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

Re: Advice on antennas for working the LEO's
by Gary McKelvie 23 Feb '07

23 Feb '07

Hi John and others, Thanks for the picture lovely set up. If only I could get the XYL to let me stick something similar on the roof :) I do have an elevation rotator already :) IIRC a Kenpro 550 or 450. I have played about in the past with satellites, at that time I had a 11 element 2 meter RHCP and a 19 element 70 RHCP (Hence the elevation rotator). I mainly listened rather than transmitted. So really I have all the equipment except for a way to automate the antenna control, which as you say isn't too difficult to do manually and an antenna. I really don't thing the XYL will let me put up the 11 and 19 element antennas which I still have, as she thinks I have enough antennas in the air already <g> As you can see the sats aren't a passing fad with me, it's just that I will be on LEO's as a way of compromise. It has taken me a while to get back to them, but i bought the 847 recently to motivate me to actually put my words into action rather than just wishing on a star :P Several people have suggested using a vertical antenna such as a colinear. I have actually already tried this and the results are very disappointing, which I put down to my location rather than anything else as where I am is not particularly that good certainly form a VHF/UHF point of view. Other things I was wondering about was the ERP at the satellite, would it be too high causing me to be an alligator? Roughly the ERP on 2 would be about 50 watts and higher on 70 as the gain would be about 13 dBd plus whatever 5 watts equals. losses should be very small as the run of coax would be less than 30 feet, most of that being Westflex 103 and just the a very short length of RG 213 for getting the antenna hooked up and round the rotator/s. I'm not sure how to work out the path loss from my location (is there a standard figure or equation to use?) so at present I'm still very tempted to go with the Tonna, as it certainly seems to be better than the arrow antennas in that it has a higher gain figure. Please note I am not commenting on the quality of the construction of the Arrow. The other aspect I'm wondering about is cross polarization losses, the way that I plan to have it configured is with the 2 meter section horizontal and the 70 cm vertical. So would that be significant for the LEO's? 73 Gary G7USC At 23:12 21/02/2007, you wrote: >The antenna by Tonna with 13 DBi on 2 and 16 DBi on 70 is going to have a >fairly narrow beamwidth and is obviously a fairly long antenna. It will >need to be pointed with reasonable accuracy. If you are 30 degrees off you >might as well be pointed the other way. With that much gain, you should be >able to work most satellites without the preamps. The problem is aiming the >antennas. I recommend using azimuth and elevation rotors. Azimuth alone >won't do it with narrow beamwidth antennas if the satellite pass reaches a >significant elevation. Gary McKelvie G7USC Web : www.garym.org.uk Mobile : +447968501863 MSN Messenger : gm7usc(a)hotmail.com So Long and Thanks for all the Fish

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Re: DE-xpedition
by melachri＠speakeasy.net 23 Feb '07

23 Feb '07

For those interested, my trip to Delaware this Saturday is still on schedule. And since AO-51 is back online, I plan to work all three satellites per the original schedule. 73, Steve W3HF ---Forwarded Message Follows----- I am planning a short trip to Delaware (a DE-xpedition, so to speak) to operate the FM satellites, and give others a chance to work this state. The trip is tentatively planned for 24 February 2007, during the local afternoon and early evening. My location is going to be close to 39.82N-75.55W, in the northwest corner of FM29. This is where I was for a previous DE-xpedition on PSK31. Equipment will be a Yaesu VX5R with a handheld Arrow dual-yagi and an MP3 recorder. Thanks to Patrick WD9EWK, I have some predictions of satellite passes from this location, and have selected the following: AO-27 2003z-2019z AO-27 2145z-2157z (dinner break) SO-50 2318z-2329z AO-51 2333z-2346z SO-50 0057z-0110z (UTC 25 Feb) AO-51 0111z-0125z (UTC 25 Feb) This schedule is subject to change, based on weather or other logistical issues. I hope this trip will be of interest to the satellite community. I do have two requests: 1. Since I will be operating half-duplex (due to radio limitations), I would appreciate it if anyone who is able to record these passes would email the recordings to me afterwards. 2. I'd also like to gauge interest in this trip, so if you are specifically interested in working me (for either the state or the grid), please let me know via direct email. Thanks. 73, Steve Melachrinos W3HF (@arrl.net)

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Ham HT
by David Bate 23 Feb '07

23 Feb '07

I am working on my Canadian HAM ticket and I am looking at starting off with a HT. I am looking at the IC-T90, IC-T60 and the VX-7R. I was wondering if anyone can point out any issues and/or benefits of either. Thanks.. Dave...

