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

One-Laptop-per-Child two XO-1 ?
by Robert Bruninga 21 Dec '07

21 Dec '07

OLPC: Anyone know when to expect delivery on the one-laptop-per-child, or did both of mine go to peru? I think several people on here ordered one. Bob, WB4APR > -----Original Message----- > From: David Bern [mailto:DavidXBern@aol.com] > Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2007 8:28 AM > To: bruninga(a)usna.edu > Cc: Tom Azlin, N4ZPT; David Bern; Adam Bern > Subject: Re: APRS idea and ordered two XO-1 > > Bob: > > Maybe we could all get together for lunch or dinner > with our new XO-1 computers.... Note that the > software in the XO-1s is open source and we > should be able run the mesh networking software > on any Linux computer.... > > The Hinternet folks have playing with 803.11 for > years now. Do a Google search on "HSMM". > WiMax technology is coming down line and that is more > oriented as a MAN (metropolitan area network). > > David W2LNX

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Re: Tracking Santa ?
by GW1FKY＠aol.com 21 Dec '07

21 Dec '07

Hi, Try going to the AGI web site - _http://www.agi.com/santa_ (http://www.agi.com/santa) You should hopefully get some useful entertainment for the festive occassion. Good Luck & "Happy Christmas & Good Luck for the New Year" to you and the family and all Ken Eaton GW1FKY Amsat -Uk Amsat NA

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R: AO51 Signals
by f.grappi＠tin.it 21 Dec '07

21 Dec '07

Hi Andrew, to receive AO-51 I have 38 elements cross yagi, left and right polarization, SP 7000 pre-amp and 30 meters RT 50-20 coaxial cable. At 30° elevation the downlink signal is S 9+30 into my old Kenwood TS 790 if I swich off the pre-amp the signal drop down at S 5-6 (my opinion and experience is the pre-amp is very important) 73" Francesco IW4DVZ ----Messaggio originale---- Da: vk4tec(a)people.net.au Data: 21-dic-2007 10.41 AM A: "Amsat-Bb@Amsat. Org"<amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Ogg: [amsat-bb] AO51 Signals Hello I built a 10 turn helix for 435 MHz. I have 15 meters of RG-213. Radio is an ICOM 706 mkii G I am not getting strong signals like I would have expected ? Can someone share their setups and signal strengths ? Maybe a pre-amp might help ? Am I getting too much loss in the cable ? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Andrew Rich VK4TEC vk4tec(a)people.net.au http://www.tech-software.net _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@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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Re: The Whole GEO Package
by Edward Cole 21 Dec '07

