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

Re: Simulated Emergency Test via Satellite
by Henk, PA3GUO 03 Nov '07

03 Nov '07

Hi Bob, Fully agree ! In case of emergency, when we need to forward messages, APRS by the far the most reliable & efficient communication method: - messages take 2 only seconds up/down airtime - spelling family names in voice is error-prone - voice would need voice recording, APRS has findu.com - findu.com can be monitored worldwide (= auto forwarding) See below the message I forwarded during a 17 degrees PCSAT pass. Henk, PA3GUO ------------------------------ Onderwerp: APRS Message from PA3GUO-10 Van: ksproul(a)rci.rutgers.edu Datum: Zat, november 3, 2007 7:19 pm Aan: pa3guo(a)amsat.org SSET checking from JO21RJ -------------------------- Message received by MacAPRS IGate station WU2Z Located in NO BRUNSWICK, NJ APRS path = PA3GUO-10>APRS,PCSAT-1*,qAO,PA3GUO > I am thinking AMSAT (we) need to do more emergency > service preparations and tests with our satellites. > Not only will that test our capabilities, but we > will also need to demonstrate our emergency response > capabilities as a group to help sell the new > P4 concept to the supporters of this new Geo initiative.

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ISS EVA Scanner Frequencies
by K7XQ 03 Nov '07

03 Nov '07

Wonder if we will hear any activity on the EVA frequencies during the solar panel repairs ?? 296.800 MHz : Air-to-ground, or Orbiter to E.V.A. suit 259.700 MHz : Air-to-ground, or suit to Orbiter 279.000 MHz : Suit-to-Orbiter, or suit-to-suit 410.2 - NFM - New UHF Space Shuttle EVA Channel 414.2 - NFM - New UHF Space-Space Communication Channel K7XQ Jeff Atwater, CA. Grid: CM97qi EME, Satellites, Meteor Scatter CW and JT-65 ( WSJT ) 50 MHz: 2 X M2 6M7 1000 watts 2 X 3-500 144 MHz: 4 X XPOL M2 2MPX28 1500 Watts Single GS35b 222 MHz: 1 X M2 5 W.L. 350 watts Single 8930 432 MHz: 4 X M2 9 W.L. ( modify in progress for XPOL ) 1200 Watts single GS35b 1296 MHz: 3.0 meter dish VE4MA circular feed 350 Watts single GS15 water-cooled 2304 MHz/2320 MHz/2424 MHz: 3.0 meter dish VE4MA circular feed 200 watts Spectrian SSPA 10 GHz: early 2008 K7XQ Webpage: http://www.elite.net/~k7xq/k7xq.html

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Quadrifilar Helices
by John Marranca, Jr 03 Nov '07

03 Nov '07

Does anyone know of a website or of construction plans for an 70 cm Quadrifilar Helix antenna? I have heard that they work quite well for an omni-directional LEO antenna. I am looking for an improvement over my Eggbeaters, which have been excellent thus far. 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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ARISS digi inop?
by Ken Swaggart 02 Nov '07

02 Nov '07

Haven't had any success getting a packet through the ISS the past few days, even though the beacon says BBS and APRS is on. I know it's been off during the spacewalks, but it's beaconing today, but no packets are making it through. Does anyone have some clarifying information? Tnx, Ken, W7KKE

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Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 2, Issue 679
by Reicher, James 02 Nov '07

