January 2008 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

AO-16 6:35 utc Active
by EB3SA - Carles 25 Jan '08

25 Jan '08

Hi to all AO-16 Now is active, good signals, pass 0633 utc over Europe. But no stations, actives...... nice ¡¡¡ 73´s. -- Carles Roy eb3sa(a)eb3sa.com www.eb3sa.com

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Re: AO-16 Insight ?
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 25 Jan '08

25 Jan '08

How do you spell high altitude mode "A", as in RS-15 (sobsob). I could work Europe from Seattle with an old two meter all mode radio. Simple, cheap gear hours and hours of enjoyment. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle -- "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it" -------------- Original message -------------- From: "John Henderson" <jah(a)ec.rr.com> > All, > > > > With the re-birth of A0-16, it is really wonderful to see the reaction of > all the folks who have worked the bird. Even with the odd configuration, > fading signals and tuning problems ,every message posted has reflected an > air of excitement and a sense of accomplishment. > > > > Maybe, there are some things AMSAT leadership and us members can garner from > this event. > > > > - LEOS aren't all bad > > - Simple frequency plans are good > > - No specialized amateur equipment is needed for a sat contact > > - Push/advertise the use of your existing gear to a prospective > member > > > > With all the talk and plans going on right now relative to new sats with > 1.2g/2.4g and sophisticated modes ( I understand the technical advantages > from the satellite point of view) that require expensive equipment and > antenna setups, maybe what we need to excite the membership ( and attract > new members) is to re-think where we should be heading. > > > > I am not suggesting HEO/GEO's are not needed because I want to work all > states myself and would love a larger footprint. > > > > The major issue at hand is attracting ,building and retaining a membership > base that will allow us to financially move forward with such products. We > can't do that by requiring high dollar outlays by prospective members for > new gear and antenna setups. That said, there is an argument for HEO/GEO's > on that ground in that you don't need a lot more gear, etc. but you do need > down converters and uplink transmitters for the higher freqs not normally > found in the 2/70 rigs the majority of hams have in the shacks. > > > > The need for increasing the membership base is critical, not only in AMSAT, > but in ham radio as a whole. We will not survive if ham radio in a broader > sense does not do well. We are but a small percentage of that decreasing > total. Ever wonder why Yaesu dropped the FT-847 and Icom hasn't built a > IC910H Pro version? > > > > Maybe our number one priority, instead of human space missions and building > facilities at a college, should be growing our membership base with a keep > it simple approach in the near future. > > > > Certainly, my view is limited as compared to AMSAT leadership. They have a > much broader and deeper view of the situation, but as an Area Coordinator > who goes to ham fests and schools in our area, what I always hear is " the > high cost of satellite setups". Once you get beyond the hand held they are > correct, particularly if we move away from technology present in most ham > shacks. > > > > I just re-read the Mission Statement on the AMSAT website and could not find > much about new members. I did find a lot about human space flight, > educational programs, HEO's and yes LEO's. > > > > If the stated objectives and mission statement reflects our members wants > and desires, I must assume I am not in tune with the average AMSAT member > when I read these statements and scratch my head and wonder if this reflects > the correct direction. It all sounds very good, technically intriguing, and > challenging but it also sounds expensive. > > > > Please understand this is not a condemnation of our officers and please do > not let this start a thread like we had a month a so ago, but if you chose > to reply be thoughtful and purposeful in your comments. I am willing to > stand corrected. > > > > With regards, > > > > John > > John Henderson N4NAB > > Area Coordinator- Eastern NC > > 212 Bayside Drive > > Cape Carteret, NC 28584 > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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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FW: [PNWVHFS] 10' dish available - FREE
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 25 Jan '08

25 Jan '08

This came across my inbox. Location is somewhere in Western Wa. 73 Bob W7LRD -- "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it" -------------- Forwarded Message: -------------- From: "W7CE" <w7ce(a)curtiss.net> To: <pnwvhfs(a)googlegroups.com> Subject: [PNWVHFS] 10' dish available - FREE Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 04:11:59 +0000 I company that I used to consult for is going out of business and has a 10' (approximate) dish that they need to get rid of. I'll be helping to disassemble it tomorrow and it needs to be hauled away no later than next Thursday. The dish is a Channel Master 3040740-01, and is free for the taking. If anyone is interested, contact me as soon as possible and I'll let them know. Otherwise, it will probably end up at the landfill. 73, Clay W7CE --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ ~The Voice of the Pacific NorthWest VHF Society~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups < BR>"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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Kansas City Tracker unknown parts...
by Larry 25 Jan '08

