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

DX LEO records, fixed elevation category
by Bruce Robertson 09 Mar '07

09 Mar '07

Many of us have been encouraging the newcomers to this list to avoid elevation rotors if they want to begin with a simple, less expensive station. (It is unfortunate that as recently as my 2006 edition, the ARRL Handbook states that az/el rotation is necessary. I wonder if someone should contact them and offer a rewrite.) As evidence of the effectiveness of such a station, I offer the following two QSOs (chosen merely because I was writing up the QSL cards). I also submit them as the first entries in a fixed-elevation DX bragging thread: VE9QRP (FN75tv) to IW4DVZ (JN54IM) 5600 km " " to OK2UFB (JN99as) 5847 km Both SSB via FO-29, both using a pair of FT-817s. 73, Bruce VE9QRP

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Re: Atlas-V/STP-1/Falconsat-3 launch
by GW1FKY＠aol.com 09 Mar '07

09 Mar '07

Glad to hear of the good news . Congratulations to all involved. Ken Eaton GW1FKY Amsat-UK Amsat NA

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GO-32 system comeback
by Mineo Wakita 09 Mar '07

09 Mar '07

Up: 145.890, Down: 435.225, 9600bps, FSK, KISS 4XTECH-11>PBLIST [03/09/07 11:12:23z] <UI R>:PB: Empty. 4XTECH-12>BBSTAT [03/09/07 11:12:34z] <UI R>:Open:AB1C23: 4XTECH-12>STATUS [03/09/07 11:12:35z] <UI R>:B:3510788 4XTECH-12>STATUS [03/09/07 11:12:35z] <UI R>: UTC: Fri Mar 09 11:12:34 2007 | Gurwin Techsat1B (V9.86) 4XTECH-12>STATUS [03/09/07 11:12:35z] <UI R>:---- 4XTECH-12>STATUS [03/09/07 11:12:35z] <UI R>: Gurwin Techsat1B's BBS is active (version 9.86) ,ASRI greets you. 4XTECH-12>STATUS [03/09/07 11:12:36z] <UI R> 2 Users/8 Broadcasts , Uplink freq:145.890,145.850,145.930, 1269.800, 1269.900 --------------------------------------------- Name: Mineo Wakita / JE9PEL, JAMSAT member Mail: ei7m-wkt(a)asahi-net.or.jp URL : http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/ QTH : Yokohama Japan, GL:pm95tj Date: Mar 9, 2007 ---------------------------------------------

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Atlas-V/STP-1/Falconsat-3 launch
by Andrew Glasbrenner 09 Mar '07

09 Mar '07

We had a great view of the launch tonight. The Atlas is dimmer than the Shuttle or Delta launches, but a nice crimson color. We talked about the launch on the Florida AMSAT net at 730PM, and had several guys outside for both the 88 degree pass of AO-51 at 830 and watching the launch at 1010 while discussing it on the local repeater system. Good Luck Falconsat-3. 73, Drew KO4MA

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Re: Falconsat3 orbit ?
by John Mock KD6PAG 09 Mar '07

09 Mar '07

I'm still looking for KEPS, myself. I did find the following: > Two Mission Orbits: > 46.0 deg - 492 km (Orbital Express & MidSTAR-1) > 35.4 deg - 560 km (STPSat-1, CFESat, FalconSat-3) -- http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av013/070305stp1.html See also: http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av013/070305ascent.html (noting that 348 miles is roughly 560 km) Presumably CelesTrak and the other usual sources should have KEPS soon. -- KD6PAG (Networking Old-Timer, Satellite QRPer) [Note: If i'm in your address book, please replace 'qsl.net' with 'amsat.org'.]

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Re: Station not coming together - the full post (sorry for repost, reply to this)
by Jonny 290 08 Mar '07

