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

Re: amsat-bb] Gulf Alpha Antenna Model No.2M 70CM Sat. (Dual
by Mike Ryan 26 Dec '08

26 Dec '08

Why not start with upgrading from handheld using what you already have before making the leap to the expensive antenna? I was recently right where you are in development but will hold off a little bit.This is what I did. I already had a Elk, and Arrow, 2 FT-857s, a switched AR2 (not mast mounted) preamp. I also picked up a Comet CF-416 duplexer. I put the Elk on a Alliance U100 and set elevation for 20 degrees, so far just out on sawhorse in the back yard. It works great and does very well for both FM Sats and SSB. Does as well as standing outside but much warmer for the winter and I can safely push a little more power. I run up to 35 W on 2M and 20 W on 70cm but rarely is more than 5 W needed on 2M. I do experience a little crosstalk running V/U but none running U/V. When it gets too annoying I just switch to Xmitting on my 2M turnstile. In my experience, the turnstile is more than enough for the VHF side. Its the 70cm side that really needs all the help it can get. I can routinely start copying at 5-7 degrees or so, even without being on the roof. Will a beefier antenna do better? Probably, but I was so intrigued by what I had on hand could do that I will run it for a while. Mike WB1AAT

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Gulf Alpha Antenna Model No.2M 70CM Sat. (Dual Band Antenna)
by Guy Brauning 26 Dec '08

26 Dec '08

Hello and thanks for reading this. I am looking for some "Owner Experience" before making a decision about buying one of the Gulf Alpha dual band satellite antennas. I know the antenna is a compromise compared to a pair of circular polarized yagis; however, I am looking for a less expensive alternative for a basic 2M/70CM base set-up. My only experience with the satellites has been with handheld/portable radios (FT-60R and FT-817ND) and the Arrow and ELK handheld antennas. My guess is that the Gulf Alpha dual band satellite antenna (installed above obstructions and with an AZ rotator / low loss feed lines / and a 70CM mast mounted pre-amp) would be comparable if not considerably better than the handheld Arrow/ELK for FM work on AO-51 and SO-51 (for passes at or below 40 degrees max elevation) but I would also like to work some of the linear sats on SSB/CW and I don't know if the antenna would meet that need. (I already have a 2Meter all mode in addition to the FT-817 as well as a refurbished CD-44 rotor.) If this antenna would support reliable CW/SSB contacts on the linear satellites, it would be a good fit. I would install the antenna at approximately 25 feet in height, leave it fixed at 15 degs elevation using the supplied mast mount, and rotate it with a CD-44 rotator. I plan on using LMR-600 coax for the 432 run and LMR-400U for the 2 meter run (Total length for each run about 30 - 40 feet). I would also use an AR2 mast mounted 432 preamp and Polyphasers at the shack entry with appropriate jumpers (best loss specs vs. needed flexibility) from the Polyphasers to the radios. Radios would be a Yaesu FT-290R MKII (2 MTR All-Mode) and a Yaesu FT-817ND for 432. I'm looking for someone with experience using the Gulf Alpha to let me know their opinion of how well the antenna might play given my anticipated installation specifics. Thanks for your help! Guy N3SCR

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Re: 4A1DXXE via FM satellite this weekend
by John Marranca, Jr 26 Dec '08

26 Dec '08

Sounds great, Pat. But I can just hear the CHAOS on the FM-sats already! 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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Telemetry.
by John Hackett 26 Dec '08

26 Dec '08

Dear Amsat friends, While having many years experience of analogue satellite operating, I'm the first to admit that I'm a *TOTAL* ignoramous regarding 'digitalis horriblis' ... so please don't 'smirk' at my question. Is the telemetry from AO-51 transmitted continuously?, or only at certain specified times? ... on 435.150? ... I 'could' probably find the answer to these questions by 'Googling' ... but isn't the Amsat-bb here for this precise purpose?. Answers on a $100 note please, to <la2qaa(a)amsat.org> ... failing the C note, an e-mail *WILL* be just as appreciated. In anticipation of your answers - thank you. Wishing you all a happy and prosperous 2009. 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org>

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4A1DXXE via FM satellite this weekend
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 26 Dec '08

