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

ARISS Queries--Answered
by Frank H. Bauer 09 Dec '08

09 Dec '08

All, The ARISS team has had a number of queries on several topics. It is hoped that this e-mail will answer these for you. 1) 25th Anniversary of Ham in Space Special Event Certificate---Many have asked how to receive the special certificate and what qualifies you for the certificate. Qualification: Those that have had 2 way communications with the ISS on Voice, Packet (APRS), or through the voice repeater. And those that have heard the ISS from space in any of the ARISS operations modes (Voice, SSTV, School Contact, Voice Repeater, Digital). Valid dates to qualify for certificate: November 30 to January 15. Receiving the Certificate: A) Please note on your QSL the ARISS mode of operation (e.g. SSTV, voice, school, etc) and whether the contact with you was 1 way (receive only) or 2 way. B) Send your SASE to the normal ARISS QSL volunteer distributor in your area of the world. C) On the outside of the QSL envelope, please include the words "25th Anniversary Certificate" D) Make sure your envelope is big enough to accept an 8.5 by 11 inch certificate and includes the proper postage. E) Go to www.ariss.org if you do not know where to send your QSL and please use one of the standard international QSL distributors that are noted on the Web page. Important note: We will be sending your certificate to the volunteer distributors in bulk AFTER the event is over. (This saves workload and money). So do not expect to see it until 1-2 months after the event closes on January 15. 2) Richard Garriott QSL Card---there are have several queries about the final results of Richard Garriott's flight and how the QSL cards will be handled. QSO Results: Richard made over 500 voice QSOs during his flight, clearly more than any single ham has made on-orbit during a short duration mission. And he sent down about 1000 SSTV images during his flight. QSL Card: Those that had a QSO with Richard can receive an ARISS QSL card using the normal ARISS process. (See www.ariss.org). Richard Garriott is also planning a personal card which is in development. Once it is developed, they will be shipped to the ARISS international QSL distribution volunteers for distribution. The current plan is that those that have already sent in for an ARISS QSL card will also get a Richard Garriott personal card once it is available. If you made a contact with Richard, have not sent in your QSL, and would like Richard's personal QSL card, please stand by for QSL distribution instructions until the QSL card is ready. The distribution of this special QSL will parallel how we are distributing the 25th Anniversary Certificate. 3) SSTV Operations Web Site---The ARISS team appreciated the special web page support from UC Berkeley. They allowed us to use their server to support SSTV operations during the Richard Garriott's flight. This was a temporary solution. The web site is currently down while we move the web pages from the Berkeley site to the AMSAT server. This should be completed in the next few days. You will see a follow-on e-mail with details on connecting up to the SSTV Operations server. We thank you for your patience. On behalf of the ARISS International team of volunteers, I thank you all for your interest and participation in the ARISS Program. 73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO AMSAT V.P. for Human Spaceflight Programs ARISS International Chairman

1 0

Re: SINAD Vs. Noise Figure Testing (Stan W1LE)
by RFI-EMI-GUY 09 Dec '08

09 Dec '08

Stan; Thank you for sharing your results for those of us who have SINAD meters but cannot afford a noise figure meter. I also thought your statement: "An additional test was performed, adding a fixed 10 dB BNC attenuator after the preamplifier and before the RX. The SINAD measurement did not change. This indicated that at least 10 dB of excess gain was present and can be eliminated. It is always best to minimize system gains to maximize the ability to handle strong signals and to reduce higher order intermodulation distortion." is very appropriate for radio system designers. I work in the land mobile radio field and many of the trunked systems use tower mounted preamplifiers with excess gain. The use of an attenuator between the preamplifier and the multicoupler to control IMD is often overlooked, misunderstood, and as you demonstrated may have a tremendous impact on the performance of a radio system. Thanks for sharing this. -- Joe Leikhim K4SAT "The RFI-EMI-GUY"© "Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason? For if it prosper, none dare call it treason." "Follow The Money" ;-P

1 0

Fw: AO-51 uplink changed to 145.880 MHz
by Raul Romero 09 Dec '08

09 Dec '08

its ok up 145.880 up 435.300 DW 73 Raul CA3SOC > "Are you still wasting your time with spam?... > There is a solution!" > > Protected by GIANT Company's Spam Inspector > The most powerful anti-spam software available. > http://mail.spaminspector.com > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Gould Smith" <gouldsmi(a)bellsouth.net> > To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 8:45 PM > Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-51 uplink changed to 145.880 MHz > > >> As of 2340Z, 9 Dec 2008 the 145.92 uplink to the main FM repeater on >> AO-51, has been changed. >> This change was due to interference on uplink frequency. >> >> V/U FM Repeater >> Uplink 145.880 MHz >> Downlink 435.300 MHz >> >> 73, >> Gould, WA4SXM >> for the AO-51 command team >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >

