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

Antenna advice
by Jeff Mock 06 Jan '08

06 Jan '08

I'm new to satellite stuff. I got an Arrow-II antenna to get started. It works pretty well. I live in San Francisco and I can go on the deck or hang out the window and hear the easy satellites. I would like to graduate to sitting in a chair, inside, with two free hands, while working a satellite. What is a good choice for the next step up for an antenna that I can install on a flat roof for mode-J operation? Do I need an az-el rotator for the next step up or is there some cheaper/simpler solution? It will be about a 75-foot cable run from a roof antenna to my radio, will I need a mast-head type preamp for the receiver? thanks, jeff

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ANS-006 AMSAT Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 06 Jan '08

06 Jan '08

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-006 ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor(a)amsat.org In this edition: * AO-51 Entering Eclipse Free Period * Best Fist Nominations Due * South Africa AMSAT Space Symposium Call for Papers * Satellite Shorts From All Over * ARISS Status - 31 December 2007 SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-006.01 AO-51 Entering Eclipse Free Period AMSAT News Service Bulletin 006.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. January 6, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-006.01 AO-51 is about to enter a three month period of no eclipse. The command team will be determining the best operating modes and power levels during the first two weeks of January 2008. There will be no published schedule. The current modes of V/U FM repeater and L/U digital bulletin board may be common, but unpublished mode changes can occur at anytime. Please check the AMSAT BB or the Control Team News area of the web site for the latest information: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/CTNews.php . [ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM and the AO-51 Command team for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-006.02 Best Fist Nominations Due AMSAT News Service Bulletin 006.02 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. January 6, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-006.02 Many thanks to all who participated in Straight Key Night on OSCAR 2008. If you have not already done so, please take a moment to nominate someone you worked for Best Fist. Your nominee need not have the best fist of those you heard, but only of those you worked. Please send your nomination to w2rs(a)amsat.org. A list of those nominated will be published in an ANS bulletin in early February, and in The AMSAT Journal. [ANS thanks Ray, W2RS, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-006.03 South Africa AMSAT Space Symposium Call for Papers AMSAT News Service Bulletin 006.03 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. January 6, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-006.03 The South Africa AMSAT Space Symposium will be held in Durban on April 19th. Papers for presentation are now being solicited with a closing date for a synopsis on February 15th. Those selected will be advised that their presentation is one that's been selected and that completed copy must be submitted in Microsoft Word format before March 31st. Submit all submissions electronically to saamsat(a)intekom.co.za. [ANS Newsline for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-006.04 Satellite Shorts From All Over AMSAT News Service Bulletin 006.04 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. January 6, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-006.04 + A Powerpoint Presentation (in PDF format), "Satellites for Beginners" can be downloaded from: http://www.amsatsa.org.za/Satellites%20for%20Beginners.pdf + Jay, AA4FL made an AO7 Mode B contact with PY4AJ in grid GH70un. He is on the fringes of the footprint with a few other stations in the south of Brasil/Northern Argentina and will be looking for more contact opportunities. Jay invites e-mail at: drjay(a)gatordental.com to set up schedules. + Jim G3WGM, Hon Sec AMSAT-UK announced the dates for the next AMSAT-UK Colloquium are 25/26/27 July 2008. Location and general arrangements will be similar to last year's event. More details later. Please note the date in your diaries now. + Gould, WA4SXM says the parts list and other documentation for the LVB Tracker are now available at http://www.LVBTracker.com. This website will carry the latest information available for this project. [ANS thanks JoAnne, K9JKM, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-006.05 ARISS Status - 31 December 2007 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 006.05 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. January 6, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-006.05 1. ARISS Contact to be Rescheduled Due to technical difficulties, the December 27 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact scheduled with the 15 Korolev City School in Korolev, Russia was not successful. The contact will be rescheduled during January 2008. 2. ARISS Mentioned in QST The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) referred to Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) in its January 2008 QST. Under "This Just In" there was a section that read, "Astronauts aboard the ISS completed 74 contacts with schools during 2007, an ARISS record." [ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI, for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Lee McLamb, KU4OS ku4os at amsat dot org

