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

Ascend and Descend
by Clint Bradford 12 Sep '07

12 Sep '07

Can you determine the direction of travel of an amateur satellite's path merely by whether it is ascending or descending? These current amateur radio exam questions seem weird to me - I mean, our AO-51 can ascend from the North or the South... What is the direction of an ascending pass for an amateur satellite? A. From west to east B. From east to west C. From south to north D. From north to south What is the direction of a descending pass for an amateur satellite? A. From north to south B. From west to east C. From east to west D. From south to north Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 909-241-7666

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XE2VAS from DM40 this afternoon! (11 Sept)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 11 Sep '07

11 Sep '07

Hi! Uriel XE2VAS (also N2IY) is currently in Imuris, grid DM40ns, and was on SO-50 and AO-27 for passes around 2030-2100 UTC. Uriel will be on the upcoming SO-50 pass around 2215 UTC and AO-27 pass at 2239 UTC, if you need a contact with that grid. Imuris is about 70km/43 miles south of the twin cities of Nogales (Arizona and Sonora), along Mexico route 15. You can see a map of the area, including grid boundaries, at: http://www.geocities.com/wd9ewk/4a2q/pics/imuris-map.jpg Uriel asks everyone who calls him to please do the following... 1. Use the phonetic alphabet. He is not completely fluent in the English alphabet. 2. Don't speak fast English. Uriel is learning English, but has some difficulties understanding fast English. 3. For numbers, say each digit. For example, for DM43 say "Delta Mike Four Three". Or, if you speak Spanish, that would work OK also. :-) 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK - Phoenix AZ http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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ISS is alive on APRS
by Eric H Christensen 11 Sep '07

11 Sep '07

W4OTN-9>3V4W8X,RS0ISS-4*,qAO,KB2CEV:'h2wl"Bk/]"3{} Very cool! 73s, Eric W4OTN

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Interesting article on Russia mini- and microsats
by Andrew Glasbrenner 11 Sep '07

11 Sep '07

http://www.spacemart.com/reports/Russian_Satellites_Smaller_Lighter_Cheaper… If I remember correctly the "Strela" platform has carried amateur payloads before. I'd really love to see the Russians resume including ham payloads on their satellites again. RS-10/11 and RS-12/13 were my gateway into satellites, along with DO-17 and Mir. 73, Drew KO4MA

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FO-29 Operational
by John Marranca, Jr 11 Sep '07

11 Sep '07

Hello everyone. I see that according to the threads, FO-29 is sending telemetry, but is the sat available for general use? I remember JAS-2's digitalker and was really impressed by it a few years back. Thanks John KB2HSH -- _______________________________

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Wired Article: Write and Vote on a Better Slogan for NASA
by Eric H Christensen 11 Sep '07

11 Sep '07

<http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2007/09/write-and-vote-.html> I read this article this morning and thought it was pretty funny. However one of the submissions was from Steve Reardon who suggested "Ex Caeli Sapientia" which I assume is Latin and means "From the heavens, wisdom". When I read that I immediately thought of Project OSCAR and AMSAT and how much information and knowledge has been gained by that first group of amateurs that gathered and crafted OSCAR-1 and how that knowledge has been passed down to others that have filled those shoes and have built, assisted in building, supported, and operated over sixty satellites over the last thirty-seven years. We will never know how much of that knowledge was used in other-than-amateur satellites that have touched each and every life at some point in time. 73s, Eric W4OTN

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ao-51 first attempt
by Eric Fort 11 Sep '07

11 Sep '07

I'll be making the attempt to work AO-51 for the first time this afternoon beginning 11sep2007 3:23 UTC using a vx-6 ht and an arrow antenna. Hope to QSO with some of you. If successful please QSL. I'm good in the callbook. Thanks KG6KQT, Eric

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Re: Rotators
by John W Lee 11 Sep '07