02 Nov '07

Hi Jerry, Let me break this down for you a little bit. The only advantage to having an Arrow-type antenna is that you can more easily hold and point the antenna, bypassing the need for a rotor. I wouldn't recommend this method if you're going to use your 857 with out-put of more than 5 watts. The FM birds will require more than 5 watts to get thru all the QRM. If you have two rigs to work with, why not try out AO7, FO29, or VO52? You'll find them easy to get into; I've worked AO7 with my 817, on mode A, using CW and 5 watts into a Ringo Ranger. I couldn't do it on SSB though, AO7 wants a little more gain than that. My antennas now are 11 elements on both 2M and 70cm and I can always hit the birds. I turn them with an HD73 rotor. 73 de N8AU, Jim in Raymore, MO Light travels faster than sound... This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2007 12:05:22 -0600 From: "nr5a" <nr5a(a)rap.midco.net> Subject: [amsat-bb] New to this! To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <017301c81cb1$c631ca00$6400a8c0@PC270429458147> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original I use to work the RS birds and just loved it, now of course there is nothing like that. I swore I"d never do the FM birds cause I don't even do the FM Repeaters. I've lived near Rapid City, SD for 21 years and can count the number of times I've been on the reapeaters here on one hand. Sorry they just don't do anything for me. I've broke down and decieded I want to get on the FM birds. The radio will be mostly my FT-817 or I can go FT-857D if I get the urge. I see antennas like the Arrows where 2 beams are on the same boom, is there a real advantage to this?? My antenna will be mounted outdoors and I'm going in the direction of 2 antennas on a cross boom. I'm not that interested in parading around in a parking lot carring a antenna and looking silly. How much antenna do I really need? I have tried listening on the FT-817's rubber duck antenna with no results. I thru together a hastly built one element egg beater type. (a site to see, held together by duct tape.) The other nite I almost heard AO-51. My next step is tearing off the eggbeater and duct taping a 3 el yagi to the yardstick. I want to see the difference and maybe learn something while playing. I'll go now cause I'm probably wasiting your time thanks for reading this. Jerry - NR5A - South Dakota

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Re: Quadrifilar Helices
by Jeff Hite 02 Nov '07

02 Nov '07

> ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Fri, 02 Nov 2007 10:33:09 -0700 > From: Dave Guimont <dguimon1(a)san.rr.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Quadrifilar Helices > To: "R.Haighton" <ve3frh(a)cogeco.ca> > Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Message-ID: <200711021733.lA2HX9s4008456(a)ms-smtp-03.socal.rr.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"; format=flowed > > >> The Satellite Experimenters Handbook by Martin Davidoff K2UBC (1990 Pages >> 8-15 & 16) and it's successor The Radio Amateur's Satellite Handbook (1998 >> pages 10-13 to 10-15) both have details of this antenna, its use and its >> construction. >> I recommend this book to all satellite experimenters and users, it may be >> nearly 10 years old but the principles and information contained therein >> have not changed. >> >> Robin Haighton VE3FRH >> Immediate Past President AMSAT >> > > That's exactly where I started, Robin, on page 6-20 of the original edition. > But Maxwell's measurement produced a horrible > VSWR.....I saw Marty later on at a convention, > and I believe he said the same thing happened to him... > > It took me 4 iterations to get the antenna flat > with no matching device...I of course did it at > 435. But those dimensions translated very > successfully to 2M satellite, 2M repeaters, and > believe it or not to 2.4 gigs....In front of a dish, of course!!! > > I had seen other pictures of the antenna, and was > very interested prior to Marty's excellent > depiction of the construction details... > > I used a combination of 435 and 2M versions fixed > at about 45?, and rotated in AZ only and worked > very well with strong signal birds... > > Quadfilxxxxxxxxx has the dimensions for the 3, > but the 2.4 gig computation is left as an exercise for those interested. > > http://home.san.rr.com/doguimont/uploads/ > > Nice to hear from you, Robin....R U active on any of the birds?? > > > > > 73, Dave wb6llo(a)amsat.org > Disagree: I learn.... > > Pulling for P3E... > > > > I found WB6LLO's 435 version easy to reproduce with good results. -- Jeff KK7WR

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Re: New to this
by John Marranca, Jr 02 Nov '07

