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

ISS repeater
by Håkan Harrysson 31 Jan '08

31 Jan '08

Hello, Looks to me the ISS repeater was right now activated as i heard some strange activity on 145800. Short after that i heard UA1TDZ calling CQ. Lets hear from people along the path. 73 Hakan SM7WSJ

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AO-16 over West Malaysia
by 9w2qc＠9w2qc.net 31 Jan '08

31 Jan '08

Hi All, I am pleased to submit my first operation report of AO-16 over West Malaysia. Uplink: 145.920 MHz +/- Downlink: 437.025 MHz +/- Maximum Elevation: 25 degrees AOS: 1654 Local or 0854 UTC I did not switch on the PC to perform automatic antenna and doppler tracking, so everything was done manually. Downlink doppler tuning was not as difficult as expected, though it takes some effort to tune the downlink especially approaching TCA. The downlink signal was very strong too, even without the mast head preamp switched on. USB seem to sound slightly better than LSB. Surprisingly this bird hears very well. About 30 watts of uplink power into 2x10 elements horizontally polarized stacked yagi for 2M was about enough. On the downlink, a 2x15 elements horizontally polarized stacked yagi for 70 CM was used. No stations were heard except HS1EAX that was coming in 59. Replied his call, but unfortunately, I got no response. I am really looking forward to work more stations via this amazing new bird soon. My thanks to the command team for taking all the effort to put this bird into the VHF FM/UHF SSB voice repeater mode. 73, Sion Chow Q. C., 9W2QC.

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Vers 2.2.1 of PB/PG for Linux released
by Bent 31 Jan '08

31 Jan '08

I'm happy to announce release 2.2.1 of PB/PG for Linux. PB and PG for Linux are programs used for download from and upload to digital satellites (Pacsats) supporting the FTL0 protocol. This software allows you to directly communicate with the Microsat series of satellites. It provides a Curses (Ncurses) based user interface. It features automatic directory fill requests and simple, rules based file download requests. This release serves two purposes: 1) To show that the project is still alive and kicking 2) To correct a number of small 'inconveniencec' and to add a few new features. These changes/additions are described in the document 'ReleaseNotes' q.v. (included in the release) PB/PG for Linux may be downloaded (in source form only) from one of these places: - www.fern.dk /pgpg/pbpg-2.2.1.tar.gz - ibiblio.org /pub/linux/apps/ham/pbpg-2.2.1.tar.gz - ftp.amsat.org /amsat/software/Linux/pbpg-2.2.1.tar.gz I may be contacted using this address: oz6bl (at) amsat (dot) org Happy hamming Best 73 de Bent/OZ6BL

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Vers 2.2.1 of PB/PG for Linux released
by Bent 31 Jan '08

31 Jan '08

I'm happy to announce release 2.2.1 of PB/PG for Linux. PB and PG for Linux are programs used for download from and upload to digital satellites (Pacsats) supporting the FTL0 protocol. This software allows you to directly communicate with the Microsat series of satellites. It provides a Curses (Ncurses) based user interface. It features automatic directory fill requests and simple, rules based file download requests. This release serves two purposes: 1) To show that the project is still alive and kicking 2) To correct a number of small 'inconveniencec' and to add a few new features. These changes/additions are described in the document 'ReleaseNotes' q.v. (included in the release) PB/PG for Linux may be downloaded (in source form only) from one of these places: - www.fern.dk /pgpg/pbpg-2.2.1.tar.gz - ibiblio.org /pub/linux/apps/ham/pbpg-2.2.1.tar.gz - ftp.amsat.org /amsat/software/Linux/pbpg-2.2.1.tar.gz I may be contacted using this address: oz6bl (at) amsat (dot) org Happy hamming Best 73 de Bent/OZ6BL

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Delfi C-3
by Luc Leblanc 31 Jan '08

31 Jan '08

The countdown clock is at -32 days and i cannot find any decoding software on their site? It will be a good thing if they want to have amateur stations to decode the telemetry to make their software available a couple of weeks before the launch in a way to be able to play with it a bit before starting to decode Bugs, problems, incompatibility with OS "VISTA"... and so on will be better solved right now rather than the day before launch! Radio Amateur section Delfi-C3 will have a downlink in the amateur satellite segment of the VHF amateur radio frequency band. Telemetry decoding software will be made available to participating amateur radio operators and universities which allows them to decode and display real time telemetry. Furthermore, the software allows for a data upload to the central Delfi-C3 ground station via the Internet for data processing. The Delfi- C3 team would like to invite all interested radio amateurs to receive, decode and forward telemetry data to the Delfi-C3 ground station. "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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Macbook and U232-P9 serial
by Andrew Rich 31 Jan '08

31 Jan '08

Howdy I am hoping someone might me able to help. I am making good progress with my new macbook, I have xastir running in brilliant colour and my gpredict install is coming along. I was disapointed when I plugged in my U232-P9 USB to serial device and the macbook would not see it. I have searched the net and tried a few drivers to no avail. I re-checked the device on a windows box and yes it is still fine. Ideas ? What device do you use ? Andrew VK4TEC

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gpredict
by Andrew Rich 31 Jan '08

31 Jan '08

I am almost there with gpredict on mac os x All i have left to do is GTK+ GLIB GTHREAD ideas ? Andrew VK4TEC

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Rotor freezing and S mode
by Luc Leblanc 31 Jan '08

31 Jan '08

With the actual A0-51 configuration U/S transmitters ON i recheck my BBQ grill performance. As i expected a bumpy ride on S band it was exactly what i got! Signal with deep fades from nil to s9+ 60! Did anyone succeed in reducing theses fades? probably attempting to circularized the feed can be a part of the solution as i used the original linear feed. Guessing the problem i cover the grill with screen mesh at the first installation but i don't know what type of feed will be best for grill shape Patch? helix? it will be interesting to see what you are using in a way to kill theses ugly fades. Looking for a solution to my KR-500 elevation rotor freezing i succeed at 100% with a simple and cheap battery heating pad available at you nearest auto parts store for 25$+- It gives 80 watts and you just have to roll the pad around the rotor casing with a generous layer of duct tape. In bonus as you now have AC up the tower you can add a lamp this way you can see your antennas position in the dark making your antenna structure even more intriguing for you neighbours... P.S. Magnetic heaters are not practical as there is not enough flat and even surface to have a good contact. "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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Libertad Beacon ?
by john heath 31 Jan '08

31 Jan '08

Anyone know if this cubesat is still sending beacon signals? 73 John g7hia

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FW: 25 watt Moonbounce
by Les Listwa 30 Jan '08

30 Jan '08

Regardless if this is a record or not, the PR is great for the Ham community in general. Also, his accomplishments and the PR hopefully will motivate some of those working the birds to download the WJST software and slew their modest antennas towards the moon. Six months ago, on a whim I downloaded the WJST software, aimed my 20 element crossed yagi 2M satellite antenna at the moon and heard W5UN and worked him. I was so excited and felt like a Novice making my first contact. Since then I have made over 100 contacts ( although, I have slowly grown my antennas and power to do it). I happened to be on the air the day Angus made the contact. I could not hear him, but I heard the other station he was working. He was luckily ( or smart enough) to pick one of the few days of the month when EME conditions were close to perfect and also picked up an additional 6 db of ground gain as he was working the moon on his Horizon. He also was compensating for Faraday rotation as he was switching between horizontal and Vertical elements through out the QSO. Was it a record? It does not matter. It was an accomplishment! And hopefully it will serve as motivation for anyone with even a modest satellite station to aim for the moon. Les WB2SZR, Daniel W2DBL

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