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

AO-51 SSB/FM ops
by Alan P. Biddle 24 Jul '07

24 Jul '07

Hi, Worked the first two passes today from EM65. Nobody on the first, so it was a good chance to net the uplink frequency. There were 4-5 people on the second pass. A few observations. It is very obvious who has computer control of the radio. Intelligibility is as with any of the passband birds, except on AO-51 you fall completely out of the passband quickly, rather than just slide up it, and of course you can't compensate on the downlink. Folks using manual frequency control had little luck with a QSO. Those with SATPC32 or equivalent could work similar to the FM/FM mode. In this mode the RX is relatively sensitive, but I did need a beam to get a good uplink, though the output was only 1-2 watts. In FM mode, I frequently work a pass using my Arrow J-Pole with 5-10 watts due to operator error, but that was obviously not enough with SSB uplink except around TCA. So come on out and join the fun. Last time, I recall several passes where both voice and CW QSOs were accomplished at the same time. Alan WA4SCA

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FW: [PNWVHFS] Free 3m / 10 Foot C/Ku Band Satellite Dish
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 23 Jul '07

23 Jul '07

-------------- Forwarded Message: -------------- From: "Michael Miller" <mike.mikemiller(a)gmail.com> To: pnwvhfs(a)googlegroups.com Subject: [PNWVHFS] Free 3m / 10 Foot C/Ku Band Satellite Dish Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2007 20:33:52 +0000 I have a free 3m / 10 foot C/KU band satellite dish for anyone interested. The dish is located in the Portland Oregon area. This dish could be used for 10 Ghz EME work. Anyone interested can contact me via e-mail off list. Thanks, Michael Miller WL7CSL --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ ~The Voice of the Pacific NorthWest VHF Society~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "PNWVHFS" group. To post to this group, send email to PNWVHFS(a)googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to PNWVHFS-unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/PNWVHFS -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

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IC-970 very good offer
by Eddy GORA 23 Jul '07

23 Jul '07

Hello friends, I still have IC-970 for sale, 1.2GHz unit inside. I am very interested to quick buy a noise source HP346A found in US at a reasonable price, so I make again a good offer if anyone interested : 1250$ + shipment. Thanks, Eddy, YO3HCV No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.476 / Virus Database: 269.10.14/912 - Release Date: 7/22/2007 7:02 PM

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SimSat-3 Balloon Announcement & Invitation
by Pat Kilroy 23 Jul '07

23 Jul '07

I AM LOOKING FOR AN AMSAT MEMBER to help set up and operate a ground station at the AMSAT Lab in Pocomoke City, Md. The task is to receive simple telemetry and to participate in the radio net covering one or both high-altitude balloon missions carrying Amateur Radio on Tuesday, July 24 and on Wednesday, July 25. For lots of background information about the SimSat-3A and SimSat-3B flights please go to The SimSat Announcement Page at: http://www.patkilroy.com/simsat See also the complete Task List for operators to participate either from home or at our launch site on the eastern shore. What do you think? A ground station at the AMSAT Lab supporting a SimSat flight would provide good, positive visibility to AMSAT. Please give me a call and I'd be glad to explain what can be done at the lab, however simple. The event will be quite educational. Could be quite a lot of fun too! 73 de Pat N8PK for SimSat ================================================================= Patrick L. Kilroy WK Integration & Test (I&T) 301-286-1984 Voice NASA Goddard Space Flight Center 301-286-1673 Fax Building 5, Mail Code 568 Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 http://lro.gsfc.nasa.gov/ ================================================================= "Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein

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Re: Question on ANDE/RAFT/NMARS/FCAL
by W3NJ＠aol.com 23 Jul '07

23 Jul '07

Thanks Bob for the Physics refresher, it's appreciated! tnx es 73 Bruce -W3NJ In a message dated 7/23/2007 09:21:30 Central Daylight Time, bruninga(a)usna.edu writes: > > > > Since NMARS and RAFT have both re-entered the > > atmosphere, how is it FCAL and ANDE are still > > in orbit since they were lauched at the same > > time? > > ANDE was a perfect sphere with no external drag components and > weighed 50 kg. RAFT and NMARS were less aerodynamic cubes and > both had extrnal whip antnenas an hopefully a 4 foot long wire > HF antenna (though we think they were not fully deployed)... > > So ANDE's mass is 15 times as much but it's cross section area > is only 10 times larger and much smoother. > > ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour</HTML>

