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

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

05 Nov '07

Not satellites, but some of you may be interesting in assisting with capturing the telemetry data. 10 MHz Amateur Radio balloon to cross the Atlantic http://www.southgatearc.org/news/november2007/ham_balloon_across_atlantic.h… 73 Trevor M5AKA --------------- Daily Amateur Radio RSS News: http://www.southgatearc.org/ Email your news items to: editor at southgatearc.org News On Your Website: http://www.southgatearc.org/rss/index.htm News On Your PC: http://www.southgatearc.org/rss/newsreader.htm Upload Your News: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/your_news.htm --------------- ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Answers - Got a question? Someone out there knows the answer. Try it now. http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/

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Wind Turbine Interference?
by Doug Kuitula 05 Nov '07

05 Nov '07

Hi all, Sorry if this is off subject. I just found out that our city in suburban Detroit is going to install a 150 foot wind turbine about a quarter mile from my qth. I was wondering if anyone has experienced any problems working satellites, due to turbines. I'm only using a Arrow antenna and a handheld. But hope to upgrade the station in the future. I'm not questioning the need of turbines. But am just wondering if I'm going to have problems in the future. 73 and Thanks in advance. de Doug KA8QCU

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Re: Wind Turbine Interference?
by Dave Guimont 05 Nov '07

05 Nov '07

Ed, what satellite was that?? >Well I copied signals that were back scattered from a farm windmill >in Texas on 10.368 GHz SSB. Distance was about 30-miles. I believe >that the power being used was about 1-5w. I was portable on a >100-foot high hill in the Texas countryside. Direct path did not >produce a strong signal. > >Ed - KL7UW > >At 03:28 PM 11/4/2007, Dave Guimont wrote: > >> > >> >Wind Turbines are a threat to Homeland Defense. They can produce >> large Blind >> >Spots on Radars - above, infront and behind them - so yes they can cause >> >problems to RF signals. >> > >> > >> >Effects of Windfarms on Radar >> >http://www.southgatearc.org/news/october2005/windfarms_radar.htm >> > >> >>Trevor, >> >>That is some pretty good stuff for higher powered xmitters...But I >>doubt there is any instrument sensitive enuff to measure the >>reflection potential from any satellite we will ever launch, and the >>"shadow" that it would cause on a LEO is in less than a >>second...HEO's may take a little longer.... >> >>This is conjecture based on my HS physics...I would appreciate >>comments from any of the many engineering experts we have on here... >> >> >> >> 73, Dave wb6llo(a)amsat.org >> Disagree: I learn.... >> >> Pulling for P3E... >> >>_______________________________________________ >>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 > >73, >Ed - KL7UW >====================================== > BP40IQ 50-MHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com >144-EME: FT-847, mgf-1801, 4x-xpol-20, 185w >DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa(a)hotmail.com >====================================== 73, Dave wb6llo(a)amsat.org Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

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Help from those using palm sat software
by Ed Tump 04 Nov '07

04 Nov '07

Folks, I cannot figure out how to upload new tle/txt in to my palm. I use the palm install tool but it puts the txt files on to the card and not the internal memory. Any ideas? Thanks! Ed

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Re: Wind Turbine Interference?
by Trevor 04 Nov '07

04 Nov '07

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 73 Trevor M5AKA --- Trevor <m5aka(a)yahoo.co.uk> wrote: > --- Dave Guimont <dguimon1(a)san.rr.com> wrote: > > That is some pretty good stuff for higher powered xmitters...But I > > doubt there is any instrument sensitive enuff to measure the > > reflection potential from any satellite we will ever launch, and the > > "shadow" that it would cause on a LEO is in less than a > > second...HEO's may take a little longer.... > > It'll all depend on proximity of the receiving station to the turbine. > > The Wind Turbines on the Orkneys killed TV reception for the local > inhabitants, > hence the need to resite the TV transmitters. If high power TV transmitters > can't get through them will weak signals from Amateur satellites fare any > better ? > > Agreed for a LEO the affect may be shortlived but I'd say it would be more > than > just a second. > > 73 Trevor M5AKA > > > > > ___________________________________________________________ > Want ideas for reducing your carbon footprint? Visit Yahoo! For Good > http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/environment.html > ___________________________________________________________ Want ideas for reducing your carbon footprint? Visit Yahoo! For Good http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/environment.html

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ANS-308 Formatting
by Ronald Long 04 Nov '07

04 Nov '07

Am I the only one who sometimes receives the ANS bulletin with missing line or paragraph formatting, everything run together? It happened this week, ANS-308, and may be only when a certain volunteer sends out the bulletin? I use Eudora as my mail client. I cannot find any settings that might cure the problem. I receive tons of mail and this is the only one that has this problem. Also when I check the AMSAT web site for ANS I find a beautifully formatted page, but it is missing the bulletin number (308, e.g.). It would be helpful if that was included. ron w8gus