08 Mar '07

Lying in bed last night, I realized my solution to the 'noisy rotator' issue that's stopping me from putting up yagis. Ground mounted rotator! Pound a 1.25" steel pipe in the ground, bolt the rotator to that at knee level, run the mast up. Here's my thinking - 15 feet of PVC with a short yagi on top, mounted at 30 degrees elevation, give or take. At the 10 foot 'eave' level, I create some sort of crude bearing using PVC that allows the pipe to spin, but not wobble. Bolt that to the eaves and use it as the anchor point up top. The pipe could down to just above ground level, where it's connected to the rotator output. I'm in a valley so winds never get higher than 40 mph gusts, and the PVC should have plenty of 'give' to not mess up during a wind gust. I've got stuff right nowon a 12 foot PVC mast that isn't even cemented together, and it's tough. This would allow me a steerable antenna without bothering my roommate. The rotator noise should be almost inaudible when it's mounted down so low (there won't be a window in the path to easily conduct noise) and if it's still an issue, it'd only take an hour to build an MDF box with a hole in the top to cover, insulate and protect the rotator. Think it'll work? :D On 3/7/07, sco(a)sco-inc.com <sco(a)sco-inc.com> wrote: > > > if your ultimate objective is P3E then try to hear your downlink on > FO-29. If you can't then you won't be able to work P3E. > > At 03:06 AM 3/7/2007, you wrote: > >OK, let's take a bite out of this. > > > >RE, the preamp: I agree that it is likely a weak point. I wanted to check > it > >out, though, and for $22 I couldn't go wrong. It'll still prove useful at > >some point down the road. > > > >If one of the mast mount preamps are what the situation requires, I"m > ready > >to take that step. > > > >The eggbeater is actually designed with radials to 'pull' the signal > towards > >the horizon. It almost seems as though the radials may be working too > well - > >I've got moderate to great copy up to a few degrees, then it falls over > >dead. Due to my 'beater's design, it's trivial for me to replace the > loops > >and/or the radials without messing with the phasing harness or antenna > >mount, so I can try an antenna that doesn't have a by-design null at high > >elevations. I'd almost like to do this just as a lark, as it'd cost me a > >grand total of $7 to go buy another 10 foot piece of 1/4" fridge tubing. > > > >I can also experiment with putting the 435 eggbeater on a nonconductive > PVC > >mast. Also a cheap experiment, couple of bucks for 15 feet of PVC. That > >might get it up high enough with no metal above or near it, save for the > >feedline. > > > >Here's my main issue with the TV rotator, and you'll think this is silly > and > >trivial, but it's a major sticking point, and why I've been going at this > >with omni antennas so far. My main mast sits _directly_ outside my > >roommate's window, due to overhead power line and tree location. It's the > >only place where I can safely have a structure above 10 feet, that is > less > >than 75 'coax feet' from my shack window. > > > >I'm concerned that spinning the rotator at night will bother him. If the > >mast is solidly mounted to the house just a few feet away, how much will > one > >of these inexpensive TV rotators conduct into the building? Could I cut > that > >down by putting some rubber between the mast and clamp, something of that > >nature? > > > >The next step, and I'm ready to move to this point if I can address the > >noise issue to my satisfaction, is to build a small cross yagi, 4 to 7 > >elements, and mount it at fixed elevation on a small TV rotator. I > believe > >that an antenna in this size range will prove a big advantage over the > >omnis, should have a wide enough beamwidth such that I will get away with > >fixed elevation, and should only have to crank the rotator every 60 to 90 > >seconds, except for the extremely high angle passes. > > > >If that works on receive, but I'm having uplink problems, I can put a 2 > or 3 > >element CP yagi for 2 meters on the same boom, which should let me hit > most > >of the satellites with 10-15 watts of power, max. > > > >I'm very eager and willing to design and play with antennas - love > homebrew > >in general, I just can't design a circuit to save my life - and know how > to > >model and build good quality antennas. I'm fairly certain that I can get > >crafty enough to get around what restrictions this environment does have. > > > >So, here's what I'm looking at, I think. > > > >1: Mast mount preamp > >2: Beam with rotator > >3: Hamtronics downconverter (435.5 - 437.5 MHz, somebody tell me if I'm > >getting the wrong frequency range choice - my HF radio stops at exactly > >30.000.000 so I want to make sure I can hit the 437+ frequencies) > > > >The beam will require design and construction time (I don't believe in > >buying antennas except in rare circumstances); I can throw green paper at > >the preamp and get it out of the way, since store-bought is the best > option > >for that at this time. In addition, I don't want to have to install the > beam > >and rotator and preamp all at once; it'd be nice to have the preamp ready > to > >go by the time I put up the beam and rotator. > > > >I'll be honest, I'm generally an impatient person, and I'm busting my > chops > >and treating this station in a rent house as a challenge. I was serious > >about hitting the Phase 3E sats when they go up, but I do _not_ expect to > do > >it at my current QTH. If all comes together, I move into a house this > fall, > >at which I hopefully will have clear space and the ability to put up a > >"real" antenna support. Once that happens, either a roof mount or small > >tower, I'll build a long yagi array and get it under computer control. > But > >I'm not at that phase yet, and I want to get experienced at this level > >before I think about trying to work the high orbit satellites. > > > >I actually grew up a ham in my early teen years back in the early 90's, > and > >remember poring endlessly over AO-13 articles. It seemed like the zenith > of > >technical accomplishment in our hobby. I came back to ham radio last year > >and was disappointed to find that we had no high orbit satellites > currently, > >but the LEO satellite 'scene' seemed active and I figured I could get my > >feet wet with them before I tackle the big ones when they go up. > >_______________________________________________ > >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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suite frequencies
by john heath 08 Mar '07