21 Dec '07

Les, Of course P4 is not even on the drawing board, but P4 will be very similar to Eagle as I read from Rick and Bob. So that means: mode-UV (maybe) - Linear analog tranponder. mode-US or LS - Linear analog transponder mode-SC or CX - Digital Voice/Video/Data SDX as main radio. Will that mean channeled operation? I suppose for EMCOMM that would be best (hopefully, multi-channel). Will it be trunked? Or will it resemble packet UI or APRS? Because of the digital coding this does mean buying a ground unit designed by the P4 engineering team. Whether it will be built by AMSAT or the design licensed to private commercial mfrs, I do not know. Perhaps it can be made as a (partial) kit. I think it is easy to get confused between what will the EMCOMM ground station look like and what the "apartment" ham station look like for the digital mode (remember that is voice-or-video-or-data). Since power is provided by Intelsat, I am guessing that there will be ample power for transmitters. That might permit using smaller dishes for the mw digital mode. That might be 12 or 18 inches...or maybe permit use of a flat phased planar array (patches). 18-inch offset feed dishes are readily obtained from Direct-TV/Dish Network suppliers. Gain at x-band is about 32 dBi. So I disagree that EMCOMM automatically implies big dishes or expensive custom transceiver (It should be a mw xvtr followed by a SDR plugged into a computer). I have no idea what the Eagle Team is thinking the SC-Rider package would run (Bob and guesses this early?). Everything is speculation at this point! Ed - KL7UW At 10:50 PM 12/20/2007, sco(a)sco-inc.com wrote: >P4 digital is for computer, right? something like psk31? The sat >phones you are talking about use discreet channels, right? P4 will >be using linear transponders, right? The user will need to tune the >uplink and downlink to find a spot to communicate? Hams don't have >"channels" on a sat, right? we are not talking a new CB here are we? >P4 will have SSB 2m/70cm for one transponder and X band/S band for >the other? My S band dish is about 3 feet in diameter. A little >large to fit on a sat terminal's cover. I do not want to have to buy >a new terminal built by Amsat (or some such agency) that costs me >tens of thousands of $$. A good system will let hams use their off >the shelf equipment. Those sat terminal phones you speak of are very >expensive and not that good for transfering video (as proposed for >P4). Have you seen the poor quality from those terminals that shows >up on FOX network? Seem fine until an object moves then is badly >distorted. We need a much higher quality system if we are serious >about emergency commo. That requires a much larger ground station >"terminal" and antenna system, and operator training. > >Les W4SCO >www.scoincsoftware.com > > >-------- Original Message -------- >Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Re: The Whole GEO Package >From: Edward Cole <kl7uw(a)acsalaska.net> >Date: Fri, December 21, 2007 12:27 am >To: sco(a)sco-inc.com >Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > >Les, > >Then how do the "civilians" set up those nice mw satellite terminal >phones? I have seen some that the case cover is the antenna and it >comes with a compass. The cover is rotated to settings from a >chart. Flip a switch and pick up the handset. > >The digital stuff of P4 will "inside" (sort of like Intel is inside >my computer). With good packaging and instructions I think it can be >made simple enough. I am kind of hoping that the main-stream P4 will >be more generic satellite that requires some skill in operation, but >for the EMCOMM unit KISS. > >Ed - KL7UW > >At 04:32 PM 12/20/2007, ><http://email.secureserver.net/pcompose.php#Compose>sco(a)sco-inc.com wrote: > >To believe that a traditional ham who operates HF or even on 2m > >repeaters is going to be able to setup and operate the P4 satellites > >is a fool's game. Hanging a wire in a tree is a lot different than > >pointing microwave antennas at a set spot in orbit. Then the sat is > >basically running "split" something that i doubt many hams know how > >to do with their radio. Then if we are talking about operating in a > >digital mode that is another new set up learning skills for the ham > >op to learn. You can not send an untrained ham to a site and expect > >them to setup and operate P4 in a microwave digital computer mode. > >it just will not happen. A lot of people can not even read a compass > >so they won't be able to even aim the antenna(s). And then what > >about the proper elevation? How is the ham to do that without > >tracking rotors? yes it can be done by hand but there must be a way > >to measure the angle of elevation and azimuth from the antenna to > >the satellite. Looks like we will need to develop a lot of training > >to make EMCOM work with any operators other than old Amsat hands. > >Maybe we could have an award/training program? After a ham works 50 > >contacts via P4 they might be considered qualified to help teach > >other non sat hams how to do it. > > > >Les W4SCO > > > >-------- Original Message -------- > >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: The Whole GEO Package > >From: Edward Cole > <<http://email.secureserver.net/pcompose.php#Compose>kl7uw(a)acsalaska.net> > >Date: Thu, December 20, 2007 10:30 am > >To: > <http://email.secureserver.net/pcompose.php#Compose>brobertson(a)mta.ca, > <http://email.secureserver.net/pcompose.php#Compose>amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > > > >At 04:29 AM 12/20/2007, Bruce Robertson wrote: > > > > >In this spirit, might I ask this list to imagine what needs to be done to > > >make the emcomm/geo package a reality? The following is my rather long > > >analysis of the situation. > > > > > >I believe the proponents of the Intelsat agreement have done us a great > > >service by identifying a real and persisting need which AMSAT can uniquely > > >fulfill. By doing so, they not only greatly increase our chances > of funding > > >otherwise prohibitively expensive launches, they give our branch of the > > >hobby a greater reason to do what we do. > > > > > >However, I also think the EMCOMM branch of our hobby has different needs > > >than the usual satellite station operator. If we are to really > and honestly > > >make the world a safer place and save lives, I think we will need to > > >provide a GEO EMCOMM package that will require us as a organization to > > >branch into some new and exciting efforts. Let me explain what I mean. > > > > > >Traditionally, a satellite station has been developed through one person's > > >expertise gradually growing regarding a number of interrelated > aspects: low > > >signal VHF and UHF operation; the mechanics of an az-el antenna array; > > >computer control; and