25 Jan '08

Hello everyone! I use the KCT to control my rotor, which works fine. However... I was looking through the junk drawer tonight, and found the original anti-static bag which has two 14 pin IC-style jumper boards inside. One of them has only 2 jumpers - one between pins 1 & 3, the other jumper between pins 4 & 6. These are both made with blue wire. The other IC block has a solder bridge between pins 2 & 3 and 5 & 6. Did these come with the board in its early stages of design? Does it even belong with the KCT? Just curious what these are for. I don't recall reading in the manual about them, either (tracker OR tuner). TIA... Larry N1MIW FN41

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C-Band receiver for P3E completed
by Peter Guelzow 25 Jan '08

25 Jan '08

Hi, the C-Band receiver for P3E is completed and currently under testing. More information can be found here: http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amsat-dl.org%2F%2F… original: http://www.amsat-dl.org//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=156&Item… 73s Peter DB2OS

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AO7
by k3szh＠netzero.net 25 Jan '08

25 Jan '08

Steve N3TE Congratulation on you 1000 qso on AO7, and you did it your way all on cw with a great first.And yes tnx for the many contacts with you. 73 Joe K3SZH Amsat 3788 _____________________________________________________________ Need cash? Click to get a cash advance. http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2221/fc/Ioyw6i4tF3DIBbdv4muFwm9kNhuj…

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Re: UO-11 up and running
by Clive Wallis 25 Jan '08

25 Jan '08

Hi, Many thanks for all the reports. Douglas KA2UPW/5 wrote - >Last month the clock was about 74 days slow, but it is now >about 81 days off. I suspect it probably stops during eclipses. It's lost about seven days in 63. That's probably around the total eclipse times. At the present time it's very stable at 81.36403 days slow. In the past UO-11 also used to send stored ASCII bulletins as well, but I think that capability of the satellite ended when the spacecraft computer turned off. Anyone know for sure? AFAIK, the computer was used to control the diary schedule, which enabled the satellite to capture and transmit many types of data, including a text bulletin. Before the computer switched off, it became difficult to command the satellite to upload the bulletins. 73 Clive G3CWV Hitchin, North Hertfordshire, UK.

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QSL Cards with AMSAT Logo
by John Marranca, Jr 25 Jan '08

25 Jan '08

CheapQSLs. They are excellent, and have made a custom re-print of my grandfather's card from 1938...but with my call and the AMSAT logo. http://www.cheapqsls.com John KB2HSH -- _______________________________ John Marranca, Jr PBX Technician/Shop Steward CWA Local 1122 BN Systems, Inc Orchard Park, NY (716)972-2006

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Re: AO-16 Report
by John Marranca, Jr 24 Jan '08

24 Jan '08

----- Original Message ----- From: "Ryan Butler" <rbutler at tsss.org> > > So, now that AO-16 is in this mode, is it possible to put the other > PACSAT's that are in MBL mode into voice repeater mode such as IO-26 and > LO-19? > > Ryan, NF0T I think that that would be incredible...if these satellites could all find a use again in the "bent-pipe" mode. It's almost funny, since these birds have been orbiting Earth doing not much of anything but sending telemetry. Good Luck Ground Team on this possibilty! John KB2HSH -- _______________________________ John Marranca, Jr PBX Technician/Shop Steward CWA Local 1122 BN Systems, Inc Orchard Park, NY (716)972-2006

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Ao-16 thrill
by Don Blachura 24 Jan '08

24 Jan '08

Hello Folks, I normally don't put much on the BB. But yesterday afternoon I worked Ao-16 here in the afternoon(46 deg pass). Not only was it great to work the bird but to meet an old friend that I used to work regularly on AO-40. Art Jenson of North Dakota. Had a great qso with Art and at signing I asked his age. His reply was 97, thats 1910! He was telling me that he has Doppler tacking now and a new Pc. Amazing at that age, and I sure hope to work he many times with his new setup. :-)) Don....w2xb

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