26 Dec '08

Hi! The Mexican DX group DXXE has been authorized to use the special callsign 4A1DXXE to commemorate the 4th anniversary of the founding of their group, between 25 December 2008 and 6 January 2009. Along with plans to operate on the HF bands, DXXE members will put 4A1DXXE on the FM satellites during this time - and, in particular, this weekend. If you work 4A1DXXE, the QSL manager for this call is N7RO. Contacts will also be uploaded to the ARRL Logbook of the World system. Good luck and 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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NEW AMATEUR FM SATELLITE FROM KACST!
by nader omer 26 Dec '08

26 Dec '08

HI all During the last summer I meet .Mark Kanawat (N4TPY) from SpaceQuest during a visit to KSA with Dr.Abd Alaziz Alsagir from King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) at shack of Firas HZ1FS at Riyadh city. We had a nice friendly meeting Dr.Alsagir mentions and discussed the possibility of Adding a FM amateur satellite repeater to The future planed satellite from KACST I hope we will have another new Amateur FM Satellite soon from KACST photo of the meeting at my homepage link http://www.st2nh.com/news 73 Nader ,st2nh www.st2nh.com

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Apollo 8 Press Kit
by Clint Bradford 26 Dec '08

26 Dec '08

OK - Sorry 'bout this ... I promise this will be my last nostalgic post of the season ... The original press kit for Apollo 8: http://gizmodo.com/5118084/the-apollo-8-original-press-kit Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 909-241-7666

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Re: Apollo 8 Press Kit
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 26 Dec '08

26 Dec '08

Clint- Don't apologize, this is cool stuff. Or we can always reminisce about past HEO's. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle -- "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it" -------------- Original message -------------- From: Clint Bradford <clintbrad4d(a)earthlink.net> > OK - Sorry 'bout this ... I promise this will be my last nostalgic > post of the season ... > > The original press kit for Apollo 8: > > http://gizmodo.com/5118084/the-apollo-8-original-press-kit > > > Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 > 909-241-7666 > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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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XE1AO from DK99 through Friday night (North America)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 26 Dec '08

26 Dec '08

Hi! I had a chance to talk with Omar XE1AO after AO-51 and SO-50 passes around 0035-0105 UTC tonight. Omar was very happy with the chance to work several USA and Mexican stations on AO-51, and once again had an easy time on SO-50 with a few QSOs. Omar does not plan on being on AO-51 Friday morning from DK99, as it is too cold for him to go outside (below freezing). He is planning to work AO-51 and SO-50 Friday evening before heading home, if you still want a chance to get DK99 in your log. Merry Christmas and 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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KE5GDB -> EM20 (North of Houston) through Tuesday
by Andrew Koenig 26 Dec '08

26 Dec '08

Hello all- I will be active in EM20 Friday through Tuesday. Every year my Boy Scout troop attends a winter camp program at Camp Strake, and this year I plan to bring my new Arrow Antenna along with an FT-60. Although I will do my best to make it on the birds, there will be times when I'll be eating the (horrible..) camp food or doing other activities during the pass times. Anyway, hope to hear y'all on the birds, and hopefully I can do a few demonstrations for my troop! 73 de KE5GDB (Life Scout) -- Andrew Koenig

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AO-51 Telemetry
by Peter 25 Dec '08

25 Dec '08

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all, I will be using a PK-96 to decode AO-51 TLM using TLM echo, what terminal program are you using and what are the TNC commands that you use, thank you. 73, Pete, WB2OQQ

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Earthrise - add
by Clint Bradford 25 Dec '08

25 Dec '08

That first, incredibly wonderful black-and-white Earthrise photo almost didn't happen. From NASA transcripts: 075:47:30 Borman (onboard): Oh, my God! Look at that picture over there! Here's the Earth coming up. Wow, is that pretty! 075:47:37 Anders (onboard): Hey, don't take that, it's not scheduled. There was limited film available for the Hasselblad ... and what was in it at that moment was a black-and-white magazine. Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 909-241-7666

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Happy Holidays from FN02
by John Marranca, Jr 25 Dec '08

25 Dec '08

Good Morning to all of my friends around the world... Peace, security, and prosperity this holiday season and in 2009 to all. 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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A politically correct Christmas greeting
by Alan P. Biddle 25 Dec '08