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Re: Surface Mount Repair
by Roy 04 Nov '07

04 Nov '07

Hi again Guys, Success! Thanks to all the replies I got with advice on how to remove the surface mount IC. I applied heat from the blow side of my solder station and it popped off after a little bit with a little help at one corner. I had lifted all 22 leads from their pads first so I wouldn't damage a pad when it popped off. There were four small round glue spots down the middle of the bottom of the IC. Pads 1 and 22 were oversize so it was easy to spot the replacement IC with a good blob of solder on those two pads before I started soldering down the other pins. Thanks again for all the suggestions. -- Roy -- W0SL

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Longer arms for you to reach your favourite sats.
by Kevin Forbes 04 Nov '07

04 Nov '07

Hi folks, someone I was in contact with recently gave me an url to visit. REMOTE RADIO http://www.remotehams.com/ http://www.remotehams.com/Online-Radios The site is in England, and has several radios online that you can adjust the tuning on. I went and had a look and a play. Then had an idea to try out. I tuned into a NOAA wxsat on the 137 MHz band when my sat tracker said it was over England. I then started the WxSat program that turns the telemetry into images. I had to tick a different box on the sound cards recording settings, and then it happened. For the first time, I was receiving an image of Europe from a VHF NOAA sat, via the online radio. Thanks to the folks that made this site possible, I love it. _________________________________________________________________ Advertisement: What are you waiting for? Join Lavalife free. http://a.ninemsn.com.au/b.aspx?URL=http%3A%2F%2Flavalife9%2Eninemsn%2Ecom%2…

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Surface Mount Repair
by Roy 04 Nov '07

04 Nov '07

Hi Guys, I am trying to replace a 22 pin surface mount IC on a piece of Panasonic video quipment. I have all of the leads unsoldered but now I find that the IC is stuck to the board, maybe intentionally. It doesn't appear to be just the circuit board coating. It's more like the whole bottom surface is cemented. I would appreciate hearing from anyone, off line, who has experience in removing a stuck IC from the board. I have tried flux removerand 91% Isopropal Alcohol with no luck. I hesitate to force it or destroy the chip since there are traces running beneath it. Any ideas of a safe solvent or another way to unstick this thing? -- Roy -- W0SL

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Re: geo stationary bird
by melachri＠speakeasy.net 04 Nov '07

04 Nov '07

It depends on what you mean by "retirement orbit." Some satellites are left on-orbit but not used much, when their transponder complement (and the revenue it can produce) no longer justifies taking up the orbit slot. At this point, the transponders are turned off, but the satellite is left functional--it may be kept as an on-orbit spare, to be put back in service if another satellite fails. Although the transponders are off, the satellites are not--their power and attitude control systems are left on. So if this happened to our "host", the amateur payload could continue to operate. These satellites don't typically drift--they're "parked" in an orbital slot but just not actively used. If by "retirement orbit" you mean "disposal orbit" (typically about 300 miles above GEO), satellites are typically not put there until they are not worth anything to the owner. This is most often due to on-board failures or running out of expendables (e.g. fuel) that prevent the satellite from ever continuing its mission. At this point, the owners do not want to spend any time/effort/resources continuing to maintain them. As a result, their propulsion systems are vented (to mitigate future explosions) and electronics are turned off and disabled in a way that prevents even accidental turn-on. This would include the attitude control subsystem, which would keep the spacecraft pointed at the earth, as well as the electical power subsystem. A satellite in this condition could not continue to support any other payload. (Note that a GEO satellite is registered to operate from a single orbital slot, but satellites in the "retirement orbit" are drifting. They would cause interference to other registered satellites if their transponders were to remain operational during that drift. So to prevent retired-and-drifting satellites from unintentionally causing interference, operators will when possible deliberately disable a retired satellite.) Of course, such a drifting transponder would continue to be useful to the amateur community. This is something that could be a subject of negotiation between AMSAT and the host. 73, Steve Melachrinos W3HF > 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 > >

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AO-7 Mode A difficulties
by Bob Stewart 04 Nov '07

04 Nov '07

I've made several attempts efforts to work AO-7 on Mode A, but I just don't seem to be able to manage it. I can hear CW signal, and if I whistle into the mike, but I just can't hear my voice well enough to even attempt a QSO. I'm using an 80 watt Mirage brick into an RHCP moxon pair pointed straight up. I don't have any problems getting into the FM sats with this setup. Is it because I'm only getting about 40 watts EIRP from this and that's simply not enough for AO-7 Mode A? Bob - AE6RV