08 Mar '07

Hi Greg and all on the list. I had good results listening o 130.167MHz FM during a recent Russian EVA. I believe this is an old MIR frequency. I watched NASA TV to establish that the walkers were out and broadcasting. I have been told that the American suites use some sort of digital comms which we are unlikely to be able to copy with a normal satellite ground station. There are some very knowledeable folk on this bb. so your request might throw up some valuable information. Signals on 130.167MHz were strong and easy copy on my 5 element cross yagi and FT847 radio. Good luck 73 John G7HIA

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suite frequencies
by Greg Kail 08 Mar '07

08 Mar '07

I am hoping to find the freq used by the US & Russian suites during EVAs. I some one could point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it. Thanks in advance --------------------------------- Looking for earth-friendly autos? Browse Top Cars by "Green Rating" at Yahoo! Autos' Green Center.

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ARRL SatTracker 688
by Arlon Nelson 07 Mar '07

07 Mar '07

Which magazines was the article about the ARRL SatTracker 688 in, QST, AMSAT or both. Thanks W0TUP

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Re: Station not coming together - the full post (sorry for repost, reply to this)
by Edward Cole 07 Mar '07

07 Mar '07

At 08:01 PM 3/6/2007, Jonny 290 wrote: >Bruce, Gould and Les, > >Sincere thanks for your thoughts so far. I'll let this topic percolate for a >bit, but I had to comment on one thing: > ><<<Unlike in HF, where the RF sometimes just gets through, here you're >dealing >with the Hard Numbers, and they will crush you into silence.>>> > >THIS is why I love satellite operation. It's a huge challenge, and the >ionosphere largely has NOTHING to do with it. No 'magic' involved. I know >it's anathema to ye olde Amateur Radio meme of "operating in a dim room with >a small transmitter", but I am finding that this satellite station is the >greatest engineering challenge of my life, to date - and I'm going at it >100% solo NOBODY in my area knows anything gives a rip about the birds. Yet. Jonny, As you are discovering, the Amsat-bb is a great source of help for folks starting out. The others have pretty well pointed out your receiving system on 435 MHz is not working well enough. I have no experience with SO-50 so do not know if the K5OE eggbeater has enough gain. An excellent article was printed about receiving AO-51 in the latest issue of Amsat Journal. If you are not a member then this is one benefit of membership. My impression of Hamtronics equipment is that is better for repeater use and not optimum for "weak-signal" satellite reception. The Hamtronics preamps do not have low noise figures. Gain without low noise figure will not result in bettering your reception. Preamps must be placed close to the antenna (if not directly to the antenna). The 2-dB coax loss is directly added to the noise figure of your preamp (which I estimate is no better than 1.5 dB). You want to get a 0.5 dB noise figure preamp with a minimum of 15-dB gain. The IC-208 probably does not have very low noise figure (I would guess around 10-12 dB). Line loss is better measured using a power meter and a transmitter. Receiver S-meter indications are altered by the AGC action of the radio and not trustworthy for signal level measurements of any accuracy. But if the coax is new then 2-dB loss for 29-feet is probably close. I would try the eggbeater on its own support mast (height is not particularly important for satellite reception if not obstructed by hills or buildings. I received AO-51 using a 2m 19-inch high mag-mount whip on a square of sheet metal and a 0.5 dB noise figure preamp with very clear signals above 10-degrees of elevation. This was very early in its history when running very low power on the satellite. Try these ideas out and let us know how it goes. 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 ======================================

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