25 Dec '08

>From a lawyer: >From us ("the wishors") to you ("hereinafter called the wishee"): Please accept without obligation, explicit or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, politically correct, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion or secular practice of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions. Please also accept, under aforesaid waiver of obligation on your part, our best wishes for a financially successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of this calendar year of the Common Era, but with due respect for the calendars of all cultures or sects, and for the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, choice of computer platform or dietary preference of the wishee. By accepting this greeting you acknowledge that: This greeting is subject to further clarification or withdrawal at the wishor's discretion. This greeting is freely transferable provided that no alteration shall be made to the original greeting and that the proprietary rights of the wishor are acknowledged. This greeting implies no warranty on the part of the wishors to fulfill these wishes, nor any ability of the wishors to do so, merely a beneficent hope on the part of the wishors that they in fact occur. This greeting may not be enforceable in certain jurisdictions and/or the restrictions herein may not be binding upon certain wishees in certain jurisdictions and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wishors. This greeting is warranted to perform as reasonably may be expected within the usual application of good tidings, for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first. The wishor warrants this greeting only for the limited replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wishor. Any references in this greeting to "the Lord", "Father Christmas", "Our Savior", or any other festive figures, whether actual or fictitious, dead or alive, shall not imply any endorsement by or from them in respect of this greeting, and all proprietary rights in any referenced third party names and images are hereby acknowledged. Sincerely, Dewey, Cheetham, and Howe Attorneys at Law ==================================================== And a sincere, unreserved Christmas greeting from WA4SCA!

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A Quantum Mechanical Analysis of the Santa Claus problem
by Daniel Schultz 25 Dec '08

25 Dec '08

Every year about this time, various analyses go out over the net purporting to show that Santa Claus cannot possibly exist, because of the extremely high speeds and accelerations required for him to make his rounds, absence of chimneys or other means of ingress, etc. The analysis about the death of Santa Claus, based on classical physics, is seriously flawed owing to its neglect of quantum phenomena that become significant in his particular case. An application of Quantum Mechanics to the Santa Claus problem shows that the situation is not nearly so hopeless as a classical analysis would have you believe: Consider the following: * Santa is never directly observed, but indirect evidence of him abounds. * If direct observation is attempted (say, by staying up all night with the lights on), not only is Santa not observed, but the indirect evidence of his presence does not appear either--only if no attempt is made to observe Santa do the stockings get filled. * Evidence of Santa appears in multiple locations simultaneously throughout the world. (The multiplicity of time zones does not substantially alter this argument, and will therefore be ignored.) * Evidence of Santa appears even in rooms that are separated from the rest of the universe by barriers (small or non-existent chimneys) that Santa cannot classically pass through. It is obvious, then, that Santa can best be described by a quantum-mechanical wavefunction SC, which is nonzero at midnight on Christmas eve throughout the world. Like other quantum-mechanical wavefunctions, it is not confined to one spatial location, and can "tunnel" through classical barriers (house walls and roof), producing a potentially nonzero expectation value in (classically forbidden) living rooms and apartments. Children expect Santa to arrive; therefore, in living spaces with the child operator (closely related to the annihilation operator), the expectation value is small but finite, and a small but finite fraction of Santa's presents are deposited. However, if an attempt is made to observe Santa, the observation finds the Santa wavefunction in either a "not-Santa" (OC|SC> = |SC->) or "Santa" (OC|SC> = |SC+>) eigenstate. Because of the very small expectation value of the Santa function (approximately the reciprocal of the number of houses Santa visits, adjusted by local "naughty" and "nice" operators), the eigenstate is extremely likely to be "not-Santa" (|SC->)--no presents appear. One cannot really blame these intrepid experimentalists, however: if one of them did succeed in finding Santa in the "Santa" (|SC+>) state, he or she would not only have unprecedented direct evidence of Santa Claus, but would find Santa's entire load of presents deposited in his or her living room. (The foregoing analysis attributed to R. Carey Woodward, Jr., Ph.D.) Another, less mathematical, analysis (gotta love Google) is that: As it happens, the terminal velocity of a reindeer in dry December air over the Northern Hemisphere (for example) is known with tremendous precision. The mass of Santa and his sleigh (since the number of children and their gifts is also known precisely, ahead of time, and the reindeer must weigh in minutes before the flight) is also known with tremendous precision. His direction of flight is, as you say, essentially east to west. All of that, when taken together, means that the momentum vector of Mr Claus and his cargo is known with incredible precision. An elementary application of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle yields the result that Santa's location, at any given moment on Christmas Eve, is highly imprecise. In other words, he is "smeared out" over the surface of the earth, analogous to the manner in which an electron is "smeared out" within a certain distance from the nucleus in an atom. Thus he can, quite literally, be everywhere at any given moment. (Author unknown) Merry Christmas. Get to bed tonight and maybe Santa will bring Amsat a launch vehicle in 2009. Dan Schultz N8FGV