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ANDE de-Orbit AWARD status
by Henk, PA3GUO 06 Jan '08

06 Jan '08

ANDE de-Orbit AWARD status Jan 06 --------------------------------- Today we have up to 39 requests for the AWARD. On http://www.ande-deorbit.com there is: - last telemetry, which came from JA0CAW (20071224222743) via email - all (!) telemetry received (from Satgates, but also via email) - the entire set of kepplers since launch back in Dec 2006 - sample of the AWARD - details on how to request the AWARD - status of processing of the various the requests - comments of participants in the event - and more ! We will soon start the printing, so please sign up if you still want to request an AWARD. The minimum data to qualify would be just any telemetry sample from the period December 15-24 2007. Mike & Henk http://www.ande-deorbit.com ps: award cost are kept low, and any surplus will be donated to an AMSAT satellite project.

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Decoding Telemetry from Amateur Satellites.
by John Henderson 06 Jan '08

06 Jan '08

Does anyone have a copy of the AMSAT book "Decoding Telemetry from Amateur Satellites. by Gould Smith WA4SXM" they are willing to part with?? It's the predecessor of the current digital book but I would like a copy of the older one as well. Thanks John John Henderson N4NAB 212 Bayside Drive Cape Carteret, NC 28584 252-725-2744 <mailto:[email protected]> n4nab(a)amsat.org <http://www.amsat.org/> http://www.amsat.org/

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Re: EL rotors
by Bob Bruninga 06 Jan '08

06 Jan '08

> I started out in Satellite with just azimuth ... > I used them for a couple years and bought a > 5400B and CP antennas and switchers. > This helped me make a lot more contacts... Good point! Although I recommend the AZ only TV rotator and small beams (ARROW class size) for all newcomers and most casual operations with all current satellites, the above post reminds me to make the following additional comment. That is, if you DO happen to buy the big high gain OSCAR class beams then you do probably need to invest in a full AZ/EL system and controllers, because with that added gain (which is NOT needed for any of the current satellites) the beamwidth is so narrow, that you have to be very precise with your tracking and pointing. This then also requires you to have more precise tracking elements and more frequent updates and precise setting of your PCs time etc... Its kinda like going for a hike in the woods. You can just put your tennies on and go for a walk in the woods, or you can go to Appalachian outfitters, spend about $3000 and go for the same walk in the woods... It all depends on whether your objective is to walk in the woods, or collect the best equipment money can buy. There is joy and satisfaction in both approaches. Bob, WB4APR

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GO-32 BBS Access
by Chris Bloy 05 Jan '08

05 Jan '08

Hi All, Can anyone tell me what software is used to access GO-32 and how to set it up? I have a TMD700 and can access the APRS service without problems, but unsure as to what and how to access the BBS? Many thanks, Chris No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.17.13/1209 - Release Date: 04/01/2008 12:05

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Re: OLPC Troubles
by Alan 05 Jan '08

