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

Re: driveway WAS AO-51
by John W Lee 14 Dec '07

14 Dec '07

Hi Bob, Well, a preamp sure helps a lot no matter what antenna you have. I always use a preamp when operating portable with the Arrow. That way you can hear the distant passes, as well as being able to hear the bird from horizon to horizon with a decent signal. Couple of examples: 46 states, 164 grids operating portable from Alabama in about 3 weeks. 28 states, 60 grids operating portable from New Mexico in 1 week. 27 states, 60 grids operating portable from Maryland in 1 week. With an HT, Arrow, ARR preamp. The way things are going, you'll probably get WAS on FM long before we get another HEO. It's been a LONG wait. 73, John, K6YK On Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:23:26 -0800 Mark VandeWettering <mvandewettering(a)gmail.com> writes: > w7lrd(a)comcast.net wrote: > > Hello > > I have set a new goal to accomplish. I recently received an Arrow > antenna. So armed with my IC-W32A I'm going to work WAS from my > driveway. Is a preamp needed for my configuration? Should you hear > me give me a call. I'm running out of things to do while waiting > for the next HEO. > > 73 Bob W7LRD > > Seattle

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Satellite user "communities"
by Bob Stewart 14 Dec '07

14 Dec '07

With the "range war" that's going on right now, it seems like there are at least two communities of satellites users: one that wants simple, easy to use transponders and doesn't mind the windows of availability (and perhaps enjoys it for the added simple technical challenge), and another that wants an HF band type of experience with perfect propagation. There may be other subsets that I haven't noticed, yet, but these seem to be the two main groups. Both have their merits. Bob - AE6RV

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Re: Bob's Message
by Joe Krepps 14 Dec '07

14 Dec '07

> Dave Guimont wrote: > > >>>The reason for Echo (a two-user FM voice) escapes me also, Greg. >>> >>>To me, money down the tubes... >>> >>> > > I'll agree with that one also, a whole bird with one "Channel" seems > like a HUGE waste. Cool? Yeah,, but single user uh,, nah. I respectfully disagree. I'm very happy to get involved with birds for the second time, thanks to Echo. There was a time when I had an IC-820H, Yaesu dual axis rotors, HyGain(?) CPs for 2m & 70cm. It was all just a bit much. This was (probably) before MacDoppler so I was struggling with tracking and predictions. It sure was cool looking but I never got my use out of it. Sold the stuff for a song. Not a good song either! Getting my feet wet...again...with an Arrow and my FT-817ND and/or FT-470 is perfect for my current situation! I wouldn't be on this list if it were not for the FM birds. If no one else will stand up for them, I will! Not arguing the value of HEOs but my sincere thanks to those who made the LEOs possible! If it gets more people involved, why not? If it keeps them around for HEOs, isn't that good? "Real soon now" I'd love to take a stab at AO-7 with my setup + extra bits (preamp, maybe a bigger antenna.), correct modes of course. Will I get many complaints if I only shoot 5w, CW/SSB, at AO-7 from my LEO rig???? I'm really a 20m guy. (Well, what else can you do with 5w when you're mobile?) 73s, Joe WB3CFN

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Project Oscar Anniversary
by Dave Guimont 13 Dec '07

13 Dec '07

Come on gang, where is everybody? I was alone on VO52 this am, an signals were very strong, but talking to myself about GB0O1..... I made 4 contacts on AO51 yesterday...the anniversary date... I was fortunate that I made contact on VO52 with Rick, WA4NVM on VO52....Now I have an AO7 contact to make to complete the circuit... Perhaps I am more emotionally involved...I personally knew three of the designers and builders of Oscar 1, thru low band contacts with them....I was on active duty in a Squadron on an aircraft carrier so I had no chance to actively participate, other than to encourage those three individuals...The three of them are now cq'ing from above.... My first chance to set up a station was Oscar 7, and subsequently got to meet all three in person...Harley Gabrielson lived here in San Diego, and saw him often throughout the years.... It is certainly a highlite in AMATEUR SATELLITE RADIO, it was Project Oscar at the time, became AMSAT, and now it seems AMSAT-NA cares not to acknowledge the facts, Kudos to Rob G8ATE, in Jolly Old, for initiating... GB0O1 GB ZERO OSCAR ONE the callsign for five days to commemorate the launch of O1 and celebrate PROJECT OSCAR... Come on guys, get in the act!! Don't forget the Genesis of all AMSATS, and a means, in my mind, to promote peace in a small but meaningful way.... 73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1(a)san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

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One camp versus another
by John Marranca, Jr 13 Dec '07

