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

Newbie question about AO-07
by Mark Lunday, WD4ELG 02 Nov '08

02 Nov '08

For some reason, I cannot seem to find info which indicates the mode for the pass...mode A or B. I usually figure it out after listening on 145 downlink and not hearing anything then going to the 29 MHz downlink. Once, I even heard my downlink on 29.45 MHz at the start of the pass only to hear it stop. Was not sure what happened until I started tuning around and discovered the bird had SWITCHED from mode A to mode B in the middle of the pass! So my question is...other than trial and error or listening for the beacons (which won't help if the bird switches during the pass), is there any pattern or location of information for the prediction of the mode? Thanks, as I am thrilled each time I can get through this oldie-but-goodie with 5 watts on CW. What a blast! An additional question since the batteries have long ceased to function on AO-7, it only works during sunlight passes. Somebody mentioned that this will happen less and less as we get close to winter solstice. Is this because AO7 is in a northerly LEO orbit? If it passes in the southern hemisphere, would it not have MORE available online time? I see http://planetemily.com/ao7/Eclipse.php but it's not a predictor for November 2008 (and I am not sure I understand it anyway). Should I just set Orbitron/HRD for AO7 "in sunlight/illumination" only option? Mark Lunday WD4ELG wd4elg(a)arrl.net http://wd4elg.net

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Re: AO-7 tonight - would like to receive
by Henk, PA3GUO 02 Nov '08

02 Nov '08

Hi Auke, Joe, > I have tried to hear the mode A and B beacon a few times over > the last few weeks, and did not hear anything. Just tested if I could hear the beacons during a 58 degrees pass. While I could clearly hear SSB/voice of the users (145.950) I did not hear the beacons on either 29.502, 145.9775 nor 435.1 Mhz. This confirms the observation of Auke. Just as FYI. Success ! Henk, PA3GUO http://www.pa3guo.com

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Re: AO-7 tonight - would like to receive
by K8KFJ＠aol.com 02 Nov '08

02 Nov '08

In a message dated 11/1/2008 8:24:29 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, joehol(a)windows.microsoft.com writes: > During the last pass right now, I did not hear a beacon around > 145.975 - should I be? Like you, I just listened in tonight Joe during the last pass (TCA was 0108z at my QTH). I heard Andre N0SWE work Charlie on SSB (didn't get Charlie's K3 call). There were others like a WB5 but I didn't write down the callsigns. Sorry, I didn't really try to listen for the beacon .. just the QSOs. I was however disappointed that I didn't hear any CW QSOs. Not sure if that's the normal case or not. Anyway, I just wanted you to know that there was activity. 73, Gary -K8KFJ- West Virginia _k8kfj(a)amsat.org_ (mailto:k8kfj@amsat.org) AMSAT #32574 Sat VUCC #125 **************Plan your next getaway with AOL Travel. Check out Today's Hot 5 Travel Deals! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212416248x1200771803/aol?redir=htt…)

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Stations heard on 145.825
by Fred VE3FAL 01 Nov '08

01 Nov '08

These are the stations heard today on 145.825.. VE3FAL,KB0VBZ,W4AEJ,AK4KO-2,KC9DOA-5,RS0ISS-4,N0AN-6,K4IPH,KB1GVR,KD8ATF,W1C GT-8,KG4GWB-7,AB0XK,WA6YET,K9JKM,K2RQA,N2ONU,N1DIQ,W6BME,WB8MKH,VE3TZS,W5FFP -1,WB9IIV,WA4SXM-6,RS0ISS-11,VE7MKF-1,KN4F,WD9HYM,KE5MKT-9,K5VAS, Using UISS.. Fred VE3FAL

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Re: where to get Fiberglass rod for elevation
by WILLIAMS MICHAEL 01 Nov '08

01 Nov '08

For my elevation rotor, I went to Mennards and purchased a close closet rod. Its made out of very strong wood. I gave it a few coats of paint and it's been in use since the early days of AO-40. I also purchased a Max-Gain fiberglass rod (best price and good product). Since the wood rod is still going strong, the fiberglass rod is in the garage laying on the floor. GL, Mike (K9QHO) AMSAT 33589