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FW: [PNWVHFS] Free 1.2 meter Primestar Dish in Tacoma, WA
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 23 Jul '07

23 Jul '07

This came accross my email. I have one and it was a killer for AO-40 (sob sob). Will work for L band. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle -------------- Forwarded Message: -------------- From: Peter Abraham - KB7INO <kb7ino_egroups(a)yahoo.com> To: pnwvhfs(a)googlegroups.com Subject: [PNWVHFS] Free 1.2 meter Primestar Dish in Tacoma, WA Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2007 17:17:09 +0000 Hello! A buddy of mine has a 1.2 meter Primestar dish he wants to give away. It has been posted on Craigslist but we had a bunch of no-shows, and it hit me, perhaps someone on the list might want it. To see pictures of it, please check out : http://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/ele/367846750.html Please contact me directly if you are interested in the dish. Thanks! Peter KB7INO ________________________________________________________________________________ ____ Choose the right car based on your needs. Check out Yahoo! Autos new Car Finder tool. http://autos.yahoo.com/carfinder/ --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ ~The Voice of the Pacific NorthWest VHF Society~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "PNWVHFS" group. To post to this group, send email to PNWVHFS(a)googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to PNWVHFS-unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/PNWVHFS -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

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FW: [PNWVHFS] For Stan, KG7P
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 23 Jul '07

23 Jul '07

-------------- Forwarded Message: -------------- From: k7nd(a)att.net To: pnwvhfs(a)googlegroups.com Subject: [PNWVHFS] For Stan, KG7P Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2007 17:48:32 +0000 Hi Stan. There is an TS-790A for sale at QTH.com. Included is a module for 1.2ghz. Price didn't look too bad. Good luck in your quest. 73 jim k7nd --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ ~The Voice of the Pacific NorthWest VHF Society~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "PNWVHFS" group. To post to this group, send email to PNWVHFS(a)googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to PNWVHFS-unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/PNWVHFS -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

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AO-51 telemetry software
by john heath 23 Jul '07

23 Jul '07

Hi Chaps, Thanks for the replies to my dumb question about eror code 53. I now have CPBINI and the other files all together in the same directory (doh) Looking at CPBINI the software expects to see a hardware TNC so the next job is to figure out how to get it to run with MixW. 73 John G7HIA

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Re: Wanted Dish Antenna Central Florida
by Bill Acito W1PA 23 Jul '07

23 Jul '07

Jim, Send me an email at my QRZ -listed address (and please update yours). I read the BB via the web archives, rather than fill my inbox, so I can't see your email -- I rely on QRZ addresses for direct contact. (sorry for the bandwidth, folks) Bill W1PA

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Question on ANDE/RAFT/NMARS/FCAL
by W3NJ＠aol.com 23 Jul '07

23 Jul '07

Likely a questions for Bob Bruninga.... Since NMARS and RAFT have both re-entered the atmosphere, how is it FCAL and ANDE are still in orbit since they were lauched at the same time? I could understand a slight difference, but it's been weeks since they re-entered. Did they have a different trajectory or less drag than the first 2? Curious minds... tnx es 73 Bruce ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour</HTML>

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August AO-51 mode requests
by Andrew Glasbrenner 22 Jul '07

22 Jul '07

If anyone has any requests for August that they haven't yet sent in to ao51-modes(a)amsat.org , please do so ASAP. I'd like to have them by Tuesday so the committee can get a schedule together by the end of the month. Thanks! 73, Drew KO4MA

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AO-51 telemetry software
by john heath 22 Jul '07

22 Jul '07

Hi Chaps, Trying to set up TlmEcho Getting run time error 53 any suggestions appreciated thanks John G7HIA

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Wanted Dish Antenna Central Florida
by **THE-RFI-EMI-GUY** 22 Jul '07