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Ao-51 + Ic-PCr1500 + WI-FI Antenna ?????
by CE3SOC Raul Romero 04 Nov '07

04 Nov '07

Greetings to all I paid receiver icom ic-pr1500 receiving up 3 GHZ I doubt will be layered with some receiving antenna that I have a wireless panel 14dbi and yagui of 8 elements dlink? Someone tested this configuration Second, I recommended software to correct the doppler receptor icom when receiving satellites Now many thanks 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: geo stationary bird
by richard＠g3rwl.demon.co.uk 04 Nov '07

04 Nov '07

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

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Sinclair Labs
by Clint Bradford 04 Nov '07

04 Nov '07

Contact Sinclair at... sysengusa(a)sinctech.com Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 909-241-7666 > I found at a junk an old RF preamplifier from > > Sinclair Radio Labs

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Re: Right Angle BNC adapters
by Edward Cole 03 Nov '07

03 Nov '07

ONLY If you live in the east, John! Up here it's Alaska Standard Time (AST). You get extra points in the next contest if you know the time difference between AST and UTC...no peeking :-) EST-UTC = -5 hours. 73 Ed - KL7UW At 02:32 PM 11/3/2007, John Marranca, Jr wrote: >Frank: > >That's what I have come to wonder! I read that some place before as well.AST > >MIL-SPEC vs. "the spring". Hmm....which is better..... > > >Thanks for reminding me of something that I ALMOST forgot about. > >Remember to change your SMOKE DETECTOR BATTERIES, my friends. It's Eastern >STANDARD time tonight. > >John KB2HSH > >On 11/3/07, Franklin Antonio <antonio(a)qualcomm.com> wrote: > > > > At 01:25 PM 11/3/2007, John Marranca, Jr wrote: > > >Does anyone know of a source of the MIL-SPEC right angle BNC adapters? I > > am > > >using a hamfest special, and have a feeling that it's affecting my rx on > > the > > >birds. > > > > For kicks, cut it open. I did this once with a right angle "N" > > adapter that I bought at a swapmeet, and in which I observed poor > > performance. Inside I found the center conductor was a small > > spring! The idea, I believe, was that the spring would naturally > > form a gentle circular arc from the center pin of one connector to > > the center pin of the other, maintaining nice spacing from the > > sidewals. This would be fine at DC, or maybe HF, but at UHF this was > > worthless. The spring was electrically a coil, in other words an > > inductor, which was altogether the wrong thing. Laughable. > > > > > >-- >_______________________________ > > >John Marranca, Jr >PBX Technician/Shop Steward CWA Local 1122 >BN Systems, Inc >Orchard Park, NY >(716)972-2006 >_______________________________________________ >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 73, Ed - KL7UW ====================================== BP40IQ 50-MHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com 144-EME: FT-847, mgf-1801, 4x-xpol-20, 185w DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa(a)hotmail.com ======================================

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Eastern Standard Time
by John Marranca, Jr 03 Nov '07

03 Nov '07

Sorry. You're right. Chalk it up to a brain-slip. No offense meant. But, still...CHANGE THOSE SMOKE DETECTOR BATTERIES! We just had a fire locally that could have ended MUCH better than it did if the detectors had had batteries. One of the "higher-ups" of the Buffalo Fire Department said that (quote) "it's sad to investigate a fire and find casualties, and THEN find smoke detectors without batteries". I know it's off topic for this board, but I just want to remind my friends for the better. 73, 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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Sinclair RadioLabs . Preamp frquency range?
by nader omer 03 Nov '07

03 Nov '07

Hello all I found at a junk an old RF preamplifier from Sinclair Radio Labs Tonawanda N.Y I would like to know anymore info and the frequency range! Power 14 V -+2 With two small tuning knobs at the front panel 10.5 x 6.5x 4cm in dimensions and two flanks with 2 holes at each side for fixing There a one transistor with 4-pins inside a cap heatsink soldiered to the board Components in two compartments made from pcb Thank you in advance Nader - st2nh __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

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geo stationary bird
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 03 Nov '07

03 Nov '07

Hello To play the devils advocate for a moment. With a geo (stuck) sattelite we are pretty much stuck with the same foot print forever. Unless of course there is some sort of cross linking in the future. I very fondly recall AO-40 and bringing it up on my computer and seeing where the foot print was today. Maybe it's the Europeans or perhaps the VK's, ZL's (love their accent), or maybe some JA's, (practice my Japanese). At some time, I knew I could cover the whole planet. I do of course believe this is an excellent opportunity, though there are a some limitations. -- 73 Bob W7LRD AMSAT member 28498 Seattle