05 Jan '08

I don't think that those who purchased a XO on the B1G1 initiative or who are developing in the XO environment on hardware or on a virtual machine should be concerned. On the link below, after getting thru the writer's comments about Intel, his comments on the Intel Classmate are interesting but I do not know first hand if his hardware comments are accurate. http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/01/04/intel-quits-olpc-huff An article about OLPC's response to the Intel resignation. http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2243814,00.asp The OLPC CTO also resigned as it appears the XO hardware development is now etched in stone and as we already know RTP. http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/01/02/olpc-cto-flies-coop And, as we also know, Linux, once stable, is all about drivers and open source apps, so the sky's the limit. Just a couple of untimely hits to OLPC that I think will have no more effect than the Nigerian 419 cons trying to sue OLPC for patent infringement before the XO was released... duh? http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/01/02/nigerian-court-stops- olpc More likely future news, IMHO, will be some philanthropic type stepping up to the plate and funding a few hundred thousand units. Move along now; nothing more to see here; get back to your code whacking. 73, Alan VE4YZ -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Keith N4ZQ Sent: January 4, 2008 5:28 PM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Cc: amsat-florida(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] OLPC Troubles AMSAT OLPC owners might find this interesting... >From BBC News . One laptop project dealt big blow Intel has pulled out of a project to put cheap laptops in the hands of children in the developing world. Citing "philosophical" differences, Intel has withdrawn its funding and technical help from the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project. OLPC aimed to boost learning in poorer nations via a custom-built laptop intended to cost no more than $100. Intel's withdrawal is a blow to OLPC which has found few nations willing to buy large numbers of laptops. Intel joined the OLPC in July 2007 and was widely expected to work on a version of the projects laptop that used an Intel chip. Many expected this machine to be unveiled at the CES technology fair which opens in Las Vegas on 5 January. The first versions of the OLPC or XO laptop were powered by a chip made by Intel's arch-rival AMD. The green and white XO machine was designed specifically for children, was ruggedised to cope with conditions in developing nations and could be kept powered using a hand crank. Intel spokesman Chuck Molly said it had taken the decision to resign from the OLPC board and end its involvement because the organization had asked it to stop backing rival low-cost laptops. The chip maker has been promoting its own cheap laptop, the Classmate, in many of the same places as the OLPC. "OLPC had asked Intel to end our support for non-OLPC platforms, including the Classmate PC, and to focus on the OLPC platform exclusively, " said Mr Mulloy . "At the end of the day, we decided we couldn't accommodate that request." He added that the use of AMD chips in the first XO laptops had not influenced its decision. Cost breakdown of OLPC laptop So far the OLPC has yet to comment on the split. Prior to Intel's involvement, OLPC founder Nicholas Negroponte criticized the chip firm for what he called its attempts to undermine the project's work. He said Intel was selling its Classmate at a loss to make the XO laptop less attractive. While Dr Negroponte's initial aim was for a laptop costing only $100 the final versions that have been trialled in Nigeria and Uruguay cost $188 (#95). Costs were supposed to be kept low by governments ordering the XO laptop in shipments of one million but large orders for the XO laptop have, so far, not materialized. In a bid to boost the numbers of laptops available OLPC ran a "Give One, Get One" program in the US from 12 November to 31 December. This allowed members of the public to buy two XO machines - one for themselves and one for a OLPC project elsewhere. OLPC said the success of this had helped it to launch programmes in Haiti, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Mongolia, and Afghanistan. _____________________________________________________________ Time Shares at affordable prices. Click Here. http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2221/fc/Ioyw6i4uHgxl1Iqa7HLOdJzcRiUQR JXzH5NQqtS3bJSBedox01J5W1/

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VE/OSC on SO-50
by Luc Leblanc 05 Jan '08

05 Jan '08

Could be someone can give me an e-mail address to reach VE3OSC station manager in Toronto i hear them calling CQ the whole pass on SO-50 January 5 1322 EDT but they seems to barely hear me when i was receiving the downlink solid Q5 20 db over S9. I got only the web master e-mail address Thank's for your help "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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Child's view about the OLPC, was Re:OLPC Troubles
by Peter Guelzow 05 Jan '08

05 Jan '08

Hi, this one is also from BBC News and gives a child's view about the OLPC... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7140443.stm 73s Peter DB2OS

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Re: AO-16
by Mark L. Hammond 05 Jan '08

05 Jan '08

Hi John, Currently AO-16 remains in the Microsat Boot Loader (MBL) and is transmitting some basic telemetry at a random rate. You can decode the telemetry with Mike's (DK3WN) excellent decoder, located here: http://www.dk3wn.info/software.shtml Thus far, efforts to recover AO-16 from its current MBL state have been unsuccessful. Analysis of the results obtained to date continue (nearly 2 months of recovery efforts at this point). I hope to do a bit more testing over the next several days. It is apparent that the "easy fix" of reloading the code hasn't been working. Our observations suggest that the old bird has some issues affecting its memory; this isn't good news. So, AO-16 is either functional/semi-functional/non-functional depending on your definitions and expectations :) 73, >Hello everybody... > >Does anyone know the current status of AO-16? Is it just sending telemetry. >or is it functional/semi-functional? > >Curious. > >John KB2HSH > Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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