doppler correction. Certain satellites or operating > > >habits allow one to omit one or more of these, but in general > it's, even by > > >ham standards, a challenging array of new skills and > understanding. I'd say > > >the members of AMSAT are self-selected as those who enjoy this challenge > > >and seek to learn as many aspects of the field as possible. > > > > > >However, for an EMCOMM system to be effective, it cannot rely on a broad > > >array of such specialized knowledge: it is unreasonable to expect that the > > >first ham on the scene of a disaster will be one of the AMSAT 'us', a > > >person who has acquired this specialized knowledge. It is only reasonable > > >to assume that it will be an amateur radio operator, familiar with the > > >general principles of radio theory and operation. In fact, in my > region the > > >EMCOMM specialists and the technical specialists (if I might put it that > > >way) are often not the same people. > > > > > >So our challenge is more extensive than the challenge that faced > AMSAT with > > >any previous launch: we need to make communication through this bird > > >possible for any ham shmoe who is opening up a box of equipment after, say > > >an afternoon of instruction half a year ago. Please note, this is not a > > >matter of dumbing-down the bird or making it uninteresting. In fact, for > > >the old-hands and the technically adept around here this will be very > > >interesting and a great outlet for our skills. In this application, if not > > >on all birds, we should take it as a sign of success when people > > >effortlessly get connected, because it would mean that, in a > true emergency > > >there would be a greater likelihood of useful service. > > > > > >If this analysis is accurate, we need to imagine, broadly, three > things: a) > > >the services (or modes) this ham will offer to support EMCOMM; b) the box > > >of stuff that this ham opens up; c) the afternoon's training she undertook > > >to know how to use it. These are interrelated, of course. The training is > > >apropos the box of stuff, and the box of stuff allows the services. They > > >should also, I think, be *standardized* to an extent that has not been the > > >case before with satellite work. Recently I heard the argument on Amateur > > >Radio Newsline that ham EMCOMM services should be more interchangeable > > >across the continent; the same will surely be the case regarding > this work. > > >Ideally the 'stuff' and the training is the same everywhere so that the > > >shmoe has a chance of recollecting her training and is required to factor > > >out/in as few local variables as possible. > > > > > >The advantage we have is that it isn't unreasonable to expect the box of > > >stuff to be perhaps more pricey than individual hams would like > such things > > >to be. > > > > > >A large part of a) and b) will be determined by the ACP team, whose goal > > >even with Eagle was to provide ground-station hardware alongside > the bird's > > >hardware. (The wisdom of this new approach should be applauded; > I'm sure it > > >has made re-purposing Eagle hardware for P4/EMCOMM much easier > to imagine.) > > >As I've argued before, I think one of the most important mode we can offer > > >is simple Internet connectivity, allowing the emergency services folks to > > >use the communication tools like email with which they are most > familiar. I > > >hope this will be part of the mix. As for the second half of b) and c), I > > >think it will focus around designing and teaching the use of software. > > >Perhaps the box of stuff will include a laptop that operates well with a > > >specialized linux distribution-on-a-disk, including all the software tools > > >needed to assess link quality, perform simple communication, etc. If I'm > > >right, this is fortunate because we seem to have quite a number of adept > > >software developers in our midst. > > > > > >Finally, the course. Can we provide standard lesson-plans, ppt slides and > > >the like? I think this would significantly lower the bar on each of us > > >teaching a session on P4 to our local club or EMCOMM group. > > > > > >I think we should spread the load on these tasks as early as possible, > > >making many of us participants in the final goal of increasing the safety > > >of our communities and nations. I'm excited to hear what others > think about > > >the broader implications of the P4 initiative and how we can > deliver on the > > >whole GEO package. > > > > > >73, Bruce > > >VE9QRP > > > >Bruce, > > > >This is an excellent topic to bring to the -bb. > > > >Off course until the design of P4 has progressed, this is mostly > speculation. > > > >The EMCOMM radio package will most certainly drive the satellite > >requirements, as well. > > > >The ground package needs to be: > >1- compact (portable) > >2- standardized (so diverse groups can assemble a package) > >3- well documented (both for assembly and use) > >4- versatile to power (anywhere in the world) > >5- robust (to endure rough handling; harsh environments) > >6- easy to interface (with computing hdwr; telco; other ham equipment) > >7- simple to assemble and aim > >8- affordable > >9- kit or ready to use (within reason considering the technology) > > > >This should probably be close to the same package that the apartment > >user will have. This would expand the volume of units made. design > >be made available to commercial sector to provide units (fitting the spec). > > > >Hope this gives a starting point. > > > > > >73, > >Ed - KL7UW > >====================================== > >BP40IQ 50-MHz - 10-GHz > <<http://www.kl7uw.com>http://www.kl7uw.com>www.kl7uw.com > >144-EME: FT-847, mgf-1801, 4x-xpol-20, 185w > >DUBUS Magazine USA Rep > ><<http://email.secureserver.net/pcompose.php#Compose>http://email.s > ecureserver.net/pcompose.php#Compose><http://email.secureserver.net/pcompose.php#Compose>dubususa(a)hotmail.com > >====================================== > > > >_______________________________________________ > >Sent via > ><<http://email.secureserver.net/pcompose.php#Compose>http://email.s > ecureserver.net/pcompose.php#Compose><http://email.secureserver.net/pcompose.php#Compose>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>http://amsat.org/mailm > an/listinfo/amsat-bb>http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > >73, >Ed - KL7UW >====================================== >BP40IQ 50-MHz - 10-GHz <http://www.kl7uw.com>www.kl7uw.com >144-EME: FT-847, mgf-1801, 4x-xpol-20, 185w >DUBUS Magazine USA Rep ><http://email.secureserver.net/pcompose.php#Compose>dubususa(a)hotmail.com >====================================== 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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wheres ANDE?
by Mr Jeffrey L Ross 21 Dec '07