13 Dec '07

Hey all. Wow...there is quite a bit of division, for sure. However, it shouldn't be that way. Be it FM Easy Sats, or the CW/SSB Linear sats, or the digital Packet sats, we are still united in the love for satellite operation. Period. Some like the FM birds. Some don't. Each is entitled to their opinions. I for one, see FM satellites as a stepping stone to working the Linears..almost how the Novice Ham license was intended. As far as AMSAT leadership goes...if the members as a whole don't approve of what's going on, or the direction of the organization, then it is up to said members to remove what they don't like. That's how a healthy democracy works. Anyway...the debate in an open forum is also a good thing, as each opinion is voiced, problems are posed, and solutions are offered. 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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driveway WAS AO-51
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 13 Dec '07

13 Dec '07

Hello I have set a new goal to accomplish. I recently received an Arrow antenna. So armed with my IC-W32A I'm going to work WAS from my driveway. Is a preamp needed for my configuration? Should you hear me give me a call. I'm running out of things to do while waiting for the next HEO. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle

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Re: Phase 4 versus Eagle
by Fred A Parker 13 Dec '07

13 Dec '07

Fred A Parker wrote: > Just a suggestion, Has Amsat explored the idea of hiring a professional to help in some of the day to management and fund raising? When Amsat has a potential consumer base of 700,000 hams. If things were done right money should be no problem. Amsat needs to do a better job of selling itself. Then money should be no problem. > Fred Not only have we considered it Fred but you continue to demonstrate your ignorance and hostility by not knowing that we have done exactly that. You do not know that all sorts of efforts have been made at raising funds. We are told at every step what basic axioms there are in fund raising. You have to have something to sell to the interested party. No one is interesting in funding a private repeater for 20 guys to talk to each other about their brand new scars and brand new meds and we would be FOOLS to kowtow to people who will be dead or uninterested before we get into orbit. We have a professional fund raiser hired and contracted. We have a professional manager who is doing a DAMN GOOD job, better than when I was a director 15 years ago. It really is time for you to basically shut up and go do some investigation before you make a further complete fool of yourself. Barry asked me if I was shooting the messenger on an unpleasant message. I have made a very successful career out of promoting and working with unpleasant messengers. I have never promoted a single one who fired all cannons in a public forum with wrong facts, open hostility, and just plain dumb ignorance. Really Fred, you are well over the line. This is personal, ad hominem, and of no utility to the organization you ostensibly support. 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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FM LEO satellites
by Wayne Estes 13 Dec '07

13 Dec '07

Joe WB9SBD wrote: a whole bird with one "Channel" seems like a HUGE waste. Cool? Yeah,, but single user uh,, nah. Wayne W9AE replies: AO-51 runs TWO transmitters most of the time. I'm NOT a big supporter of LEO FM satellites, and I definitely wasn't happy about the "bait and switch" after the first Eagle fund-raising campaign. But in retrospect, AO-51 was VERY timely because it was launched shortly after the demise of UO-14. UO-14 was probably the most popular hamsat ever, measured by the number of ground stations who made contacts. Also, the AO-51 digital payload came online when we were down to (I think) only one, and sometimes NO working digital satellites. In addition, AO-51's experimental modes help fill a vacuum while we wait for the next HEO/microwave satellite. We ground station operators get to dabble with bands V/S and L/S, and modes SSB/FM, and PSK/FM. In general, I believe that the large AMSAT organizations (NA and DL) should concentrate on HEO satellites and let the universities and smaller AMSAT groups build LEO satellites. Satellites like VO-52 from AMSAT-India, and KiwiSAT from AMSAT-ZL. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik AMSAT Area Coordinator, President's Club Member

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IC-910H C-IV control port pinout?
by Rick Mann 13 Dec '07

13 Dec '07

Does anyone have pinouts for the Icom IC-910H's C-IV port? I'm hoping to fashion a USB-to-serial adaptor for it, rather than buying Icom's expensive little box. I'm concerned, though, because it looks like it uses a mono plug, so I don't know exactly how it communicates. TIA, Rick

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Putting Thr Cart Befor The Horse
by Fred A Parker 13 Dec '07

13 Dec '07

After receiving a mailing today from Amsat written by Richard Hambly. I find it imposable to keep quite any longer. Has anyone heard of the saying, putting the cart before the horse. Amsat needs to finish at least one of there present projects before moving on to what in the end may well turn out to be a bunch of pipe dreams. I am speaking of the Mars mission and Geostationary packages. One year ago I was told that Cubesat II would be launched in the fall of 2007. As far as I know very little is done yet. Especially in the electronics end. Don't get me wrong all these ideas are great but lets get back to the basics and finish what we have started befor taking on anything new or nothing will get done. Fred KF0AK

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