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AO-7 Log screw-up
by N3TL＠bellsouth.net 25 Dec '08

25 Dec '08

My apologies to all who use the AO-7 log. You'll see that,according to my last entry, I worked K1VZI an hour after he worked me. My CW is slow, but it's really not that slow.... Merry Christmas to all, Tim - N3TL

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ESEO Project latest news!
by Graham Shirville 25 Dec '08

25 Dec '08

Hi All, For the latest update on the ESEO mission visit the AMSAT-UK website http://www.uk.amsat.org/ Season's Greetings and wishing you great success with your satellite activities in 2009 73 Graham G3VZV

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Happy Holidays
by Bill Greene 25 Dec '08

25 Dec '08

I just wanted to take a second to wish my friends all over the world a very Happy and Safe Holiday Season from my family to their's. For a New Years resolution you can expect Station VE7WFG to be back on the satellites. Kindest Regards, Merry Christmas, and a very Happy New Year. Bill Greene VE7WFG Amsat# 29777 DO00jk, Armstrong British Columbia, Canada

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Happy Birthday Earthrise
by Clint Bradford 25 Dec '08

25 Dec '08

It was 40 years ago tonight that we all were glued to our TV sets, watching the first Earthrise... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7797439.stm Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 909-241-7666

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Re: 2008 was fantastic - and: a Happy New Year !
by GW1FKY＠aol.com 24 Dec '08

24 Dec '08

Hi Hank, A very well put together summary of the hobby and this years amateur satellite events etc. May I also ( I am sure on behalf of many ) also say thank you to you for your very valuable contribution in passing on your feedback and information via your web page. Seeing your success and your time and effort bringing success with the satellites, has I am sure, also contributed to helping many others pursue the same aims.. Thanks again. Best wishes to you and all, I trust that the new year brings good luck to stir on success and rewards. Ken Eaton GW1FKY Amsat - UK Amsat NA

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Happy Holidays To All
by Bill Ress 24 Dec '08

24 Dec '08

Hello to all, As Henk, PA3GUO pointed out so well, we have many operational satellites to be thankful for. But, we're always anxious for even more and better satellites and as a new member of the AMSAT-NA management team I can tell you that the organization is working very hard to redefine itself along it's revised Mission Vision, with the sincere desire to bring even more exciting satellites to the Amateur satellite community. So, as we head into an uncertain New Year on many fronts, be certain that AMSAT-NA is working hard to deserve you support and membership. To all of you, my best wishes for a happy Holiday season and a much better New Year. Regards...Bill - N6GHz

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Re: Amateur Satellites mentioned on BBC News
by Clint Bradford 24 Dec '08

24 Dec '08

Someone in England should send a "thank you" to the BBC ... either via their online "BBC News website feedback" page or to their postal address ... BBC News Web Site Room 7540 BBC Television Centre Wood Lane London W12 7RJ This media contact can prove to be very useful in the future! Clint Bradford

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2008 was fantastic - and: a Happy New Year !
by Henk, PA3GUO 24 Dec '08

