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

XPLANET and XEARTH
by Andrew Rich 30 Dec '07

30 Dec '07

It has been a while. How do I get Predict and earthtrack to work ? I have predict running as a server. I see xearth and xplanet as background image options, and I can bring up either. I thought running earthtrack2 -c ISS -u 15 -h localhost , bought up a new window ? Ideas ? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Andrew Rich VK4TEC vk4tec(a)people.net.au http://www.tech-software.net

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broadcast FM
by Scott Smith 30 Dec '07

30 Dec '07

Hi, ,i received a FM broadcast kit for Christmas, the power output is "100mW". If i installed an external antenna (for range, a couple of blocks) would i be infringing on any regulations?. Any help appreciated. 73 de ve6itv Scott

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one laptop per child
by Mr Jeffrey L Ross 30 Dec '07

30 Dec '07

got mine also, happy here. lot to learn about it though, security , home networking, then pass it down to the child. hi. kc8gkf

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Novel driven element design by VK3ZUQ (silent key)
by Kevin Forbes 30 Dec '07

30 Dec '07

Hi folks, Bruce Pritchard has been a silent key for a few years now, but he was a thinking man, and I thought I might share with you on this list, something he made me send out on packet years ago. Bruce designed a very interesting UHF driven element for yagi use. Bruce's callsign was VK3ZUQ. He was also at one time the Champion fly fisherman in the ACT. Bruce served in the armed forces in New Guinea during WW2, narrowly avoiding obliteration, while driving a fully loaded fuel truck that was straffed by a Japanese Zero. After the war he spent time in the Antarctic research teams, spending time on Heard Island. Bruce was for a time the weather man at Maralinga in South Australia, during several atomic bomb tests. The theory and math bits to enable you to build this design for any frequency are included. http://www.qsl.net/vk3ukf/VK3ZUQ_ANTENNA.JPG Thanks for reading, all the best for the New Year. VK3UKF. _________________________________________________________________ It's simple! Sell your car for just $30 at CarPoint.com.au http://a.ninemsn.com.au/b.aspx?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fsecure%2Dau%2Eimrworldwide%…

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How to calibrate the azimuth angle?
by Chiu-Teng Tsai 30 Dec '07

30 Dec '07

Dear all, I am Chiu-Teng Tsai (BM6ERA) from Taiwan. Now we are building a mobile ground station. One of our problem is how to calibrate the azimuth angle. Use compass only, or any better solution? Thanks for your help! Best regards, Chiu-Teng Tsai

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now, 1.5 Lptops Per Child
by Bob Bruninga 30 Dec '07

30 Dec '07

> got our two OLPC's today on the door step. > Son already found some source code and a game > and a complier or interpreter built-in. > I have not looked yet to see what code it was... Also found it has an audio Oscilloscope built in. with both AC and DC settings. Oh, and a Camera as well as a ranging device. Apparently you can range from one OLPC to another to measure distance. I assume it is accoustic... > Ordered another one (for me), since the deal > runs through tomorrow. The 2 kids will take > our first two off to school, so I just > realized I needed another one for me.... > The 18/20 year old kids seemed to like them > (I was hoping they would ignore them and leave > them for me to play with)... > > Can't wait to see what the ham radio creative > minds come up with for these things. Bob, Wb4APR

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Re: RF Modules /Delfi
by Wouter Jan Ubbels 30 Dec '07

30 Dec '07

Hi John, David, did not know we had that "one year" quote on our website... will ask the website guy to change that:) Our planned orbit has 630km altitude, and as David points out, the satellite might last there for decades! And hopefully it will still work then, although we have designed the satellite to last for one year only (that's where the one year quote on the website comes from I guess), any time longer would be a bonus! Right now, the team is gearing up towards the launch, keep an eye on the website for updates. 73 Wouter Jan Ubbels PE4WJ

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Predict question
by Andrew Rich 30 Dec '07

30 Dec '07

I ran a script #!/bin/sh wget -qr www.celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/amateur.txt -O amateur.txt wget -qr www.celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/visual.txt -O visual.txt wget -qr www.celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/cubesat.txt -O cubesat.txt /usr/bin/predict -u amateur.txt visual.txt cubesat.txt But it was only when I stopped the server I had running, and restarted it that the keps were used. I had a 5 degree difference between NOVA and predict. When I restarted predict, then predict matched NOVA. Is there a way to hit predict on the fly , or does a server re-start have to be carried out ? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Andrew Rich VK4TEC

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Re: Rf Modules
by John Marranca, Jr 30 Dec '07

30 Dec '07

>From Delfi's website: How long will the Delfi-C3 be in orbit? The drawback of the altitude at which the satellite will fly is the decay of the orbit. Due to atmospheric drag the satellite will lose energy, and thus altitude, quite rapidly. For the Delfi-C3 a lifetime of about one year is expected. Cheers. 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: RF Modules /Delfi
by G0MRF＠aol.com 30 Dec '07

30 Dec '07

Hi John. Delfi 3C will be as tempoary as anything at 700km. I think the orbit decay is several decades. The problem as always will be radiation and power supply. Hopefully not carring batteries will mean a long, but daylight only, life for the delfi spacecraft. Best Wishes David G0MRF In a message dated 30/12/2007 00:48:29 GMT Standard Time, KB2HSH(a)amsat.org writes: Think ANDE-1...or the upcoming Delfi-3 which is another temporary satellite. Anyway...what if partnerships with any of the Military Academies...or Universities with programs similar to this (such as Kentucky State's KySat Project) could be worked out? AMSAT ideas or concepts and build team partnerships with students, etc...but with a chance for greater funding available for a potential launch? Food for thought.... John KB2HSH

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