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Re: Right Angle BNC adapters
by Franklin Antonio 03 Nov '07

03 Nov '07

At 01:25 PM 11/3/2007, John Marranca, Jr wrote: >Does anyone know of a source of the MIL-SPEC right angle BNC adapters? I am >using a hamfest special, and have a feeling that it's affecting my rx on the >birds. For kicks, cut it open. I did this once with a right angle "N" adapter that I bought at a swapmeet, and in which I observed poor performance. Inside I found the center conductor was a small spring! The idea, I believe, was that the spring would naturally form a gentle circular arc from the center pin of one connector to the center pin of the other, maintaining nice spacing from the sidewals. This would be fine at DC, or maybe HF, but at UHF this was worthless. The spring was electrically a coil, in other words an inductor, which was altogether the wrong thing. Laughable.

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Re: Right Angle BNC adapters
by Dave Guimont 03 Nov '07

03 Nov '07

> > >Does anyone know of a source of the MIL-SPEC right angle BNC adapters? I am >using a hamfest special, and have a feeling that it's affecting my rx on the >birds. > Hi John, found one right on top of the junk box...wish I could find stuff that easily when I look!! I know I have it, somewhere, go out and buy one, and a few days later I come across one!! Send me your mail address, and I'll pop it in the mail... 73, Dave wb6llo(a)amsat.org Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

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Re: Right Angle BNC adapters
by Dave Guimont 03 Nov '07

03 Nov '07

At 01:25 PM 11/3/2007, you wrote: >Hello my friends, and Happy Saturday: > >Does anyone know of a source of the MIL-SPEC right angle BNC adapters? I am >using a hamfest special, and have a feeling that it's affecting my rx on the >birds. > >No hurry. Just pondering while I am preparing for winter, and making >improvements before the snow flies. > >Thanks! > >John KB2HSH > Hi John, am sure I have one in my junk box.....let me take a look and I'll mail right back... 73, Dave wb6llo(a)amsat.org Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

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Palm OS sat software
by Ed Tump 03 Nov '07

03 Nov '07

Folks, If anyone has a good or bad review on Palm OS based software for sat work, I would love to hear it. Thanks! Ed KC9GWK New AmSat member

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Re: Quadrifilar Helices
by Juan Carlos Borrás 03 Nov '07

03 Nov '07

http://www.jcoppens.com/ant/qfh/calc.en.php Cheers, JC!

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Right Angle BNC adapters
by John Marranca, Jr 03 Nov '07

03 Nov '07

Hello my friends, and Happy Saturday: Does anyone know of a source of the MIL-SPEC right angle BNC adapters? I am using a hamfest special, and have a feeling that it's affecting my rx on the birds. No hurry. Just pondering while I am preparing for winter, and making improvements before the snow flies. Thanks! 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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PCSat over SOAM
by Gustavo Carpignano 03 Nov '07

03 Nov '07

Hi, Strong signals from PCSAT this morning over Buenos Aires, Arg at 10:45 UTC. 10:47 NODIGI>APRS2>UI,?,F0 (1200 baud): :BLN2PCSAT:Pse send an APRS EMAIL via sat to wb4apr(a)amsat.org 10:47 NODIGI>APRS3>UI,?,F0 (1200 baud): :BLN3PCSAT:ISS and ANDE also on 145.825 MHz now! 10:49 NODIGI/SGATE>BEACON>UI,?,F0 (1200 baud): >Digi off until fully chargd 10:50 NODIGI/SGATE>BEACON>UI,?,F0 (1200 baud): T#301,023,070,103,026,214,00111111,0100,1 10:51 NODIGI/SGATE>BEACON>UI,?,F0 (1200 baud): T#302,129,133,136,133,214,00111111,0101,1 10:53 NODIGI/SGATE>BEACON>UI,?,F0 (1200 baud): T#304,158,158,063,209,214,00111111,0111,1 10:54 NODIGI>APRS1>UI,?,F0 (1200 baud): :BLN1PCSAT:Please help demo emrgncy field ops from mobiles and portable 10:54 NODIGI/SGATE>BEACON>UI,?,F0 (1200 baud): T#305,018,031,117,027,214,00111111,0100,1 10:56 NODIGI/SGATE>BEACON>UI,?,F0 (1200 baud): T#307,133,134,056,129,214,00111111,0110,1 10:57 NODIGI/SGATE>BEACON>UI,?,F0 (1200 baud): T#308,160,161,054,210,214,00111111,0111,1 73 Gustavo, LW2DTZ --------------------------------- Los referentes más importantes en compra/venta de autos se juntaron: Demotores y Yahoo!.Ahora comprar o vender tu auto es más fácil. Visitá http://ar.autos.yahoo.com/

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