02 Nov '07

NR5A: Welcome. My Lord, our stories sound IDENTICAL. I was a Mode K/RS jockey myself. And I, too, sold my 2-meter FM gear years ago because of the junk that was going on locally. I also use an FT-817ND for...well...everything, really... ...as well as having 2 eggbeaters. And, with the gear I have, I'm having a blast. You shouldn't have any difficulty. either. I have the AO-51 and AO-27 AOS frequencies stored as a memory...but I manually tune the main VFO to chase the Doppler. Works out very well. I keep one of the VFOs on 145.825 for APRS via satellite. Finally, my HOME frequency is 144.390 for terrestrial APRS. Other than the birth of my kids, my wedding day, and the start of my career, the NEXT best day was the day my FT-817ND came. (Almost 20 years on HF doing the same-old same-old started getting boring....) Good Luck, my friend, and we'll listen for you on the birds. 73 de 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: Mobile Satellite Month
by John Marranca, Jr 02 Nov '07

02 Nov '07

QUOTE: >* 145.825 ANDE-1 (re-entry expected next month) *That will be sad, indeed...as I've enjoyed using it for the short amount of time I've been interested in the hamsats. 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: New to this!
by Clint Bradford 02 Nov '07

02 Nov '07

> >>...mostly my FT-817 or I can go FT-857D if I get the urge... You can easily work AO-51 and SO-50 with your '817! Page 45 of the 817ND manual shows you how to program "split frequencies." Here's a quick tutorial on working AO-51 and SO-50 for you: http://homepage.mac.com/clintbradford/Menu3.html Clint Bradford, K6LCS AMSAT Area Coordinator

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My email
by Robert McGwier 02 Nov '07

02 Nov '07

If you attempted to send email to my AMSAT email alias in the past two weeks, it likely bounced. I recently changed providers from comcast to verizon and I was just certain I had moved all of my email accounts. I think I did, except for one, possibly the most important. Thanks to all who pointed it out. 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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Doppler compensation??
by Dave Guimont 02 Nov '07

02 Nov '07

Can someone explain this "new" thing about the difficulty in compensating for doppler? I used to do it with one hand on a knob, or with one of the many programs available. Has something changed?? 73, Dave wb6llo(a)amsat.org Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

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WRC-07 - ERO report on first week
by Trevor 02 Nov '07

02 Nov '07

WRC-07 - ERO report on first week http://www.southgatearc.org/news/november2007/wrc07_first_week.htm 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 --------------- ___________________________________________________________ Want ideas for reducing your carbon footprint? Visit Yahoo! For Good http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/environment.html

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New to this!
by nr5a 01 Nov '07

01 Nov '07

I use to work the RS birds and just loved it, now of course there is nothing like that. I swore I"d never do the FM birds cause I don't even do the FM Repeaters. I've lived near Rapid City, SD for 21 years and can count the number of times I've been on the reapeaters here on one hand. Sorry they just don't do anything for me. I've broke down and decieded I want to get on the FM birds. The radio will be mostly my FT-817 or I can go FT-857D if I get the urge. I see antennas like the Arrows where 2 beams are on the same boom, is there a real advantage to this?? My antenna will be mounted outdoors and I'm going in the direction of 2 antennas on a cross boom. I'm not that interested in parading around in a parking lot carring a antenna and looking silly. How much antenna do I really need? I have tried listening on the FT-817's rubber duck antenna with no results. I thru together a hastly built one element egg beater type. (a site to see, held together by duct tape.) The other nite I almost heard AO-51. My next step is tearing off the eggbeater and duct taping a 3 el yagi to the yardstick. I want to see the difference and maybe learn something while playing. I'll go now cause I'm probably wasiting your time thanks for reading this. Jerry - NR5A - South Dakota

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Rohn 45G stuff needed
by Stargate 01 Nov '07

01 Nov '07

OK, Last call before I order new. (I hate to do that:-) I'm looking for the following..... BPL45G Rohn 45G Flat top bearing plate Rohn TB3 bearing 45G house bracket AS455G Rotor shelf It doesn't need to be Rohn. Equivalent Nello, or other makers will be considered as well. Thanks, RoD KD0XX A good friend will come and bail you out of jail, A TRUE friend will be sitting next to you saying..... "DAMN THAT WAS FUN"

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I'm Here!
by Greg KJ6KO 01 Nov '07

01 Nov '07

Hi Guys! Thought I'd join the list just in case you had any questions. I think everyone is getting tired of forwarding email to me. Anyway, I can keep you updated on the amplifier progress and keep in touch easier this way. 73 de Greg KJ6KO www.kj6ko.com