1 0

Frequency Stabilized Local Oscillators
by Stan W1LE 09 Dec '08

09 Dec '08

Hello The Net: Steve Hicks, N5AC, is designing frequency stabilized local oscillators that can be used in the (Down East Microwave Inc.) DEMI transverters or RX only, block down converters. Frequency stability is achieved by locking to a external 10 MHz house reference standard which could be a GPS disciplined oscillator, a OCXO, or a compact Rb reference oscillator. The Trimble Thunderbolt GPSDO is a very popular 10 MHz reference. We could use your help in disclosing what RFs and IFs you are using for present and proposed satellite transponders. Then we can calculate the local oscillator frequencies needed for the DEMI transverters. This stabilized LO can be used in place of the DEMI standard MICROLO pcb. The MICROLO pcb is used on transverters 900 MHz and higher. Most will use a "low beat" RF/IF mixer scheme, but if you use a "high beat" mixer scheme, let us know. A new design by Steve will allow factory programming for 256 different frequencies, in memory. Just change the jumpers for the pre-programmed LO freq you need for your satellite application. The objective of this inquiry is to determine what those 256 programmed frequencies should be. The DEMI transverter uses 2 pcbs, the MICROLO pcb and the transverter pcb. The transverter pcb multiplies the LO from the MICROLO pcb then mixes it. The transverter pcb LO multiplier on the 2,304 band is X2, for 3,456 MHz band is X3, for 5,760 MHz band is X5, for 10,368 MHz band is X9 Examples: (low beat mixer scheme) 2,401.0 MHz RF, RX only, block down converter with a 145.0 MHz IF output, low beat, 2,401.0 - 145.0 = 2,256.0 MHz, divided by 2 = 1128.0 MHz 2,400.0 - 432.0 = 1,968 MHz, divided by 2 = 984.0 MHz 2400.0 - 50.0 = 2,350.0 MHz, divided by 2 = 1,175.0 MHz 2439.0 - 144 = 2,239.0 MHz, divided by 2 = 1,147.5 MHz 3,400.0 MHz RF downlink with a 144 MHz IF: 3400.0 - 144.0 = 3256.0 MHz, divided by 3 = 10.85.333 MHz 3,400.0 - 432.0 = 2,968.0 MHz, divided by 3 = 989.333 MHz 5,668.0 MHx RF uplink with a 144 MHz IF: 5668 - 144 = 5,524 MHz 10,451.0 MHz RF downlink with a 144 MHz IF, LO = 10,451.0 - 144.0 = 10,307.0 MHz, divided by 9 = 1145.222 MHz for a 432 MHz IF, 10,451.0 - 432.0 = 10,019.0 MHz, divided by 9 = 1,113.222 MHz 10,386.0 MHz RF for terrestrial ops, 145.0 MHz IF, 10,368 - 145 = 10,223 MHz, divide by 9 = 1,135.888 MHz 10,368.0 MHz RF with 144.0 MHz IF, 10,368 - 144 = 10,224 MHz, divided by 9 = 1,136.0 MHz Look to: http://www.n5ac.com/blog/?page_id=19 for the N5AC products Look to: http://www.downeastmicrowave.com/A32.htm for more details on the synthesized LO pcb I will summarized your RF/IF combinations. (Hopefully there are not too many typos here) Stan, W1LE FN41sr Cape Cod