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Operational Amateur Satellites
by Paul 01 Nov '08

01 Nov '08

Hi, I am still learning to work with satellites. I am looking for an up to date list of operational amateur satellites with the working frequencies etc. I looked at one the Amsat page and the last update was 9th April 2006. Can anyone tell me a site that is more recent. 73 and TNX de Paul OE8PCK

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QSL
by Frank H. Bauer 01 Nov '08

01 Nov '08

Greg, You have three choices. You can send for an ARISS QSL in the usual manner. Or you can wait to see if Richard will be developing an additional card. Or you can do both (if the second option opens up). Either way I think you will want both cards, so if you are "itching" send it through the ARRL channels as shown on the ARISS web page www.ariss.org. And to clarify about your comment reagarding Richard's flight not being an ARISS event, Richard's activities were coordinated through the ARISS volunteer team. I am not sure what you meant by that comment. But all amateur radio activity on ISS (Development and Operations) is coordinated through the ARISS international team. Thanks for all your interest in ARISS. 73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO From: "Greg D." <ko6th_greg(a)hotmail.com> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: QSL To: Amsat-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <BLU133-W12B175E9B6ABB367F55365A9200(a)phx.gbl> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Hi Kenneth, The FAQ page that is linked to the SSTV upload site (http://ariss-sstv.ssl.berkeley.edu/SSTV/faq.php) says: "How do I QSL or SWL? Details are being finalized for the handling of QSL/SWL cards. Please check back again soon for more information." That page is probably newer than the ARISS site, and since Richard's flight was not directly an ARISS event, it would seem that other arrangements are being made... Which site should I trust? My card is itching to be mailed... Greg KO6TH

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Fw: Special Event - 11-1-08
by Peter 01 Nov '08

01 Nov '08

> Hi All, > > We will be operating hand held from the Fire Island Light House, FN30, > tomorrow on the FM Satellites. If you contact us, the sponsoring club > GSBARC will send you a beautiful certificate, with a picture of the Fire > Island Lighthouse. So when you hear W2GSB/LH give us a call; who knows, we > might apply for a new Lighthouse award. > > Nov 1, 1200Z-2100Z, Fire Island, NY. Great South Bay Amateur Radio Club, > W2GSB/LH. Celebrating the 150th year of the Fire Island Lighthouse. SSB > 14.260 7.250 3.755 CW 14.040 7.030 3.530 PSK 14.070. QSL. W2GSB/LH, PO Box 1356, West Babylon, NY 11704. www.gsbarc.org SASE #10 envelope > > 73, and Happy Halloween! > Pete, WB2OQQ >

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Re: Newbie question about AO-07
by Luc Leblanc 01 Nov '08

01 Nov '08

On 31 Oct 2008 at 19:41, Dave Guimont wrote: not by some "go to the store and buy a > push button radio" to make it easy!! AO51 FM voice!! Waste of money... > Hi Dave You make me remember the time just before the first cellular phone come on the market they where quite expensive 1500$. Many ham club base their recruiting on the "phone patch" a FREE and easy available look a like cellular push button phone... Membership increased by a factor of 10 here but if i'm looking at the 2008 membership theses new "push button hams" disappear in thin air! I previously wrote about AMSAT-NA recruiting ideas" This recruiting is not aiming the right target at all. Refocused the recruiting campaign towards college and universities with some appealing actual argumenting will be far more effective IMHO." There is no need to have spectacular stage effect to attract. Just make small move around your community. It takes a very small amount of very small things to show the crowds what's HAM radio is about. I just come out the scout jamboree and look at my web page www.qsl.net/ve2dwe it takes a straight CW key on one side and the ISS with SSTV pictures on the other to have young folks making their first contact with ham radio. P.S. the newspaper article is in french if someone needs a translation just ask for it. "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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Old video from southgate
by Diane Bruce 01 Nov '08

01 Nov '08

Hi, This showed up on my RSS feed from southgate today: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/november2008/satellite_for_all_amateurs.htm It's a short article about phase 3 satellites, it is dated but still quite interesting. The direct youtube link is: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvx6ImOFDsA - 73 Diane VA3DB -- - db(a)FreeBSD.org db(a)db.net http://www.db.net/~db

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