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Re: Helices
by John Marranca, Jr 01 Nov '07

01 Nov '07

Thank you to EVERYONE that has responded to my query from this morning. I appreciate it very much. It is the sense of helping one-another that I enjoy the satellite community so much. 73 de 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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GB5OSO sputnik special event station report
by Robert Turlington 01 Nov '07

01 Nov '07

Hi All many thanks to all stations who managed to have a QSO with the sputnik special event Satellite station GB5OSO ,well done! I am awaiting the QSL cards to come from the printers so it may be a while before they arrive. The event went very well with 300+ QSO's in 33 DXCC countries on AO7,AO27,SO51,AO51 and VO52 ,in all 170+ stations were logged many of whome were worked on more than one Satellite and special thanks to the two stations who I worked on all 5 birds namely G1OCN and ON5NY.Also many thanks to JA0CAW and JH1EKH who were able to organise a conection via EchoLink to SO50 and AO51 whilst they were over Japan.There was also some activity on HF and wiil post the results for that later on.Regards Robert G8ATE _________________________________________________________________ Feel like a local wherever you go. http://www.backofmyhand.com

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Re: WiSP on Vista
by Mineo Wakita 01 Nov '07

01 Nov '07

Hello Alan VE4YZ and ALL, I succeeded in setup WiSP on Windows Vista, according to Export/Import of Registry on Xp/Vista. http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/wispvist.htm Thank you very much. de JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

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Re: Doppler
by Dave Guimont 01 Nov '07

01 Nov '07

> >Doppler to newcomers is like asking them to drive a car with Stick >Shift, I mean the ones before we had synchronized gears. Today >driving a car, operating a computer, does not require much brain. >A lot of people replaced their brains already with Laptops but lost >the software. > >Will be interesting to see what's coming down the pike. Tnx, Walter, I drive a synchronized car, but if I had to jump into my dad's old Model T, at 85, I think I could figure out which of the 3 pedals to push!! Of course, today, I would try it in a big parking lot with no cars.... That is about how hard it is to crank a knob!! I quit!! 73, Dave wb6llo(a)amsat.org Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

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Re: Doppler compensation??
by Dave Guimont 01 Nov '07

01 Nov '07

>Yes, > >Because of the low sun activity the satellites are underpowered and it >negatively (inversely) affects their transmitters (Low squint angle). The >Doppler effect is now increasingly changing randomly especially on >frequencies below 12MHz. All the modern radios are getting a hick-up and >SatPc32 is complaining the most. Best way is to turn the radio off >immediately and hide because it is Halloween. ye gods! one cranks the knob faster!!! 73, Dave wb6llo(a)amsat.org Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

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Phase 4
by John Marranca, Jr 31 Oct '07

31 Oct '07

Say it isn't so. Say it's just a dream.... Just this past weekend, I was reading an OLD QST from 1974 that had mentioned the notion that AMSAT wanted a geo-synch satellite by 1975. How amazing. The thought was kicked around on a local AMSAT 2-meter net in the early 1990 (back during the Mode K days of yore). Imagine...ULTRA RELIABLE DX...24 hours per day. Those with antenna restrictions or home-owner's covenants could be QRV. And if the up/down links were UHF and above, a pair of helices could be used INSIDE, pointing through a window.... Just a thought, though. What about our European and Asian friends? Could facilities be included so that geo-synchs over their respective footprints could be linked? Or possibly the satellite being "parked" over an area that could include the US and Europe? I realize that it is all dependent on the space that the host bird has. This is truly exciting! 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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Call for Symposium Photos
by JoAnne Maenpaa 31 Oct '07

31 Oct '07

Hi everyone, I'd appreciate it if you could forward me any photos from the Symposium that you think would be suitable to print in the AMSAT Journal. I noticed a few nice cameras clicking away :-) Direct e-mail to me is k9jkm(a)comcast.net in case the amsat alias gives you any heartburn with big attachments. Thanks! -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org

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