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

Sapphire NO-45 alive?
by Robert Bruninga 20 Mar '07

20 Mar '07

Sapphire, NO-45? Since Sapphire is near the debris field from the Chinese ASAT test, we thought we would look to see any potential collisions. We'd like to also know if anyone has heard Sapphire recently. The SOCRATES engine on the Celestrack.com web page is showing several potential "conjunctions" over the next few days with Sapphire (NO-45) #26932. It would be nice to hear some "before-and-after" signals to confirm or deny a collision. http://celestrak.com/SOCRATES/search.asp The last reported signal (that I have) for Sapphire (KE6QMD) was by Bill Bruno KB2RC on October 30, 2004 8:15 PM. He was using 145.945 up and 437.095 down. Those are the freqs posted on the Amsat site. Even if Sapphire's digipeater is not set, then if it is alive, it still outputs a brief 1 second carrier beacon once every minute I think on that 437.095 freq (+/- Doppler). In another possible mode, those pings might be once every 20 seconds? (If I remember correctly?) If any AMSAT folks hear from Sapphire, let us know of any sightings. Bob Bruninga, WB4APR USNA Satellite Lab

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Re: Transatlantic QSO on FO-29
by i8cvs 20 Mar '07

20 Mar '07

Hi Luc, VE2DWE It was very nice to contact you again in SSB this morning via FO-29 orbit 52287 with the bird at the apogee around MA= 128 I started to hear your carrier while you was tuning at 06:16 UTC and from 06:16 to 06:22 UTC your SSB signal was very well readable over the noise without QSB peaking to an S-7 Hope this new 6742.8 km QSO with you between FN36KA and JN70ES in a LEO will trigger more transatlantic activity on this satellite waiting for P3E Luc. Note: If someone like to try a transatlantic QSO via FO-29 this is the right moment because during descending orbits the satellite foot print is actually maximum with FO-29 near the apogee over the atlantic. 73" de i8CVS Domenico ----- Original Message ----- From: "Luc Leblanc" <lucleblanc6(a)videotron.ca> To: "i8cvs" <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it> Sent: Monday, March 19, 2007 3:09 PM Subject: Re: Transatlantic QSO on FO-29 > On 19 Mar 2007 at 4:17, i8cvs wrote: > > > Hi Luc, VE2DWE > > > > I would like to know from you if you plan or not to try again on FO-29 > > day 20 march orbit 52287 from 06:16 to 06:22 UTC same frequency > > 435.830 MHz > > > > 73" de > > > > i8CVS Domenico > > > > HI again Domenico > > Yes i just my apointment sked for tomorrow i will be able to make even if i > have to be on the road early tuesday mornimg some client to be seen. > > I will try to install a preamp on the downlink to check how he perform just > hope desense will not kill the downlink signal but i will also try to make some > test. > > Speaking of killing i probably stuff you mailbox as i sent you my pictures here > is 2 depicting my past december ice/snow storm. > > see you this morning > > > Luc Leblanc VE2DWE > Skype VE2DWE > www.qsl.net/ve2dwe > WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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Strong sigs
by Tim Tapio 20 Mar '07

20 Mar '07

While on the way home from our ham meeting tonight, listening to the repeater traffic, I was amazed to hear an EM64 as AO-51 broke squelch, through a rubber duck, sitting in the console of my car on the UHF side of my IC-W32A High pass....muast have been around 1:42Z..... 73 de Tim, K4SHF FM04....heard in FM05

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AMSAT Awards
by Bruce 18 Mar '07

18 Mar '07

Awards this week are: We would like to welcome the following to the satellite community. They have made their first satellite contact and are now members of the AMSAT Satellite Communicators Club. Bob Massey, WA9NBU AMSAT Communication Achievement Award Paulo Pinto, CT1ETE, #445 Greg Drzyzga, NA4N, #446 Fernando Martins, CT2ISG, #447 South Africa AMSAT Satellite Communications Achievement Award Paulo Pinto, CT1ETE, #US105 Robert Wyckoff, KB3MBO, #US106 Greg Drzyzga, NA4N, #US107 To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org or http://www.amsatnet.com Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on W0KIE Intelsat Americas, T1, 6.8Mhz Also streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com

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LEO tutorial
by Robert C. Rice 18 Mar '07

18 Mar '07

http://www.wku.edu/ksgc/sats.pdf Here is a link to a very clear and detailed tutorial on using LEO satellites with minimal equipment. This is the clearest explanation I've seen. The author is Richard Hackney, N1ASA Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Western Kentucky University Director, NASA Kentucky Space Grant Consortium This is great stuff and would be a good link (or download) to add to the AMSAT webpage for newbies (like me!) Robert WB5PKN

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Full duplex.
by john hackett 18 Mar '07

18 Mar '07

I agree with Howard. 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org> ......................................................................................................... Hi Robert >http://www.wku.edu/ksgc/sats.pdf > >This is great stuff and would be a good link (or download) to add to the >AMSAT webpage for newbies (like me!) I agree it is especially clear and well written. My only caveat is that I personally feel that the rejection of full duplex capability in the paper promotes blind transmission for longer periods than necessary creating QRM for others. Thinking back to when I cut my teeth, I would have found it particularly frustrating not knowing if I was making it. Just my opinion, and the author is to be applauded for his efforts. 73, Howard G6LVB

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Transatlantic QSO on FO-29
by i8cvs 18 Mar '07

18 Mar '07

Hi All, Just made a nice SSB QSO on sked via FO-29 with Luc VE2DWE in FN36KA to day on orbit 52260 from 06:20 to 06:26 UTC The distance from FN36KA and JN70ES is 6742.8 km The last QSO with Luc was via AO40 but the above contact lasted 6 minutes of a very outstanding conversation with no QSB via a LEO satellite with a max elevation for me of 2.5 degrees and 6.5 degrees for Luc. If any one like to try CW or SSB on FO-29 with me in JN70ES please email off list. Tanks Luc for this very interesting experiment with you. 73" de i8CVS Domenico

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DK78-79
by Alvaro de Leon Romo 17 Mar '07

17 Mar '07

Dear friends, I will fly today Saturday morning to the boundary of these grids, I will try to be on AO51 and SO50 and AO27..... Saturday.......SO50 and AO27 in the afternoon pass, AO51 the night pass Sunday.........AO51 morning pass, SO50 and AO27 afternoon pass.... GL all Al XE2AT _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live Spaces en Prodigy/MSN Spaces: Crea tu propio espacio. http://spaces.live.com

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W4M on AO-51 Saturday morning
by Doug Shields 17 Mar '07

17 Mar '07

Hello everyone, Please listen for W4M on the Saturday AM passes of AO-51. I will attempt to do a satellite demo at the Martin County, Florida hamfest (grid square EL97). I will be using an HT and an hand aimed Arrow antenna from the middle of the tailgate area. I hope to generate some interest in satellite communications and AMSAT. There will be special QSL certificates available for any contacts made. QSL via K4ZK. The address for K4ZK is good on any callsign lookup database. I hope to work lots of folks Saturday morning. Doug W4DAS

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Echo and Hamsat
by Patrick McGrane 17 Mar '07

17 Mar '07

Greetings, just a short note to say many people are trampling each other on echo while there is hardly anyone on hamsat which is a SSB satellite with a fantastic downlink. You might find some used all-mode UHF and VHF rigs on ebay or at hamfests or by word of mouth. They can also be used on FO-29 and the upcomming eagle and P3E. 73, pat

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