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

Pre-amps
by Andrew Rich 23 Dec '07

23 Dec '07

I got a couple of cheap and nasty BFR91 pre-amp boards from out local electronics store. I built one and the gain was equal or worse. It had two sets of components for VHF and UHF. So I took a gamble and put in the VHF parts instead. Bingo S1 to S9 improvement. Ok, so lets cascade them. Sure enough the front end of my radio on 144 MHz overloaded with other signals. It has bought up GO32 from S1 to S9 GENSAT is S4 from S nothing. Now this is just before the radio. I am now keen to throw it in a box and up at the antenna. Having fun, also building a Power Break out box with meters and switches. Cheers ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Andrew Rich VK4TEC vk4tec(a)people.net.au http://www.tech-software.net

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My vote [re: Phase 4 versus Eagle]
by John Mock KD6PAG 23 Dec '07

23 Dec '07

I knew the Phase 4 issue was going to produce LOTS of AMSAT-BB traffic and i didn't want to take the time to read it at the time. But i did want to make clear my views on the subject. So i sent a modest check to AMSAT-NA specifically for future satellites that would serve amateurs worldwide. I encourage those who feel strongly on one side or the other of this issue to vote accordingly. -- KD6PAG (Networking Old-Timer, Satellite QRPer) P.S. I also took my first ACS training recently as well.

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O/T U.S. Hams - Stop Whining about not getting your OLPC for Xmas...
by Alan 23 Dec '07

23 Dec '07

...or Santa will leave you a lump of coal. And yes to the one poster... you can cancel and get a refund http://www.laptopgiving.org/en/terms-and-conditions.php see #7 Or you can go to e-Bay and buy one (1) for a "Buy It Now" for as much as $650U.S. These babies are are as hot as the WII and Guitar Hero. <http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Home> http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Home summarizing.... .... Oh Canada... We at OLPC are very sorry about the Canadian shipment situation: we underestimated the time it would take us to fully work out the import duties and taxes and we were not clear in our communication to you. We apologize for everyone with a child who will not receive a laptop this year. You can visit the laptopgiving.org website to download a gift <http://laptopgiving.org/en/gift-cards.php> card that lets your child know that an XO laptop is on its way; it is obviously not the same as a laptop, but we hope it helps in some small way. We are working on the logistics of getting XOs to Canada: everyone should have their XO in the January/February time frame. The team at OLPC wants to thank everyone who has thus far participated in Give One Get One. Thanks to the generosity of Canadians, more than 4000 children in the least-developed countries will be receiving laptops in early 2008. --Walter <http://wiki.laptop.org/go/User:Walter> 20:39, 20 December 2007 (EST) ... The free one year t-mobile account for U.S users is equivalent to the $399 GOGI offer. You get your XO laptop for free! And those 4000 laptop donations from Canada ... we have a couple of t-mobile hot spots in Canada at some of our international airports. Basically, the t-mobile offer means nothing to us. One the bright side, Canadian's are buying the XO for less than $399US. And finally: It's an education project, not a laptop project. -Nicholas <http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Nicholas_Negroponte> Negroponte Have a great holiday everyone. 73, Alan VE4YZ EN19 AMSAT LM 2352 <blocked::http://www.mts.net/~ve4wsc/> http://www.mts.net/~ve4wsc/ AMSAT A-485

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Re: The Whole GEO Package - EMCOMM
by k0vty＠juno.com 23 Dec '07

23 Dec '07

The notion that Maybe ARRL should be the driver(s) of GEO's for emergency satellite radio flew past a moment ago. At least it would appear the issue is larger than just AMSAT-NA Joe K0VTY ================== On Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:09:41 -0500 "Roger Kolakowski" <rogerkola(a)aol.com> writes: > I actually equate the preparation and package to being a combination > of the > previous efforts of Civil Defense and MARS (not the planet.) > > During the Cold War the government funded the placement of 2 meter > Gonset > Communicators in many CD Shelters and city/town communication > facilities > around the country. Nets were held. Groups were formed. > > Currently I do know that, at least in Massachusetts, there is still > funding > available to the towns for a "Civil Defense" director in the local > governments. > > So...as part of the EMCOMM..."Civil Defense" services are again > strengthened > through a local "Communications Officer", the old lessons of traffic > passing > are updated and practiced ala "MARS" TYPE traffic nets (though not > under > Military oversight), new "standards" are set, satellite "nets" are > formed > for readiness training allowing the development of "systems" and as > usual > "emergency traffic" gets priority. > > This may preclude 100% access by the casual operator during "net" > evenings, > but assuming timezone differences and a sufficiently wide passband, > these > "CD" nets might be held one day/night per week. > > In this case, we prove and provide capability, develop a "league" > of > operators who can become EMCOMM qualified while allowing themselves > and > others to use the satellite "freetime" while developing their skills > at > disaster relief if they so choose. > > Previously these activities came under the "umbrella" of the ARRL. > That > would be one solution, however there is a real possibility that this > becomes > an opportunity for AMSAT to step up and drag EMCOMM kicking and > screaming > into this century. > > Will it require more of an organization, yes...will it require more > "members"...yes, > but the opportunities for digital to pencil traffic handling and > communications are endless. > > Roger > WA1KAT > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Edward Cole" <kl7uw(a)acsalaska.net> > To: <brobertson(a)mta.ca>; <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 10:30 AM > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: The Whole GEO Package > > > > 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 t > he > > >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 www.kl7uw.com > > 144-EME: FT-847, mgf-1801, 4x-xpol-20, 185w > > DUBUS Magazine USA Rep dubususa(a)hotmail.com > > ====================================== > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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 > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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 > >