24 Dec '08

Dear satellite radio friends, With the end of the year approaching, I feel the need share how much I appreciate and enjoy all the fun we have on this amsat-bb. Where we discuss, help, ask, and challenge eachother with our shared love: amateur radio satellites. 2008 has again been a truly fantastic year; just to name a few things I recall (at the risk to overlook all those others); Delfi-C3: 2008 brought us a new, well working satellite with a transponder! A brand new satellite where industry, university and radio-amateurs worked together in defining, building and operating a spacecraft. A big project where various objectives got successfully merged into a small Cubesat. Many aspects on the behaviour of the sat to observe and validate, at least it kept me very excited back in May: http://www.pa3guo.com/dc3_12may08_2045utc_pa3guo_spin_145.930.jpg Delfi-C3 also brought to my attention that my PC cannot share its line-input over more than one program at the time, something to fix in 2009 ! AO51 My favorite FM satellite to operate portable during the summer holidays. This year I operated as OK/PA3GUO and had despite all the QRM many fun contacts around Europe. Always a good exercise ! http://www.pa3guo.com/holiday_2008.html Its the 23cm up / 70 down modes were new for me, now I had the (from Rob, PE1ITR borrowed) 35 elements TONNA for 23cm. I made my first QSOs in L/U mode. For this I first needed to get 435.150 downlink working, and I built with good help of Domenico, I8CVS a polarization switch for the old Cushcraft 70 cm antenna. http://www.pa3guo.com/cushcraft_416tb.html Finally, the SSTV 'mode' as preparation for the ISS experiments was also new fun. Yes, often AO51 is a lot of chaos, but next to that it has very interesting modes to use and explore. Thanks to the AO51 team for keeping us busy ! Cute1.7+APD-II As I wanted to help the project team to collect as much as possible CW telemetry, I did set up my remote access using the www.logmein.com software. Now I could remotely gather & forward the telemetry, from QRL but also while enjoying the good summer evenings in my backyard: http://www.pa3guo.com/cute_ops_pa3guo.jpg. PE1ITR was so kind to loan me his 23cm beam, to prepare myself for the 23cm packet uplink of this new satellite.... it showed that while our Japanse friends can digipeat over it I can't (yet), so I need to review if my antenna cable is good enough ... some day in 2009. SEEDS A new satellite, that provides an SSTV beacon in space, great for demonstration purposes. While I have a very clumsy set-up; holding a microphone in front of my loudspeaker, the picture is cool to receive. Also it transmits a 'secret' code in VOICE. I have listened to it a thousand times, but one character I still cannot really 'hear'. Has anyone gotten this confirmed from the project team ? Anyway: thanks for a new satellite to experiment with ! http://www.pa3guo.com/seeds.html ISS Especially in the last months a lot of new things to experiment (and this is what amateur radio is all about right ?). SSTV operations brought the ISS crew very close to us, remarkable how appealing receiving pictures with this old technology still is. Also the voice operations by Richard were a through inspiration. I was there to hear him talking for the first time with his dad while he was flying over Europe, and his dad in Moscow ground control. Also new packet modes: 9k6 worked SO good. A good back-up communication system for Emergency Communication (or SSET as Bob would call this :-)) The last few days of the year also promise new tests with the repeater mode in 23cm uplink configuration: let's see how the D700 receives at 1.2GHz ! PCSAT The old lady is running out of batteries, but is today still the only APRS satellite that we have flying around 24/7 in this mode. Even though we slowly lose control due to the automatic resets, we still LEARN a lot regarding how to operate in bad conditions (looking at angle of the sun for optimum power, radio channel clearance etc). PCSAT is also still a good test vehicle for anyone to set-up a fully automated tracking station (read: have a receiver listening 24/7 to 145.825 and Igate all received traffic to the internet). Having this available NOW is a good way to be prepared for anything unexpected (eg. emergencies). On one hand very easy, on the other hand it looks simpler as it is (keep a PC running 24/7 un-attended and not to loose the internet link). Good stuff... ! http://www.pa3guo.com/pcsat_cmd_dec2008.jpg AO7: Always fascinating to hear the 10mtr signals travelling all the way from space into my small wire antenna, amazing how clear CW sounds ! Yubileiny Haven't really figured out yet what its use for me will be, but it sure is another strong signal that can serve as a testvehicle for stuff like automated antenna tracking, doppler correction, telemetry decoding and storage. http://www.pa3guo.com/yubileiny_24may08_pa3guo_435.315_cw_short.jpg Compass: Have seen great support from the amateur community: first of all Mike, DK3WN, who is clearly in the lead helping out the university controlling the satellite. Great that when Mike asked for help, many HAMs around the world stepped in and tried to 'save' Compass. For me: to be able to decode the MSK downlink of Compass I need to connect the radio's audio to my PC. Missing for that is a proper (optical) audio interface, this is now my holiday project in the next 2 weeks... will keep me busy for while :-) AO27 ... you won't believe it, but only this year I made my first contact via AO-27. Folks QRV here you don't hear on the other FM sat's. Great bird ! AO16 After 18 years in space, I finally made my first QSO via this satellite. Fantastic idea of the AO16 team to have the satellite configured as FM/SSB transponder ! http://www.pa3guo.com/ao16.html Looking back 2008 was a truly exciting year with many new satellites, as well as new modes of operations of existing satellites. Most important; a year of a lot of new satellite radio-friends via this AMSAT-BB ! HAM radio remains for me both a source of inspiration, as well as a hobby shared with many good friends around the world. I wish all of you a Healthy & Happy New Year ! Warm regards, Henk, PA3GUO http://www.pa3guo.com

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AO-51 Mode L/U 9K6 uplink frequency ?
by Dave Aitch 24 Dec '08

24 Dec '08

Can someone confirm the uplink as 1268.700 for 9K6 for the coming week please ? 73, Dave.