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IT time
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

Hello I'm running Insant Track on a P4 xp computer. The time is way wacked out, IT time goes way ahead the computer time. Any fixes? 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle

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AMSAT-BB
by Joe Leikhim 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

I think the Motto is: ITS ONLY A HOBBY! Message: 5 Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2007 22:04:07 -0500 From: "Mr Jeffrey Ross" <radiooperator(a)comcast.net> Subject: [amsat-bb] AMSAT-BB To: <AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <003f01c7562e$1e118ee0$6401a8c0@hamshack> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original HI ALL, OK GREAT NOW BACK TO THE SATS I SEE GREAT, HI WHATS THE HAM MOTTO AGAIN? MAYBE THAT SHOULD BE POSTED HERE ONCE IN AWHILE. KC8GKF ------------------------------ -- Joe Leikhim K4SAT "The RFI-EMI-GUY"© "Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason? For if it prosper, none dare call it treason." "Follow The Money" ;-P

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Re: Advice on antennas for working the LEO's
by Daniel Schultz 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

Try this address: http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/rotator1.html It was missing the last "L" on the end. Dan Schultz N8FGV ------------------------------------------------------------------- > I was unable to access Bob's rotator site. Is it just me? >http://web.usna.navy.mil/~bruninga/rotator1.htm >Use the EDU version instead: >http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/rotator1.htm

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Good old time
by Luc Leblanc 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

I remember playing with some of them. I even managed to keep a couple of them Hammarlund HQ-100C and twins Heatkit DX-100. The effects of aging is unfortunatly very noticeable on all of them but i still enjoy playing with their knobs even if they are a bit scratchy. Here is a link who will make's remembered theses old good old time where the manufacturers does not bother too much with marketing ideas they use the KISS system and it was pretty effective. http://mywebpages.comcast.net/KB8GPO/shack.html "-" "It is not the class of license the amateur holds, but the class of the amateur that holds the license." Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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Re: ANDE-1 and File RAFT speak
by PA3GUO 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

Hi Tanan, ANDE: ************************************* VOICE Mode activation: Requires a command station in your footprint to activite VOICE for each pass. In Europe we have two stations doing this often, but other continents have less VOICE activity. First watch the telemetry at http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/pcsat.cgi to see if it has been enabled. It's rare outside Europe. VOICE Mode usage: Once a command station has activated VOICE on ANDE you do not need to (=must not!) connect ANDE. Just enter in Hyperterminal as CONV: :TALK :Hello (mind the 5 spaces are TALK!) and it will say "HS1JAN says Hello" RAFT: *************************************1. VOICE Mode activation: Anyone can activate VOICE in by C RAFT. RAFT will say: "Welcome to TextSpeak" After you get connected, disconnect from RAFT without RAFT seeing that (go off frequency and force your TNC to disconnect). VOICE Mode usage: Once someone has activated VOICE on RAFT you do not need to (=must not!) connect RAFT. Just enter in Hyperterminal as CONV: :TALK :Hello (mind the 5 spaces are TALK!) and it will say "HS1JAN says Hello" More examples and details are at: http://home.vianetworks.nl/users/hamoen/pa3guo/voice.html or of course at: http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/ande-raft-ops.html or see my weblog of Jan 5th at: http://home.vianetworks.nl/users/hamoen/pa3guo/ >From the above you see that a simple "C RAFT" should provide already a spoken word out of space ! Please share the results. I am still waiting for the first mp3's from outside Europe ! Success, Henk, PA3GUO ps: I personally find RAFT much easier, I use a 10 element beam, without preamplifier. >Hello PA3GUO , 9W2QC and All HAM > >Could you please advice me step by step for command >control to speak of ANDE. I will control RAFT and >ANDE speak message of my send to command talk to >satellites. > >Best Regards, > >Tanan Rangseeprom HS1JAN , XU7ADN

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Re: Advice on antennas for working the LEO's (Gary McKelvie)
by John Kopala 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