1 0

Re: PCSAT restoration maybe
by Alan Sieg WB5RMG 09 Dec '08

09 Dec '08

WB4APR sez: > We restored PCSAT on the first orbit this morning at 1315z, but > it did not hold. On the next pass at 1500z, the one-good shot > at a restoration was consumed by someone still digipeating via > W3ADO-1 and his packet took all the power, and our logon was > unsuccessful. Looks like maybe a couple of 'unattended' beacons . . . Maybe someone has an email address or phone number for these guys .??. They obviously have not gotten the word. (raw packets via http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/pcsat.cgi?absolute=1 ) 20081209163914 : KB0VBZ]SYSWUS,W3ADO-1*,qAS,KC0WIF-1:`r[Rl `/]=SYSWUS 20081209163710 : KB0VBZ]SYSWUS,W3ADO-1*,qAR,WM5Z-1:`r[Rl `/]=SYSWUS 20081209163435 : KB0VBZ]SYSWUS,W3ADO-1*,qAS,W7XZ-6:`r[Rl `/]=SYSWUS 20081209163424 : W3ADO-1]BEACON,SGATE,qAS,W7XZ-6:T#002,138,136,136,137,214,11111111,0001,1 20081209163023 : W3ADO-1]BEACON,SGATE,qAS,W7XZ-6:T#001,030,089,055,028,214,11111111,0000,1 20081209145842 : W3ADO]APRS,W3ADO-1*,qAR,KI4HDU-2:Ping...# 1 20081209145645 : VE3FFR]APRS,W3ADO-1*,SGATE,WIDE,qAR,KI4HDU-2:=4416.01N/07629.01W- (UIV32N) 20081209145532 : KB0VBZ]SYSWUS,W3ADO-1*,qAR,NK8X-3:`r[Rl `/]=SYSWUS 20081209145437 : KB0VBZ]SYSWUS,W3ADO-1*,qAR,K9DRX:`r[Rl `/]=SYSWUS 20081209145131 : KB0VBZ]SYSWUS,W3ADO-1*,qAR,XE1KK-1:`r[Rl `/]=SYSWUS 20081209132317 : NODIGI]BEACON,SGATE,qAo,VE2DMA:T#020,159,160,061,209,214,00110111,0111,1 20081209132121 : PCSAT-11]BEACON,SGATE,qAR,KC2APG-1:T#005,136,054,056,063,215,00110111,0000,1 Thanks /;^) -- <- Licensed in 1976, WB5RMG = Alan Sieg * AMSAT#20554 -> <- http://www.somenet.net * http://wb5rmg.somenet.net -> <- http://www.linkedin.com/in/alansieg * My 'Day Job' ->

3 2

AO-51
by Michael Heim 09 Dec '08

09 Dec '08

For the last week or 2 there seems to be a constant carrier on AO-51. I'm hearing people getting into the bird, but I cannot, even when running 50 watts into my little 3 element yagi. Is someone trying to jam this thing ? Only notice it on AO-51. Mike, kd0ar Amsat 36924

5 8

RE : seed II
by nader omer 09 Dec '08

09 Dec '08

HI Ed - KC9GWK I used Hamscope to decode CW ,HRD for Doppler correction with homebrew CI-V Then I decode the received TLM text by DK3WN's seed II decoder software http://www.dk3wn.info/sat/afu/sat_seeds.shtml You need to type the received TLM at input line to get the sat status. Take a look at my experiment at http://www.st2nh.com/satellites I hope this will help 73 -Nader - st2nh

1 0

Re: ISS 9600 succeeded in digipeat
by Mineo Wakita 09 Dec '08

09 Dec '08

We confirmed ISS 9600 digipeat over Japan. The frequency is 145.800MHz, not 145.825MHz ------------------------------------ ISS 145.800MHz simplex 9600bps G3RUH UNPROTO VIA RS0ISS-5 ------------------------------------ JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

3 2

San Diego plane crash was near us
by Phil Karn Jr KA9Q 09 Dec '08

09 Dec '08

That F/A-18 that went down in San Diego yesterday crashed about 870 m due west of us (Miramar is to the east). We're fine. I took some pictures of the area and put them on my website at http://www.ka9q.net/San_Diego_Fighter_Crash These are just of the surrounding neighborhood, not the site itself. But they give a sense of scale to this thing. I've never seen so many firemen, policemen and pieces of emergency equipment in one place before. 73, Phil

1 0

PCSAT restoration maybe
by Robert Bruninga 09 Dec '08

09 Dec '08

PCSAT web page: http://www.aprs.org/pcsat.html We restored PCSAT on the first orbit this morning at 1315z, but it did not hold. On the next pass at 1500z, the one-good shot at a restoration was consumed by someone still digipeating via W3ADO-1 and his packet took all the power, and our logon was unsuccessful. We have one more command pass chance for today at 1640z. Please we ask all users to not use the W3ADO-1 digi callsign until we get in and get a positive power balance. We only get ONE chance per orbit, and it must be a morning orbit, if that one packet is unssuccessful, the big logon response from PCSAT if it is not successful on the very first packet, then there is not enough energy left for retries. It dies and we do not get to try again until the next orbit. Thanks Bob, WB4APR

1 0