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

CP4 Update
by Keith McCabe 24 May '07

24 May '07

Hi all, Just to let you know, Cal Poly recently used the SRI dish to uplink to CP4. We have (supposedly) put it into Normal Ops, meaning it should be beaconing at 2 minute intervals, instead of the old 5 minute intervals. Any reports as to whether this is correct would be great. We really appreciate the support from everyone so far, thanks a bunch! -- Keith McCabe, KI6CWF PolySat, Cal Poly State University

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Re: mode v/s
by DeYoung James 24 May '07

24 May '07

Greetings, I was listening to 2.4012-GHz +/- doppler FM-mode with my K5GNA/AIDC downconverter at the focus of a Starband .75-m x 1.0-m ellptical dish, I never heard myself (145.88-MHz up) but transmitted only a few times. However, I did hear strong "digital" signals at max. EL. for about 30-s on two passes last evening and fairly strong quieting at times. No voices heard at all, however. I have heard nothing but white noise monitoring 2.4012-GHz when AO-51 is below the horizon so pretty sure it was AO-51 and not terrestrial. Without a regular beacon signal in space it is very hard to be sure if all my equipment is working, however. I do have a Gardiner down-converter 2.4-GHz signal source so pretty sure my LO value is correct to a few KHz. Anybody willing to admit to Tx'ing digital or anything else last evening on east-coast U.S. passes to confirm that my 2.4-GHz equipment is really working? 73, KG4QWC (FM18) ____________________________________________________________________________________Get the Yahoo! toolbar and be alerted to new email wherever you're surfing. http://new.toolbar.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/index.php

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Re: ROTOR INTERFACES--HEEELP
by Stefan Wagener 24 May '07

24 May '07

Hi Pete, I am using two different boards with great success and ease of use for Nova, SatPC etc. The first board is from EA4TX. Go to his website at: http://www.ea4tx.com/ Comes assembled and needs a parallel port on your computer (printer port), which is also the biggest disadvantage especially for newer laptops. Is not too expensive and the service and support is outstanding. Needs external power supply. The second board is the LVB tracker (see current discussions on the mailing list). Can be ordered directly from AMSAT-UK and soon from AMSA NA (contact Gould Smith for available boards ect.), needs assembly and can be used with an USB or serial port. Excellent quality kit and dreat design. I use it mobile. Power is supplied from the rotor control box. Hope this helps. Stefan, VE4NSA >From: Pete Norris <k1hzu1(a)yahoo.com> >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] ROTOR INTERFACES--HEEELP >Date: Wed, 23 May 2007 18:03:40 -0700 (PDT) > >I am thoroughly confused! I am trying to find a rotor interface to go >between my G-5500 and Nova for Windows. I am also using Ham Radio Deluxe to >run my TS-2000X. The computer is running XP with 1.8 GHz processor. Simple >you say, it probably is if you know what your doing, I don't. I have >checked out those listed in Nova. I really don't want to spend $500.00 for >the GS-232A. LabJack's U12 needs the Nova's Piggyback which isn't available >anymore. Nova is suposedly going to update NfW so that LabJacks U3 with two >LJtick Relay Drivers will do the trick, but Nova has been saying for approx >four months, "about a week". My patience is wearing thin! Product support >at LabJack,(Toby) says that the U12 and the LJTicks would probably work but >would have to be hand wired and I know very little about digital, and could >be in more trouble than I am now. I have considered building one, but my >eyesight is not what it used to be and that is pretty small stuff. Some on >the list I simply > can't find, probably not looking in the right places. I have used Google >so much that I now get a popup that says "You again"! The other problem is >that I can't tell from the G-5500 manual what pins go to what. > >I would certainly appreciate it if someone could get me back on track--ing. > >73's, Pete, K1HZU > >--------------------------------- >No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go >with Yahoo! Mail for Mobile. Get started. >_______________________________________________ >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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LVB Tracker buttons
by Mike Young 24 May '07

24 May '07

Anyone bring the J4 buttons signals out to pushbuttons on the front panel of their trackers? They are sorta redundant if the tracker is located close to the rotor control box. Plastic or metal box??? Willing to pay extra for metal??? Trying to determine what is generally acceptable for a box design. HAD A BLAST AT DAYTON!!! Thanks, Mike, WB8CXO

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Vista and WinAPRS
by Joel Kandel 24 May '07

24 May '07

Can anyone tell me if they have tried WinAPRS with Vista, and whether it operates well? Thanks, Joel Kandel, KI4T

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Re: CP4 Update
by Mineo Wakita 24 May '07

24 May '07

CP4 copied over Japan, beaconing at 2 minute intervals. 14:30 through 14:37 UTC, 23:30 through 23:37 JST pass this night in Japan. de JE9PEL/1, Mineo Wakita

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mode v/s
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 24 May '07

24 May '07

Hello Where is all your AO40 gear? Very strong S band downlink signals, just not too many people to talk to. -- 73 Bob W7LRD AMSAT member 28498 Seattle

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Mission to Mars
by hans 24 May '07

24 May '07

Hi all An article on P3E appeared in a South African journal called EngineerIT. To download a copy go to http://www.eepublishers.co.za/images/upload/Radio%20Amateurs%20Mars.pdf. To read the magazine online go to www.eepublisher.co.za and click on EngineerIT 73 Hans ZS6AKV

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monitoring(armstrong rotor practice)
by Steve Attfield 23 May '07

23 May '07

are there any satellites(amateur, and non) other than the regular FM birds that would be good to listen to. I'd like to practice my tracking of 70cm FM downlinks and the best pass for me tomorrow is AO-51 which I won't be able to hear. let me know your thoughts(my station can monitor from 340-512) -Steve VA3SAX

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ROTOR INTERFACES--HEEELP
by Pete Norris 23 May '07

23 May '07

I am thoroughly confused! I am trying to find a rotor interface to go between my G-5500 and Nova for Windows. I am also using Ham Radio Deluxe to run my TS-2000X. The computer is running XP with 1.8 GHz processor. Simple you say, it probably is if you know what your doing, I don't. I have checked out those listed in Nova. I really don't want to spend $500.00 for the GS-232A. LabJack's U12 needs the Nova's Piggyback which isn't available anymore. Nova is suposedly going to update NfW so that LabJacks U3 with two LJtick Relay Drivers will do the trick, but Nova has been saying for approx four months, "about a week". My patience is wearing thin! Product support at LabJack,(Toby) says that the U12 and the LJTicks would probably work but would have to be hand wired and I know very little about digital, and could be in more trouble than I am now. I have considered building one, but my eyesight is not what it used to be and that is pretty small stuff. Some on the list I simply can't find, probably not looking in the right places. I have used Google so much that I now get a popup that says "You again"! The other problem is that I can't tell from the G-5500 manual what pins go to what. I would certainly appreciate it if someone could get me back on track--ing. 73's, Pete, K1HZU --------------------------------- No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go with Yahoo! Mail for Mobile. Get started.

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