCSAT is working! Bob, WB4APR

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PCSAT-1 & THD7 ?
by Henk, PA3GUO 06 Nov '07

06 Nov '07

> I just wonder how successful digi'ing via PCSAT using a TH-D7 has been? Hi Chris, I tried Sunday during a 60 degrees pass with - THD7 full battery (=2.5W) - 4 elements DL6WU hand held beam With this setup I can work AO51 always noise-free. But I could not get a single packet over PCSAT. I think this is not so much due to PCSAT, but more due to the fact that it sees 10..20 stations transmitting at the same time... only the strongest one wins :-( Sunday I also saw MAILBOX traffic, that can also reduce the APRS success rate ! Would be interesting to read more reports. The good news is of course that Europe is a big PCSAT user group ! Henk, PA3GUO http://www.qsl.net/pa3guo

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looking for I8CVS'e-mail
by Vincenzo Mone 06 Nov '07

06 Nov '07

Hit o the list, i am looking for the I8CVS's e-mail address . Pse anybody has 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: Email via Satellite Simulated Emergency Test
by Bob Stewart 06 Nov '07

06 Nov '07

George, No problem. :) I managed to get the ax25 stuff installed and working on my linux box; at least in receive. Now that I know that works, I'll have to build an interface for the transmit side. Thanks for your offer of help, and to everyone else that responded! Bob - AE6RV --- George Henry <ka3hsw(a)earthlink.net> wrote: > Oops... Missed that you were looking for something for Linux. > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Bob Stewart" <bob(a)evoria.net> > To: "Amsat-BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 4:26 PM > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Email via Satellite Simulated Emergency Test > > > > --- Robert Bruninga <bruninga(a)usna.edu> wrote: > > > >> You don't need anything but a 2m radio and a TNC. No special > >> software. No special hardware, no satellite predictions, and no > >> time consuming operating. > > > > Bob can you or anyone tell me if there are software TNCs for > > soundcards out there? I know almost nothing about APRS or > > even where to turn to get useful information. Unfortunately, > > buying a TNC is simply not going to happen at this time. I am > > a Linux user. > > > > Bob - AE6RV > >

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Icom IC-PCR1500 and Doppler ????
by CE3SOC Raul Romero 05 Nov '07

05 Nov '07

hi iam have icom ic-pcr1500 need software doppler for my rig tnx Raul CE3SOC --------------------------------------------------------------------- "Are you still wasting your time with spam?... There is a solution!" Protected by GIANT Company's Spam Inspector The most powerful anti-spam software available. http://mail.spaminspector.com

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Re: [sarex] Re: A Fantastic Monday Morning Sky Show
by David J 05 Nov '07

05 Nov '07

Tim, I took these shots this morning from my front yard here in Orlando. Not great, but interesting. I believe on photo 3, you can see the two individual spacecraft. Just used my Olympus C750UZ. No zooming used. I like photo 1 a lot since you can view the Big Dipper and polaris in relation to the spacecrafts. The direction of travel is top left angling down to lower right. Dave, AA4KN -----Original Message----- From: sarex-bounces(a)AMSAT.Org [mailto:sarex-bounces@AMSAT.Org] On Behalf Of Tim Bosma Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 9:07 AM To: Arthur Rowe; SAREX(a)AMSAT.Org Subject: [sarex] Re: A Fantastic Monday Morning Sky Show Quite a sight this morning - the moon, Venus, and the ISS and the Shuttle several degrees apart going from SW to NE almost straight overhead. WOW! perfect viewing conditions. 73 Tim w6mu ---- Sent via sarex(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/sarex

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Re: Off-Topic: 10 MHz Amateur Radio balloon to cross the Atlantic
by Trevor 05 Nov '07

05 Nov '07

--- Garie Halstead K8KFJ <khyberpass65(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > It's odd they didn't announce the launch location. Tennessee? A coastline > location? Or did I just miss it. Their website gives a Google Earth link to the launch site so you can see exactly where it is http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=35%C2%B…'+43.51%22N++83%C2%B0+52'+24.50W&ie=UTF8&ll=35.962062,-83.873631&spn=0.001455,0.002489&t=h&z=19&om=1 73 Trevor M5AKA ___________________________________________________________ Want ideas for reducing your carbon footprint? Visit Yahoo! For Good http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/environment.html

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Re: Wind Turbine Interference?
by Trevor 05 Nov '07

05 Nov '07

--- Trevor <m5aka(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > The BBC document is still on their website but it's moved to this URL: > http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/info/pdf/buildings_factsheet.pdf This document is a year later than the one I originally mentioned and has changed in some areas. It references a Wind Farm RF planning tool http://windfarms.kw.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/rd/windfarms/windfarm.cgi The site says: "This tool is provided for the guidance of Wind Farm developers. The results of a query are a rough estimate of populations that may suffer interference from wind farms built at the locations specified, ..." 73 Trevor M5AKA ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try it now. http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/

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Re: geo stationary bird
by G0MRF＠aol.com 05 Nov '07

05 Nov '07

In a message dated 04/11/2007 15:41:26 GMT Standard Time, richard(a)g3rwl.demon.co.uk writes: Does anyone know if retired birds are switched ON or OFF once they get boosted into a retirement orbit ? Could still be useful to us even from there. 73 Richard Limebear G3RWL Hi Richard. After the 15 year (ish) period, the satellite is normally switched off as it can no longer point its high gain antennas at the correct point on the earth after the station keeping fuel has run out. For us it just means we need switchable antennas that can be swapped 15 years after launch. In every day use I suspect there could well be some loss of service during eclipse. On GEO sats the DC power required to run the transponders normally is a little less than the power from the solar array. However, when the satellite enters eclipse, the TV etc transponders are run from the batteries. I suspect that at this point, AMSAT would be switched off or into some low power mode until the eclipse has passed. The extra battery power needed for operation of AMSAT and the commercial transponder during eclipse would require a significant mass increase of the on-board batteries. 73 David

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