11 Sep '07

Those U-100 rotors are available around at the swap meets. And cheap, too. I have set up an AZ-EL rotor with two U-100's and it works swell. It's been up for about 10 years or more with two fairly big (14 elements on 2, 20 elements on 432) antennas. 73 John K6YK On Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:06:17 -0700 Don Fanning <don(a)00100100.net> writes: > > I'm actually experimenting with using a toy computerized telescope > right > now (Meade ETX-60). It has a computerized alt-az setup but the > onboard > electronics allows for updating keps to "observe" satellites as well > as > provides a RS-232 interface to a computer (haven't gotten around to > > building the cable yet) but the mount is plenty strong enough. I've > > raised the base of it (contains the az motors, electronics and > batteries) up while holding the tube upright and working the > handpaddle. The base along weighs 3-5 pounds and it did it without > even > a groan. > > My idea is to attach an arrow onto it and maybe a counterweight to > balance things up. It has no problem slewing or precision tracking, > > it's lightweight and portable (more portable than a G-5400 and > tackle) > and can track satellites portably without the need of a laptop. > Beats > hand tracking. :) > > de Don (KL7EET) > > David Donaldson wrote: > > Let me join the question...The Yaesu are great rotors but are > there any > > options anymore that don't cost the price of a new rig? I wish > now I had > > not sold my Allient (spelling not right) U-100 TV rotor a few > years ago now > > that I want to get back into satellites. > > > > Dave WB7DRU, MN > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org > [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On > > Behalf Of Thomas M. Webb > > Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2007 8:59 PM > > To: Eric Christensen; AMSAT-BB > > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Rotators > > > > The Yaesu 5X00 series (5400, 5500, 5600). They are in general use > in the > > AMSAT community so there is lots of support. > > > > Tom, WA9AFM/5 > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Eric Christensen" <eric(a)christensenplace.us> > > To: "AMSAT-BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > > Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2007 7:57 PM > > Subject: [amsat-bb] Rotators > > > > > > > >> I know this is a general question but I'm hoping to get some > insight. > >> > >> What's the best azimuth and elevation rotator available these > days? I'm > >> hoping to get some antennas up before the end of the year and > this is > >> one of the pieces of the puzzle I don't have any idea about. > Any > >> information would be appreciated. > >> > >> 73s, > >> Eric Christensen, W4OTN > >> AMSAT Area Coordinator - Southeastern Virginia USA > >> AMSAT Member 35360 > >> http://www.ericsatcom.net > >> > >> Donate to the Eagle Fund - > >> http://www.amsat-na.com/donation.php?donate=eagle > >> > >> GPG Key Fingerprint: 4675 2BBE 666B 8FF7 A9A1 4D00 67F2 1E7A > B685 F578 > >> _______________________________________________ > >> 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 > >> > >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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 > > > > > > > > --- http://USFamily.Net/dialup.html - $8.25/mo! -- > http://www.usfamily.net/dsl.html - $19.99/mo! --- > > > > _______________________________________________ > > 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 > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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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Re: Rotators
by Gary "Joe" Mayfield 11 Sep '07

11 Sep '07

John, I did not know the EMOTATOR was available in North America. It sounds ultra-cool and like another item I need to lust after - truly a BMW of rotators. Is there any place on the web to learn more? 73, Joe kk0sd AMSAT # 21357 - Not near as old as 439! _____ From: John Beanland [mailto:spectrum.ma.ultranet@rcn.com] Sent: Monday, September 10, 2007 9:44 AM To: Gary "Joe" Mayfield Cc: 'Eric Christensen'; 'AMSAT-BB' Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Rotators ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ At 22:14 9/9/07 -0500, you wrote: >If by available you mean currently made -- Alpha Spid is probably the Lexus >of AZ/EL rotors - >http://alfaradio.ca/alfaspid-azel.html >It is the one I lust after -- but my Yaesu has done just fine. >73, >Joe kk0sd +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 10th September 2007 KK0SD de S.I., Joe, Be careful with the Alpha Spid. Check the fine print in the specification. Last time we checked it was designed as, and built as, a 12 volt motor device. Unfortunately 12 volts does not give sufficient acceleration to track high elevation angle passes when the bird is "high in the sky". Their solution is to increase the power supply voltage; they give performance figures for 18 volts and also 24 volts supply. The 24 volts supply is needed to track the very high angle passes. There is no mention of temperature rise (and reliability?) with 18 or 24 volts supply. Note: It uses DC motors so the torque and available acceleration increase with applied voltage. But do you want to apply 50% or 100% over-voltage to get your required performance? A much better choice, in the Cadillac class, is the EMOTATOR EV-800-D7X. This uses 24 volt DC motors. There is also a "gold plated" version, the EV-800-DX; this is a BRUTE. Both of these models are compatible with control systems (NOVA, Uni-Trac, SatPC32, and many more) that are "standard" in the Amateur community. The EMOTATOR control box accepts both 115v and/or 230v AC primary power. These twin axis rotators will happily swing a 6ft solid dish without any complaints. We supply them to our weather satellite system customers and also to government customers, who use a 7.5ft dish for S-band telemetry reception. Tracking performance is excellent. When driven by Uni_Trac or similar (10-bit or greater A/D) unit, the overall (both axes) system tracking hysteresis is about 1.5 degrees RMS. The EMOTATOR rotators are available from Spectrum International, Inc, Concord, Mass. 73s, de John G3BVU/W1 amsat 439 (a very old number). Yours truly, C.J.Beanland, MSEE, C.Eng., MIEE, MRAeS. Sales Manager, Spectrum International,Inc. spectrum.ma.ultranet(a)rcn.com P.O. Box 1084, Tel: (978) 263-2145 Concord, Mass. 01742. Fax: (978) 263-7008

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Rotators
by Eric Christensen 11 Sep '07

11 Sep '07

I know this is a general question but I'm hoping to get some insight. What's the best azimuth and elevation rotator available these days? I'm hoping to get some antennas up before the end of the year and this is one of the pieces of the puzzle I don't have any idea about. Any information would be appreciated. 73s, Eric Christensen, W4OTN AMSAT Area Coordinator - Southeastern Virginia USA AMSAT Member 35360 http://www.ericsatcom.net Donate to the Eagle Fund - http://www.amsat-na.com/donation.php?donate=eagle GPG Key Fingerprint: 4675 2BBE 666B 8FF7 A9A1 4D00 67F2 1E7A B685 F578

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