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

Fw: Dayton
by MARTHA SARAGOVITZ 12 Mar '07

12 Mar '07

----- Original Message ----- From: "MARTHA SARAGOVITZ" <amsat(a)verizon.net> Subject: Dayton OK - I have 30 non-smoking rooms- 10 singles, 20 doubles for Dayton. We are staying at the Fairborn Hampton Inn. To hold a room, you need to call me (301-589-6062) with: 1. dates of room nights 2. daytime phone number 3. charge card number Remember - If you snooze, you lose! 73- Martha

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Hy-gain DB218SAT Oscar antenna experience?
by Alan P. Biddle 12 Mar '07

12 Mar '07

Hi, I see that Hy-Gain/MFJ still at least lists the old Hy-gain Oscar antennas: http://www.hy-gain.com/products.php?catid=7 Like the old Cushcraft AOP-1, they were a bit short on gain for P3 birds, but otherwise seemed to be a relatively simple way and reasonably priced way to get coverage with switchable circularity. Certainly good enough for current LEOs and possibly the newer P3 birds. I was asked by someone just getting started about them, and wondered if anyone had practical experience? We have discussed the many alternatives, so I would rather keep to just this antenna. Alan

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Fixed Elevation LEO Orbit figure
by Robert Bruninga 12 Mar '07

12 Mar '07

To help clarify the elevation discussion, I have added a drawing of a LEO orbit passes relative to a station's antenna to the web page: http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/rotator1.html It clearly shows how most satellite times are below 30 deg, and 10 dB more gain is needed to work satellites at those near horizon angles compared to above 50 degrees where satellites are 10 dB closer and spend less than 5% of their time.\ I think the visualization helps a lot in these discussions and shows how only a simple TV rotator and small beam is needed for all LEO's.. By the way, I am not pushing the rotator interface indicated in the web page above. That web page is over 6 years old, and I only keep it on-line to encourage all other Satellite Tracking programs to add the same simple 2-bit TV rotator interface that would make LEO satellite operation so simple and innexpensive, that it would help newcommers join the satellite operations at minimal cost. There just is no need for a "typical OSCAR array" for LEO operation. We do ourselves a disservice by only having tracking programs that can only control $1000 rotators when a simple $70 one will do perfectly for LEO's. Bob, WB4APR

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(no subject)
by Patrick McGrane 12 Mar '07

12 Mar '07

I noticed some spots about satellite beams for fm birds. After 2 years of trying different anrtennas etc, I now have my ideal setup. I tried 3 different homebrew beams. I learned that for a fixed elevation on azimuth rotator, the optimum beam was 7 elements at 10 degrees elevation with a DELTA match on the driven element. I have great reception using a hamtronics preamp (lnk-450) on the shack end of a 15 foot run of 9913 coax. The reception is good to great from just a few degrees above the horizon up to the zenith or overhead. I tried 8 elements with a gamma match but was too sharp with little overhead gain. I tried a 7x7 cross yagi fixed at 20 dgrees with minimal success. The horizontally polarized 7 element delta match outperforms it vastly. I'm guessing the delta match helps with the higher angles. ( Delta match looks like a triangle at the center of the driven element.) Consult the antenna book by ARRL or search for information. Photo of antennas at: http://members.aceweb.com/n2oeq Hope this helps someone. 73, pat

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Re: 1.2ghz useful??
by Terry Carrell 12 Mar '07

12 Mar '07

Uplink on 1.2GHz [23cm band in the (Amateur) Satellite Service] (FM & Linear Modes) will be used by KiwiSAT which is planned for launch late 2008 early 2009 - finances permitting. See http://www.kiwisat.org [Note: The uplink frequency is not 1.298 Ghz as some might suggest but in the satellite segment more correctly referred to as 1.268 GHz] Terry, ZL3QL. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Stargate" <stargatesg1(a)verizon.net> To: "Amsat-Bb" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2007 3:32 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] 1.2ghz useful?? > Is 1.2ghz (uplink or downlink) planned for any of the upcoming sat's? > > Thanks, > RoD > KD0XX > > A good friend will come and bail you out of jail, > A TRUE friend will be sitting next to you saying..... > > > "DAMN THAT WAS FUN" > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.8/717 - Release Date: 10/03/2007 > 2:25 p.m. > >

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1.2ghz useful
by Stargate 12 Mar '07

12 Mar '07

Well, I guess I should have been a bit more accurate. Is 1296mhz going to be used in any future satellites or will it be 1268MHZ. The reason for asking is I have the opportunity to purchase a DEMI 1296-144 transverter. P.S. I need an answer soon please:-) Thanks, RoD KD0XX A good friend will come and bail you out of jail, A TRUE friend will be sitting next to you saying..... "DAMN THAT WAS FUN"

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Grade 10 Learner from Kimberley will speak from space
by Trevor 11 Mar '07

11 Mar '07

It case anyone hasn't heard the latest on SumbandilaSat see http://www.southgatearc.org/news/march2007/sumbandilasat.htm It's good to see that SA AMSAT are actively involving young people in the project. 73 Trevor M5AKA --------------- Daily Amateur Radio RSS News: http://www.southgatearc.org/ Email your news items to: editor at southgatearc.org News On Your Website: http://www.southgatearc.org/rss/index.htm News On Your PC: http://www.southgatearc.org/rss/newsreader.htm Upload Your News: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/your_news.htm --------------- ___________________________________________________________ To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! Security Centre. http://uk.security.yahoo.com

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Re: Puyallup Wa. fleamarket
by Wayne Estes 11 Mar '07

11 Mar '07

Bob W7LRD wrote: This is a very large flea market in Western Washington... We (AMSAT) should have some exposure at these events... I'm only one person, so next year I would like put AMSAT on the map there. I have no idea how to go about it. Any advice, volunteers, sugestions and how to do this would be appreciated. Wayne W9AE replies: I think several AMSAT area coordinators (including myself) would be willing to give you some advice. It's not particularly difficult to run an AMSAT booth at a hamfest. Sign up for a table (preferably with electricity so you can demonstrate tracking software on a laptop computer). Inform Martha 3 weeks before the hamfest, and she will send you a big box that contains AMSAT books/software/trinkets to sell, and also a big AMSAT banner to display. I will run an AMSAT booth at the SEAPAC hamfest in Seaside, Oregon in June. You are welcome to help me out to see how it's done. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik

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Re: fixed elevation category
by KA2AEV＠aol.com 11 Mar '07

11 Mar '07

Whats the accepted elevation for fixed? Sounds like something to try instead of using my omni antennas! 73 de Mike KA2AEV <BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free from AOL at http://www.aol.com.

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WD9EWK
by Tim Tapio 11 Mar '07

11 Mar '07

Patrick, Looks like you had plenty of QSOs to demonstrate at the Scottsdale Hamfest today. Great copy! 73 de Tim, K4SHF FM04kx

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