21 Dec '07

FOLKS, My Satscape and Heavens above tracks are losing ANDE. Anyone have a good track on him? Last I seen he was at 119 miles altitude. wonder when, today maybe? What are you using? thank you in advance, you may reply off bb if you like. p.s. Does anyone know if Jtrack has ANDE? p.s.s. To supply me with the Pass times over the east coast (great lakes) would be neat. KC8GKF

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Re: The Whole GEO Package
by Edward Cole 21 Dec '07

21 Dec '07

Les, Then how do the "civilians" set up those nice mw satellite terminal phones? I have seen some that the case cover is the antenna and it comes with a compass. The cover is rotated to settings from a chart. Flip a switch and pick up the handset. The digital stuff of P4 will "inside" (sort of like Intel is inside my computer). With good packaging and instructions I think it can be made simple enough. I am kind of hoping that the main-stream P4 will be more generic satellite that requires some skill in operation, but for the EMCOMM unit KISS. Ed - KL7UW At 04:32 PM 12/20/2007, sco(a)sco-inc.com wrote: >To believe that a traditional ham who operates HF or even on 2m >repeaters is going to be able to setup and operate the P4 satellites >is a fool's game. Hanging a wire in a tree is a lot different than >pointing microwave antennas at a set spot in orbit. Then the sat is >basically running "split" something that i doubt many hams know how >to do with their radio. Then if we are talking about operating in a >digital mode that is another new set up learning skills for the ham >op to learn. You can not send an untrained ham to a site and expect >them to setup and operate P4 in a microwave digital computer mode. >it just will not happen. A lot of people can not even read a compass >so they won't be able to even aim the antenna(s). And then what >about the proper elevation? How is the ham to do that without >tracking rotors? yes it can be done by hand but there must be a way >to measure the angle of elevation and azimuth from the antenna to >the satellite. Looks like we will need to develop a lot of training >to make EMCOM work with any operators other than old Amsat hands. >Maybe we could have an award/training program? After a ham works 50 >contacts via P4 they might be considered qualified to help teach >other non sat hams how to do it. > >Les W4SCO > >-------- Original Message -------- >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: The Whole GEO Package >From: Edward Cole <kl7uw(a)acsalaska.net> >Date: Thu, December 20, 2007 10:30 am >To: brobertson(a)mta.ca, amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > >At 04:29 AM 12/20/2007, Bruce Robertson wrote: > > >In this spirit, might I ask this list to imagine what needs to be done to > >make the emcomm/geo package a reality? The following is my rather long > >analysis of the situation. > > > >I believe the proponents of the Intelsat agreement have done us a great > >service by identifying a real and persisting need which AMSAT can uniquely > >fulfill. By doing so, they not only greatly increase our chances of funding > >otherwise prohibitively expensive launches, they give our branch of the > >hobby a greater reason to do what we do. > > > >However, I also think the EMCOMM branch of our hobby has different needs > >than the usual satellite station operator. If we are to really and honestly > >make the world a safer place and save lives, I think we will need to > >provide a GEO EMCOMM package that will require us as a organization to > >branch into some new and exciting efforts. Let me explain what I mean. > > > >Traditionally, a satellite station has been developed through one person's > >expertise gradually growing regarding a number of interrelated aspects: low > >signal VHF and UHF operation; the mechanics of an az-el antenna array; > >computer control; and doppler correction. Certain satellites or operating > >habits allow one to omit one or more of these, but in general it's, even by > >ham standards, a challenging array of new skills and understanding. I'd say > >the members of AMSAT are self-selected as those who enjoy this challenge > >and seek to learn as many aspects of the field as possible. > > > >However, for an EMCOMM system to be effective, it cannot rely on a broad > >array of such specialized knowledge: it is unreasonable to expect that the > >first ham on the scene of a disaster will be one of the AMSAT 'us', a > >person who has acquired this specialized knowledge. It is only reasonable > >to assume that it will be an amateur radio operator, familiar with the > >general principles of radio theory and operation. In fact, in my region the > >EMCOMM specialists and the technical specialists (if I might put it that > >way) are often not the same people. > > > >So our challenge is more extensive than the challenge that faced AMSAT with > >any previous launch: