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

Safekeep Sat Radios
by sco＠sco-inc.com 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

Has anyone thought about the idea/need/way to safeguard a few ham radio sets in an area in case of EMP? A nuclear device set off above ground will wipe out all modern electronics (ham sat radios) within a large distance from the epicenter. Even if the radios are outside the blast and radiation areas they would be useless because of the EMP (electro magnetic pulse). I would think that HS might be willing to fund a way to create some safe rooms to store some ham gear around the country. Perhaps even a large "safe box"? Ham satellite gear should be in this category. Les W4SCO

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Private Posts
by clintbrad4d＠earthlink.net 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

..you should know that anything said in a private email can be considered public domain, and *will* get repeated... Legally, you are entirely incorrect. It is a moral issue - an issue of lack of private integrity - when someone reposts a private message in public forums. Clint Bradford, K6LCS

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AO-51 SSET success
by Mineo Wakita 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

SSET (Satellite Simulated Emergency Test) UI-View32, up 1268.700 MHz, down 435.150 MHz, 9600 bps FSK Time JST JE9PEL>APRS,PACB-1* [12/16/07 07:45:13] <UI R>: =3523.05N/13936.61E- Yokohama Japan {UIV32N} JE9PEL>APRS,PACB-1* [12/16/07 07:47:25] <UI R>: :EMAIL :ei7m-wkt@asahi-net.or.jp /SatSE Test via AO-51 JH1BCL>APRS,PACB-1* [12/16/07 07:48:41] <UI R>: =3615.39N/13909.03E-KAMISATO JAPAN {UIV32N} JA5BLZ>APRS,PACB-1* [12/16/07 07:51:31] <UI>: GM to ALL http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/71216a51.jpg http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/71216a52.jpg http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/71216a53.jpg http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/71216a54.jpg --------------------------------------------- Name: Mineo Wakita / JE9PEL, JAMSAT member Mail: ei7m-wkt(a)asahi-net.or.jp URL : http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/ QTH : Yokohama Japan, GL:pm95tj Date: Dec 16, 2007 ---------------------------------------------

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Looking for G-5500 part
by Andrew Glasbrenner 16 Dec '07

16 Dec '07

Would anyone happen to have the lower half casting for a G-5500 they would sell? I can imagine Yaesu will be very expensive after getting a price on a motor a while back. 73, Drew KO4MA

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Re: Phase 4 versus Eagle
by Edward Cole 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Drew, I have direct personal experience with this when I was a TVRO installer up here in Alaska. Before the mid-1980's TV-satellites pointed their antennas at mid America around Kansas - Nebraska. Due to Alaska being not only at the far northern fringe but also western edge of the beam, signals were down around 6 to 10 dB (from memory). This meant that to receive the signal in Alaska one needed at minimum a 12 to 14 foot dish. IN Barrow (Lat=70) it took 16 to 20 foot dishes pointed a few degrees above the horizon (7-deg max due south). As time went on the satellite industry re-pointed some of the satellites to better favor Alaska and Hawaii resulting in being able to use 8 to 10 foot dishes. Today we get ku-band sat-TV with the use of a 30-inch dish (you use an 18-inch dish in the lower-48). We find that we need a 1-1.2 m dish to overcome rain/snow fading, though. OK how does this relate to P4? For far-north or far-south stations, it will require careful ham station antenna location that can see a clear low horizon elevation angle and probably more antenna gain to overcome being on the fringe of the satellite antenna "footprint". If the sub-satellite (straight down) position on the equatorial orbit is too far east or west of one's local longitude, there will be no view above the horizon for the extreme latitude stations. This will have no technical cure. So hopefully the orbit positions that can be obtained will be favorable to the maximum population. I would expect P4A and P4B will ride to mid-America and European positions. The Pacific sat probably would be the last launched if one were trying to reach the maximum ham population centers (only logical). So you can see why Alaskan satellite operators are hoping for the launch of P3E and Eagle. Otherwise we may be in for a long wait till P4C! PS: I'm taking the liberty of assigning the designations P4A, P4B, P4C (not AMSAT terminology). Following the saga with interest - and hope! 73, Ed - KL7UW At 08:50 AM 12/14/2007, Andrew Glasbrenner wrote: >I noticed the new release of SATPC32 12.7 includes Intelsat >spacecraft in one of the keplerian/satellite options. You can scroll >through them and get an idea of the possibilities and range of >footprints. Real life performance will be, as Bob suggests, >dependent on our antenna pattern. Other services are usuable from >the poles, such as Inmarsat, given enough gain and a clear horizon. >MTI uses this as a selling point for their phone with the 4 ft >dishes we S-band types are so fond of. So we might work fairly well >out to the edge, again, dependent on the antenna. > >73, Drew KO4MA > > >From: Robert McGwier <rwmcgwier(a)gmail.com> > > > >We do not know the answer yet. Our request is for multiple payloads, > >covering with subsat over Atlantic, Pacific, and Central U.S. We would > >need one over the Indian Ocean to cover the 2 pi radians of the equator > >with antenna pattern. The north and south pole would be left out so I > >am sure the emperor penguins and polar bears would be upset! > > > >Bob > > > >Simon Brown wrote: > >> Where would this GEO be positioned? Even rough information would be > >> interesting. > >> > >> Simon Brown, HB9DRV > > > >_______________________________________________ >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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Phase 4 versus Eagle discussion seen from Copenhagen, Europe
by OZ1MY 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Hi all, I do not want to go into this discussion from a political point of view - just technical. >From my point of view looking at it from Copenhagen, the most interesting thing is where the GEO is placed. A fast look at NOVA manipulating existing GEO satellite keps makes it clear that a position at around 90 degrees West will put NA and SA into the footprint (including Hawaii and Alaska). This position will place me outside the footprint - and most of Europe as well. If shifted to 60 degrees West I can just make it :-) That is with an elevation of 2.4 degrees and a range around 41400 km. If I can make it will amongst other factors depend upon the radiation pattern of the antennas on the satellite. Regarding frequencies I agree with Ed, KL7UW. Lots of us have the equipment and antennas to work L/S. Also any station able to work L2/S2 on AO-40 should be able to make it. The comments above assumes SSB - but if we add the possibilities to use digital forms of (voice) modulation, we can add the advantage of Forward Error Correction. A non technical comment: Go for both. 73 OZ1MY Ib