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Re: ANDE
by wa6fwf 23 Dec '07

23 Dec '07

ANDE-1>BEACON/1: <UI>: T#006,015,180,143,001,197,00100110,000 just heard at 22:25 UTC at CM97AG 73 Kevin WA6FWF

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5400B Rotor Problem
by Bill Bruno 23 Dec '07

23 Dec '07

First, many thanks to W7PN, VE4YZ and W0SAT for their help in troubleshooting my rotor problem. Problem: Both az and el indicators moved to just past the mid position with the rotors moving full travel ( They moved all the time the rotors were moving but at a slower rate). Both indicators have the same circuitry differing only in the scale on the face plates so all voltage readings should be the same for both az and el. Mine were. On the back of the controller, terminal 1 should read a constant 6 vdc. Terminals 2 and 3 voltages will vary according to rotor position but added together should total 6 v. My terminal 1 reading was 3.2 v, approx half what it should be. Following the circuit back towards the voltage regulator, R9 and R10 also both read 3.2 v ( should be 6 v). At the voltage regulator (Q2 on the diagram, Part # ua7806c) readings should be approx 16 v on the input pin, 6v on the output pin, with the center pin ground. My readings were 16 v in, 3.2 v out, center pin ground, isolating the problem to the voltage regulator. I hope this info can be of use to others. Bill KB2RC Amsat 6986

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One Laptop Per Child
by Clint Bradford 23 Dec '07

23 Dec '07

> folks, I am pissed, they just sent me a letter saying no go on > arival of my laptop by dec 24th... Chances are that the receiving child doesn't celebrate anything particularly special on December 25, and will be grateful whenever he/ she receives your generous donation. Clint Bradford, K6LCS

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one laptop per child
by Mr Jeffrey L Ross 23 Dec '07

23 Dec '07

folks, I am pissed, they just sent me a letter saying no go on arival of my laptop by dec 24th. I orderd the fist day and got a order number of 99. wonder if i can cancel. kc8gkf

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ANDE report Dec 22, 13:35uts pass over Europe
by Henk, PA3GUO 23 Dec '07

23 Dec '07

Dec 22 / 13:35 utc pass / max 8 degrees elevation: ANDE still working good, with 100W & 2x6 element DK7ZB easy access. Below a snapshot of traffic: 133509 : PA3GUO-8]APRS,ANDE-1*,qAo,DK3WN-1::ALL :TS2000/100W, 6 element DK7ZB, 6 degrees elevation 133413 : PA3GUO-8]APRS,ANDE-1*,qAO,PA3GUO::ALL :Happy holidays ! 133410 : ANDE-1]BEACON,qAO,PA3GUO:T#001,015,181,146,001,045,00000110,000 133602 : PA3GUO-8]APRS,ANDE-1*,qAO,EA4EKH-6::F6HDW :QSL 133517 : F6HDW]CQ,ANDE-1*,qAO,EA4EKH-6:=4249.05N/00135.07E-JN02TT / f6hdw(a)wanadoo.fr {UISS51} Henk, PA3GUO http://www.qsl.net/pa3guo (my ANDE weblog)

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ande 13:20 over FN02 with telemetry
by Kevin Chudy 23 Dec '07

23 Dec '07

For a high elevation, the pass seemed short. I didn't get any packets in, but I received the following: Fm KD8ATF-2 To CQ Via ANDE-1* <UI pid=F0 Len=20 >[08:19:58] HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDE Fm ANDE-1 To BEACON <UI pid=F0 Len=39 >[08:20:01] T#005,145,147,141,151,151,10101111,000 Fm ANDE-1 To APRS3 Via SGATE <UI pid=F0 Len=57 >[08:20:05] :BLN3ANDE :Aliases are RELAY, WIDE,APRSAT,ARISS & WIDEnN Fm KB1NBU To CQ Via ANDE-1* <UI pid=F0 Len=49 >[08:20:16] Seasons greetings from the Green Mountains FN34ti Fm KB1NBU To CQ Via ANDE-1* <UI pid=F0 Len=26 >[08:20:25] :KB1GVR :Merry Christmas Kevin N2JPE --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

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