we need to make communication through this bird > >possible for any ham shmoe who is opening up a box of equipment after, say > >an afternoon of instruction half a year ago. Please note, this is not a > >matter of dumbing-down the bird or making it uninteresting. In fact, for > >the old-hands and the technically adept around here this will be very > >interesting and a great outlet for our skills. In this application, if not > >on all birds, we should take it as a sign of success when people > >effortlessly get connected, because it would mean that, in a true emergency > >there would be a greater likelihood of useful service. > > > >If this analysis is accurate, we need to imagine, broadly, three things: a) > >the services (or modes) this ham will offer to support EMCOMM; b) the box > >of stuff that this ham opens up; c) the afternoon's training she undertook > >to know how to use it. These are interrelated, of course. The training is > >apropos the box of stuff, and the box of stuff allows the services. They > >should also, I think, be *standardized* to an extent that has not been the > >case before with satellite work. Recently I heard the argument on Amateur > >Radio Newsline that ham EMCOMM services should be more interchangeable > >across the continent; the same will surely be the case regarding this work. > >Ideally the 'stuff' and the training is the same everywhere so that the > >shmoe has a chance of recollecting her training and is required to factor > >out/in as few local variables as possible. > > > >The advantage we have is that it isn't unreasonable to expect the box of > >stuff to be perhaps more pricey than individual hams would like such things > >to be. > > > >A large part of a) and b) will be determined by the ACP team, whose goal > >even with Eagle was to provide ground-station hardware alongside the bird's > >hardware. (The wisdom of this new approach should be applauded; I'm sure it > >has made re-purposing Eagle hardware for P4/EMCOMM much easier to imagine.) > >As I've argued before, I think one of the most important mode we can offer > >is simple Internet connectivity, allowing the emergency services folks to > >use the communication tools like email with which they are most familiar. I > >hope this will be part of the mix. As for the second half of b) and c), I > >think it will focus around designing and teaching the use of software. > >Perhaps the box of stuff will include a laptop that operates well with a > >specialized linux distribution-on-a-disk, including all the software tools > >needed to assess link quality, perform simple communication, etc. If I'm > >right, this is fortunate because we seem to have quite a number of adept > >software developers in our midst. > > > >Finally, the course. Can we provide standard lesson-plans, ppt slides and > >the like? I think this would significantly lower the bar on each of us > >teaching a session on P4 to our local club or EMCOMM group. > > > >I think we should spread the load on these tasks as early as possible, > >making many of us participants in the final goal of increasing the safety > >of our communities and nations. I'm excited to hear what others think about > >the broader implications of the P4 initiative and how we can deliver on the > >whole GEO package. > > > >73, Bruce > >VE9QRP > >Bruce, > >This is an excellent topic to bring to the -bb. > >Off course until the design of P4 has progressed, this is mostly speculation. > >The EMCOMM radio package will most certainly drive the satellite >requirements, as well. > >The ground package needs to be: >1- compact (portable) >2- standardized (so diverse groups can assemble a package) >3- well documented (both for assembly and use) >4- versatile to power (anywhere in the world) >5- robust (to endure rough handling; harsh environments) >6- easy to interface (with computing hdwr; telco; other ham equipment) >7- simple to assemble and aim >8- affordable >9- kit or ready to use (within reason considering the technology) > >This should probably be close to the same package that the apartment >user will have. This would expand the volume of units made. design >be made available to commercial sector to provide units (fitting the spec). > >Hope this gives a starting point. > > >73, >Ed - KL7UW >====================================== >BP40IQ 50-MHz - 10-GHz <http://www.kl7uw.com>www.kl7uw.com >144-EME: FT-847, mgf-1801, 4x-xpol-20, 185w >DUBUS Magazine USA Rep ><http://email.secureserver.net/pcompose.php#Compose>dubususa(a)hotmail.com >====================================== > >_______________________________________________ >Sent via ><http://email.secureserver.net/pcompose.php#Compose>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>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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ANDE ramping down: now almost at 200km
by Henk, PA3GUO 21 Dec '07