Gary, My XYL is not fond of my antennas either. But we are also redoing the kitchen with new appliances, new counter top, and having the cabinets refinished with new doors. Then there is the upcoming vacation to Greece.... Not sure if that gives any leverage, but it certainly doesn't hurt. I'll still hear plenty about how ugly the antennas are after they go up. The problem is that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. A Ham and the XYL certainly have different perceptions of beauty. I have interfaced a TAPR TrakBox kit that I "inherited" to my rotors. So I will have that part pretty well automated. There are a fairly significant number of interfaces that can be used with computer software to track satellites. Take a look at Nova for windows on the AMSAT site. There is a list of the different interfaces that it is compatible with. Makes a good research and shopping list if you plan to go that way. As far as the ERP goes, does the FT-847 allow you to smoothly control the power output? I have been experimenting using an IC-706MKII-G and a Yaesu Mobile FM radio. The Mobile radio radio has the disadvantage of only having high and low power so it is less than ideal for satellite work but it does provide duplex FM operation. You are still working on the antenna setup and an automated interface. In my case, I still need to get the radio to complete the setup. That will wait until I finish the antenna installation. I am planning on using an Icom IC-910H. I believe its power output is continuously variable. I"m also planning to use the matching preamps for weak signals. The beams with their inherent gain will enable working satellites on more passes and lower elevations. You may experience some fading with fixed polarization, but the gain of the antennas may compensate for that. Some of the satellites do require a little more power to get into, but your setup should be more than adequate. Toff; HS0NNU has some good alternatives. I'm sure you have already read his posting. A friend of mine suggested a similar approach for working without an elevation rotor. Most satellite passes don't reach particularly high elevations. Since you already have an elevation rotor, I would take advantage of that. You can track the satellite for the entire pass without having to switch antennas when the satellite elevation is high. That about covers everything that I can think of. Sounds like you'll have a really good setup when you finish. John Kopala N7JK Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2007 00:23:48 +0000 From: Gary McKelvie <garym(a)garym.org.uk> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Advice on antennas for working the LEO's To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Message-ID: <6.2.3.4.2.20070221234551.023d58c0(a)mail.btinternet.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed Hi John and others, Thanks for the picture lovely set up. If only I could get the XYL to let me stick something similar on the roof :) I do have an elevation rotator already :) IIRC a Kenpro 550 or 450. I have played about in the past with satellites, at that time I had a 11 element 2 meter RHCP and a 19 element 70 RHCP (Hence the elevation rotator). I mainly listened rather than transmitted. So really I have all the equipment except for a way to automate the antenna control, which as you say isn't too difficult to do manually and an antenna. I really don't thing the XYL will let me put up the 11 and 19 element antennas which I still have, as she thinks I have enough antennas in the air already <g> As you can see the sats aren't a passing fad with me, it's just that I will be on LEO's as a way of compromise. It has taken me a while to get back to them, but i bought the 847 recently to motivate me to actually put my words into action rather than just wishing on a star :P Several people have suggested using a vertical antenna such as a colinear. I have actually already tried this and the results are very disappointing, which I put down to my location rather than anything else as where I am is not particularly that good certainly form a VHF/UHF point of view. Other things I was wondering about was the ERP at the satellite, would it be too high causing me to be an alligator? Roughly the ERP on 2 would be about 50 watts and higher on 70 as the gain would be about 13 dBd plus whatever 5 watts equals. losses should be very small as the run of coax would be less than 30 feet, most of that being Westflex 103 and just the a very short length of RG 213 for getting the antenna hooked up and round the rotator/s. I'm not sure how to work out the path loss from my location (is there a standard figure or equation to use?) so at present I'm still very tempted to go with the Tonna, as it certainly seems to be better than the arrow antennas in that it has a higher gain figure. Please note I am not commenting on the quality of the construction of the Arrow. The other aspect I'm wondering about is cross polarization losses, the way that I plan to have it configured is with the 2 meter section horizontal and the 70 cm vertical. So would that be significant for the LEO's? 73 Gary G7USC

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Re: TS790E mod
by Marc Vermeersch 22 Feb '07

22 Feb '07

Hi Bill, http://www.symek.com/pdf/ts790.pdf may have what you are looking for. BR, -- /\/\arc, ON4AMV -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bill Ward Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2007 3:27 PM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] TS790E mod Dear All, Does anyone have any photographs/images (or a diagram) of the location of IC8 (for main RX) and IC1 (for sub RX) for 9600 baud modification of the Trio TS790. I don't have a complete set of circuit diagrams and don't want to mess it up! Thanks for your help. Regards, Bill. GM0ICF. _______________________________________________ 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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