22 Jul '07

Hi I am looking for a 4 to 8 foot prime focus dish. Either solid or KU-Mesh for amateur satellite use. Let me know what you have, how much or if interested in any trades. I intend to mount with AZ-EL mount so if you have appropriate hardware let me know. -- 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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2M1EUB/P QRV SCOTLAND
by paul robinson 22 Jul '07

22 Jul '07

I will be qrv once again from IO87RJ ,NE SCOTLAND from the 27.JULY .07 for 7 days! anyone wishing to work me ,ill be qrv all sats and may be hf ! qsl is via my home call 2E1EUB. while in scotland ill be active as 2M1EUB/P 73 de paul --------------------------------- Yahoo! Mail is the world's favourite email. Don't settle for less, sign up for your freeaccount today.

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W3PM on AO-51
by Hakan Harrysson 22 Jul '07

22 Jul '07

Hello! I got the idea to try out my portable setup this sunday and took out my VX-5 with handheld Arrow antenna. I worked a couple of EU stations and after that to my surprise i heard W3PM/MM who came back to me on first call. He was operating from Queen mary 2 http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Queen_Mary_2 (if i heard right,,) and was located in HN58. Pretty cool contact between two portable stations and it shows the performance of the satellite. (With this small tiny equipment it is possible to work a lot on satellite.) 73 Hakan SM7WSJ

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AO-16 still silent
by David 21 Jul '07

21 Jul '07

Hello All, Just listening out for AO-16 and hearing nothing. Is there any news on its recovery? 73 de David VK5DG

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FIRST AO51 CONTACT
by Doug Kuitula 20 Jul '07

20 Jul '07

Hi all, Just wanted to say thanks to W6GMT and VA7VW for the contacts today on AO51. These were my first since the MIR days. Not sure if the one with GMT was an official contact, but it was fun none the less. I'm using an Arrow antenna and a Kenwood THD7A. 73 de Doug KA8QCU

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FW: [PNWVHFS] DEM is back in business
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 20 Jul '07

20 Jul '07

fyi -------------- Forwarded Message: -------------- From: "E Olson" <ericn7epd(a)msn.com> To: <PNWVHFS(a)googlegroups.com> Subject: [PNWVHFS] DEM is back in business Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2007 04:00:35 +0000 Just noticed that DEM is open again from Florida today!! New phone number and now an email address for tech questions!! See http://www.downeastmicrowave.com/ 73 de Eric N7EPD --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ ~The Voice of the Pacific NorthWest VHF Society~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "PNWVHFS" group. To post to this group, send email to PNWVHFS(a)googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to PNWVHFS-unsubscribe(a)googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/PNWVHFS -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---

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WD9EWK demonstration on 2 AO-51 passes tonight
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 20 Jul '07

20 Jul '07

Hi! Thanks to all the stations who heard WD9EWK on AO-51 during two passes this evening (0152-0203 and 0329-0343 UTC). I was doing another presentation/demonstration for the ThunderBird Amateur Radio Club (W7TBC) at their monthly meeting, a follow-up to a presentation/demonstration I gave in March. This time, we were trying to get club members set up to make their first satellite contacts. We had success on that front tonight, for a couple of members. We were at the Thunderbird School of Global Management campus in Glendale, a west-side suburb of Phoenix, in grid DM33vo: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=33.6219+n+112.1829+w&ie=UT… At the club's June meeting, kits for a WA5VJB "Cheap Yagi" for the FM satellites were distributed (2 elements on 2m, 5 elements on 70cm, plus the 2m/70cm "duplexer" or band splitter). I think I counted 4 of them at tonight's meeting, plus a few other club members had HTs with telescoping-whip antennas ready to give it a try tonight. The 0152-0203 UTC pass was a demonstration where the members tested their gear on a low (15-degree) pass. I made 7 contacts with stations in Florida, Michigan, Mississippi, Arizona, Minnesota, and central Mexico during that pass. Between the two passes, the club had their normal meeting and I had a question-and-answer session along with time to verify radio setups for the later - and better (45 degrees maximum elevation to the west) - pass. The later pass had a fair amount of activity. Two of the club members made satellite contacts on that pass. Jeff W0NWA worked Bernardo 6I2HWB in southern Baja California (DL44), and Bob K7UNL worked me (a real "DX" contact, separated by 20 feet or roughly 6m) followed by Jeff K7WIN in southeastern Arizona (DM41). I ended up with 8 QSOs on the later pass with stations in California, Arizona, Mexico and Canada. A couple of members attempted to make contacts without success, and others just listened to the pass. Despite the heat - for the 0329 UTC pass, 2029 local time and the sun setting about 30 to 45 minutes earlier, it was still 105F/41C outside with a bit of humidity. We had a great time, and for a couple of the club members they now have satellite contacts for their logs. We may do another of these hands-on demonstrations in a few months, when it is not so hot outside. I let the club officers know I would be happy to do this again with them at some later date. Thanks to all the stations who made contacts with me along with W0NWA and K7UNL this evening. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK - Phoenix, Arizona, USA http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Coax for UHF to Microwaves
by Jim Sanford 19 Jul '07