21 Dec '07

ANDE is now at ~202 km height. On my website I updated the plotted height, and its perfectly following the shape of the predictions. Yet, a few dates behind. http://home.vianetworks.nl/users/hamoen/pa3guo/ande_predict_pa3guo_18dec200… >From the graph I expect Dec 24 or so as the last day (based on the fact that RAFT last day was when it had reached 175 km). Also today QSOs have been made. I see DD6UBW and OK1DNT for example. Henk, PA3GUO http://www.qsl.net/pa3guo (my satellite weblog) http://www.ande-deorbit.com (the AWARD site, have a look for the details) http://web.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/ande-ops.html (Bob's official website)

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Signal vs. Noise
by Steven Bienvenu 21 Dec '07

21 Dec '07

'Lot of noise on this frequency. I wrote a check for $100 worth of Signal tonight and will launch it tomorrow to AMSAT, along with my renewal. It felt very good. My thanks and best of luck to the guys who have and continue to do so much work of all kinds for us. Merry Christmas to all, and a great, exciting New Year. Steve W5ZA/m ...largely

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ANDE is one year in space tomorrow !
by Henk, PA3GUO 20 Dec '07

20 Dec '07

December 21 2006, ANDE was launched in space from Space Shuttle Discovery. So tomorrow ANDE is one year in space ! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDE !!! Henk, PA3GUO http://www.qsl.net/pa3guo (you can say 'happy birthday' to ANDE, just go to 145.825 and set your TNC: U APRS VIA ARISS)

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Vanguard 1 Reception?
by Robert Bruninga 20 Dec '07

20 Dec '07

Anyone with an EME dish that can mount a 108 MHz feed? Rumor has it that Vanguard 1 should still be emitting a tiny singal on 108.00 MHz since it was directly powered by solar cells. It has gotten weaker and weaker over the last 50 years using the 1957 solar cell technology, but what the heck. It would be a nice challenge for someone with a really big dish.. Just thought I'd post, since I had not heard of this frequency and the fact that it is radiating.. You just have to have good ears. And with some of the really good sound-card DSP stuff these days, maybe it would show up on a waterfall. The exact frequency depends on temperature... But it was at 108.00 MHz last time it was heard. My dish is kaput right now, so I'm out... Bob, WB4APR > -----Original Message----- > From: GilMoore12(a)aol.com [mailto:GilMoore12@aol.com] > Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 8:18 PM > To: bruninga(a)usna.edu > Subject: Re: Vanguard 1 information on heavens-above.com > > Bob, > > O.K., but they'll need lots and lots of gain. Apparently, > the signal level is really, really low. > > I'll also ask Joe Rothenberg at United Space Network if he'll > give it a try. He has some really big dishes. > > Gil > > > > ________________________________ > > See AOL's top rated recipes > <http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000300000000 > 04> and easy ways to stay in shape > <http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aoltop000300 > 00000003> for winter. >

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