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Recording both transmit & receive on IC-910H?
by Rick Mann 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Hi. I'm getting ready for an important contact. I'm new to all this, and only owned my 910H for a couple weeks. I want to connect the audio to my computer to digitize it, but I want to get both my transmissions and the received audio out, when transmitting on one frequency and receiving on another. Can the radio do this? How would I safely connect it? TIA, Rick

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To explain a photo
by Bato, Andras 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Hi Jeff, Certainly Luke Skywalker was switching to cosmic speed. :) gl de ha6nn Andras

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Re: EXTREMELY LONG
by Joe Krepps 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Thank you, Bob, for your lengthy message! I've been in a similar situation, with another hobby of mine, where giving folks "both barrels" meant 16" shells from a battleship, not a shotgun! It's a tough message to write. I appreciate the time it took you to compose it. I've been sitting on the fence about whether to join AMSAT or not. I have yet to have a QSO via any satellite. I was waiting to have a QSO to decide if it was worth it or not. (I _do_ love 20m! It's a whole lot easier to get a QSO on 20m Vs. a satellite.) Your transparency/openness and integrity have swayed me. So much truth was in your message about the future of Ham Radio! The relentless bickering on this list had me ready to unsubscribe for the 2nd time. I hope it's over! I'll be joining ASAP. Three cheers for Echo and P3! (I see the value of a geostationary satellite for emergencies but it seems too much like just another 2m repeater otherwise....but that's purely my own opinion!) Tnx & 73, Joe WB3CFN <-future AMSAT member :)

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Clearance for Arrow II antenna when mounted?
by Rick Mann 15 Dec '07

15 Dec '07

Hi. I have an Arrow II Yagi crossed 7x7 (440 MHz) and dual-band 3x7 (144 MHz & 440 MHz). The manufacturer rates them at 10 W max while hand-held, but if I mount them, they're rated at 150 W max? I have an IC-910H, max 100W on 144 MHz and 75W on 440 MHz. There are two scenarios: 1) On a tripod that someone will stand next to, and manually orient. 2) On a tracking telescope mount I have. My other concern here is that EMI will interfere with the telescope's on-board computer. In each case, how far should I keep away from the antenna? Sadly, they don't publish radiation patterns. If it's manually oriented, I suppose I can have a friend run out to it when not transmitting, re-point the beam a bit, then run away before I transmit. Any suggestions? TIA, -- Rick

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