19 Jul '07

Gents: I happened upon a chance, at a very small (but fun!) hamfest on Sunday to get my hands on some LMR 600 coax, which I'd hoped to use at 2m/70cm. Turns out it was too short for my 110' tower (building at base). In followup, I have a chance of some 1 1/4 Andrew heliax, or some 7/8 andrew heliax. I'd hoped to run one line for 2m (dedicated) an another to be switched among 220, 432, 900, 1296, 2304, and 3456. I'm seeking <1db loss at 2m and < 3db on the other bands. The Andrew datasheet says 3.3GHz is the max frequency for the 1 1/8, which I'm really tempted to buy based on price and the expensive acccessories that come with it. BUT, if I take the mfr data literally, it won't work on 3456. Question: Does anybody have any idea whether or not the 1 1/8 can be "pushed" to 3456? Or does the loss really start screaming up above 3300? Thanks & 73, Jim wb4gcs(a)amsat.org

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Theodore Ertl is out of the office.
by TErtl＠e1b.org 18 Jul '07

18 Jul '07

I will be out of the office starting 07/18/2007 and will not return until 07/23/2007. I will respond to your message when I return.

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Tower mast question
by Stargate 18 Jul '07

18 Jul '07

Howdy all, I am preparing to set up a satellite station with M2 2MCP22 and 436CP42UG antenna's. The wind loads are... 2MCP22 2.5 sq. ft. 436CP42UG 2.0 sq. ft. I have a Glen Martin RT-424 (with thrust bearing), 4.5' tall roof tower that is rated for 6 sq. ft. of load at 87mph. I will be mounting it on my deck as opposed to the roof. (My climbing days are over:-) My deck is approximately 12' off the ground on 6x6 posts and VERY sturdy. I will be using a Yaesu G-5500 rotor in a split configuration with the AZ rotor inside the tower and the EL rotor at the top of the mast. I also will be using a 8' fiberglass cross boom to mount the antenna's on. Now that all of the prerequisite specifications are listed, here is my question.... What should I use for a mast? It will have to be fairly long (15-20') since the turning radius for the antenna's are around 10' and I am worried about it being so long that it will bend or provide a fulcrum to damage the tower. I would appreciate any suggestions. I live in a 75mph wind zone. 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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AO-40 status
by John Becker 18 Jul '07

18 Jul '07

Has all hope been given up on this one all together? If it could pull one of them AO-7 tricks still within my life time would be a real kicker.

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Strange noise on AO-51 again
by OZ1MY 18 Jul '07

18 Jul '07

Hi all, On two passes this evening I and others heard the "strange" noise on the AO-51 transponder, when AO-51 was far to the North. It was the same on the fifth of July. Most probably it is someone trying DSTAR on the satellite. AO-51 is not made for that and has not been opened to DSTAR transmissions as far as I know. If you want to use DSTAR on satellites use AO-27 where the control stations say it is OK. The problem is that you are blocking the normal use of the transponder. 73 OZ1MY Ib

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AO-40 status
by John Becker 18 Jul '07

18 Jul '07

Has all hope been given up on this one all together? If it could pull one of them AO-7 tricks still within my life time would be a real kicker.

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