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

Announcement: ANDE de-Orbit AWARD
by Henk, PA3GUO 17 Nov '07

17 Nov '07

ANDE (NO-61) will de-orbit somewhere in the next 4 weeks. We do not know exactly, but that's the challenge and the fun ! For these last weeks a special event is launched, and everyone is invited to participate ! A special ANDE de-Orbit AWARD can be obtained by everyone that makes QSOs via ANDE or receives telemetry during its final 10 days in space. On the AWARD your callsign and achievements will be mentioned: ANDE APRS QSOs: -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 point for each 2 way APRS QSO over ANDE in its last 10 days of life. Example: 00:01:31:24 : KB1GVR]APU25N,ANDE-1*,qAO,K8YSE-6::KC2PCR :GA Doug 00:01:31:42 : KC2PCR]APRS,ANDE-1*,qAO,KB2CEV::KB1GVR :G'Afternoon Mark ;) ANDE Telemetry Reception: -------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 points for telemetry packets on the last day 9 points for telemetry packets on the last day -1 ... 1 point for telemetry packets on the last day -9 In total 55 Telemetry points can be achieved, all to be scored in the last 10 days Bob, WB4APR, will set the official date/time of de-orbit. The 10 days before that date then count for the calculation of your achievements.... ... but you do not know before that when those days will be :-) To obtain the award participates should, within 2 weeks after ANDE de-orbits, email his/her own score + proof (the packets). Further details like (shipping) costs and the submission email address will be announced in the coming days. Have fun - and keep ANDE busy in its final exciting days in space ! Bob, WB4APR Mike, DK3WN Henk, PA3GUO For questions on the award please contact PA3GUO (pa3guo @ amsat.org) For current status of ANDE: http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/ande-ops.html

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What a SSET reply looks like through PCSAT
by Roger Kolakowski 17 Nov '07

17 Nov '07

Thanks to Bob APR and Fred W1WYC, I finally got my format correct and received this on the first pass of PCSAT this afternoon: ----- Original Message ----- From: <ksproul(a)rci.rutgers.edu> To: <wa1kat(a)amsat.org> Sent: Friday, November 16, 2007 11:57 AM Subject: APRS Message from WA1KAT > > checking in for sset ! From Boston > > -------------------------- > Message received by MacAPRS IGate station WU2Z > Located in NO BRUNSWICK, NJ > APRS path = WA1KAT>BEACON,PCSAT-1*,WIDE2-1,qAO,K8YSE-6 >

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GO-32 Questions
by John Marranca, Jr 16 Nov '07

16 Nov '07

Hello everybody. Firstly... just a quick thanks to Bob, WB4APR for helping me..."correct"...my very bad APRS settings. As I told Bob, I carried over the HF mentality of "work as far as you can, and as many as you can". OK...now...in regards to GO-32. I have changed my settings in AGWPE for 9600 baud. I have started up UISS, and I've captured a few snippets of info here and there. But I can't transmit to it. What am I missing here? Is it due to Doppler? Is it because the requirements at 9600 are MUCH more strict than at 1200? Is it because I'm QRP? I want to be able to use this bird once PCSAT goes nighty-night in a few days, as well as ANDE rejoining us here on Earth. Thanks in advance, my friends. 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: AL-800
by Clint Bradford 16 Nov '07

16 Nov '07

The AL-800 places a great deal of stress on your BNC connector - please be very careful when using it. I prefer the Smiley 270A, with its built-in spring at the bottom. I even use their SMA model with confidence. http://www.htantennas.com Clint Bradford, K6LCS 909-241-7666

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Re: How to build your ownSputnik
by George Henry 16 Nov '07

16 Nov '07

-----Original Message----- >From: Dave Aitch <dave(a)g1ocn.com> >Sent: Nov 16, 2007 3:43 AM >To: Howard Long <howard(a)howardlong.com>, amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] How to build your ownSputnik > >Top man Howard ! > >How about a balloon tethered event with your device ? > >73, Dave. > That would be a very impressive demo! Here in the US, it would have to have provisions to ID, just like a terrestrial repeater, if it were flown below 50 kM, though. (that may even be an ITU requirement... not sure) Excellent work on the build, Howard! Looks every bit the "official" Cubesat. I was thinking along the lines of a large coffee can, although it wouldn't lend itself to mounting of the solar panels as well as your cube frame does. Could still work as the "core" of either a cube or hexagonal spaceframe... 73, George, KA3HSW

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PCSAT 1130z this morning
by John Marranca, Jr 16 Nov '07

16 Nov '07

Hello all. Is it just me, or is PCSAT becoming somewhat deaf? This morning's 1130z pass was impossible to utilize...even with it being a 40 degree pass for me. I can work this satellite at elevations as low as 3 degrees...wondering if its dying already? 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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BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | How to build your own Sputnik
by Bob Twiggs 16 Nov '07

16 Nov '07

Here is a challenge. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7049002.stm Bob KE6QMD

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Re: BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | How to build your own Sputnik
by GW1FKY＠aol.com 16 Nov '07

16 Nov '07

In a message dated 16/11/2007 03:26:43 GMT Standard Time, howard(a)howardlong.com writes: http://www.g6lvb.com/Articles/Build%20Your%20Own%20Satellite.doc Hi Howard, Good Luck with your project. Likewise I considered my demo satellite that I had constructed using the drum removed from an old washing machine. I did not submit it however as I thought perhaps some young blood out there would come up some idea perhaps. It was able to transmit and receive on 2 metre, 70 cm and 2.4 Ghz. and able to demonstrate ,packet , voice, and send video pictures . It also sent voice identification and details of is operating frequencies using a simple module that I extracted from a very cheap device. To also make it realastic to demonstrate with young people I built in a module from handheld PMR so that they could talk thro it without need for a licence. The 2.4 Ghz unit was a camera and TX unit used in a TV remote senders which are around so cheap. I also got for only £9 a remote temperature sensor TX together with the mon itor (operates 433 Mhz) For the radio amateur modules I picked used boards from faulty handhelds that I picked for a song. Agree also on the source of solar panels, but I also went to a major store and offered to buy quite a number of solar garden lights that had been returned as faulty. The solar cells were OK on most of ther units but even new units are so cheap to buy especially this time of the year. Of course for a " Ground based satellite" no worries about all of the documentation,safety, risk analysis and of course "Launch cost" - Hi! Good luck and enjoy the fun. Regards Ken GW1FKY

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Recording passes
by Ed Tump 16 Nov '07

16 Nov '07

Folks, Tonight I was able to receive and record the AO-51 pass over my QTH at approx 0145UTC. When I listened to the recording it appears I recorded it a little too "hot." What I did was split the audio from the radio and one to the recorder and one to my headset. What do you folks do? And thanks to all who have been my Elmers during my current "new guy" phase. Warm regards, Ed KC9GWK Grid EN52 AmSat Member

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G6LVB tracker board cases
by Stargate 16 Nov '07

16 Nov '07

Anyone know if the G6LVB tracking board custom cases are available yet? 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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