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Out of Office
by Martha 24 Dec '08

24 Dec '08

I will be out of the office from Dec 25th - January 2nd. I will be back in the office on Monday, January 5th. -- 73- Martha

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Amateur Satellites mentioned on BBC News
by Trevor 24 Dec '08

24 Dec '08

The OSCAR satellites get a brief mention in a story carried by the BBC news service. See the bottom of BBC News - Christmas messages from far away http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7797779.stm A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all. 73 Trevor M5AKA --------------- Daily Amateur Radio RSS News: http://www.southgatearc.org/ Email your news items to: editor at southgatearc.org News On Your Website: http://www.southgatearc.org/rss/index.htm News On Your PC: http://www.southgatearc.org/rss/newsreader.htm Upload Your News: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/your_news.htm ---------------

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Santa-llite Tracking
by David Barber 24 Dec '08

24 Dec '08

And one for Christmas: http://www.noradsanta.org/ Enjoy the festive season and thanks to all that make the ARISS project and the various Satellites possible. Regards David G8OQW

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Happy Holidays and Thanks!
by Frank H. Bauer 24 Dec '08

24 Dec '08

All, This e-mail was sent to the ARISS volunteer team. On behalf of the ARISS International Team I wish you all a very happy holiday season. 73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS Team Members, I want to wish each of you a very happy holidays, Merry Christmas, and a happy and prosperous New Year. This past year has been incredible for ARISS, filled with outstanding new opportunities and a lifetime of memories for all--> school children, educators, the general public, ham radio operators and the on-orbit crews. As we look back on this past year, we continue to be thankful for the support of the on-orbit crew members who volunteer their precious personal time to operate the ham radio system for us. And we thank each one of you---the ARISS volunteers---for your outstanding support to the program. This program would not be possible without the phenomenal hardware development and operations support provided by this internationally-based ARISS team of volunteers. While we are called radio Amateurs, you are definitely PROFESSIONALS in my book. Let's continue our efforts to instill inspiration and interest in space exploration and ham radio..through the excellence we bring to our efforts and our interactions with ham radio operators and the general public. Thank you all. 73, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO ARISS International Chairman

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ISS - All Quiet
by vk5alx＠amsat.org 24 Dec '08

24 Dec '08

they always seem to forget to turn things back on after space walk etc.

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ISS - All Quiet
by David Barber 24 Dec '08

24 Dec '08

No activity on any passes over UK / Europe today, 24 December 2008. David G8OQW

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Re: HRD freq. saving/storing
by Henk, PA3GUO 24 Dec '08

24 Dec '08

Hi Tony ! I am NOT an expert user of HRD. For Cute, Delfi, SEEDS, etc, I put HRD on the beacon frequency of that satellite and HRD does the doppler correction. In that special pop-up window (the tracker) at the bottom right is a small horizontal scroll bar that allows to save settings for multiple satellites. That way I have also a different setting for AO51 V/U and L/U. I have not tried this for FO29 like lineair transponders, only for fixed frequencies, simply because I do FO29 etc. always (embarassed to share that here) by hand using the TS2000 built-in coupling, but without doppler compensation. Maybe this helps, maybe (most likely) you knew this already. Sorry if this is useless, then I apologize :-) Henk, PA3GUO

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HRD
by John Marranca, Jr 24 Dec '08

24 Dec '08

Tony: Spoke too soon. It's under definitions! OK...I stand corrected! John -- _______________________________ John Marranca, Jr PBX Technician/Shop Steward CWA Local 1122 BN Systems, Inc Orchard Park, NY (716)972-2006

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Re: HRD Frequencies
by John Marranca, Jr 24 Dec '08

24 Dec '08

Tony, et al: I think that is my biggest "issue" with HRD is that the frequencies MUST be entered each time by hand. It becomes a bit tedious. Other than that, HRD isn't bad at all. Happy Holidays! 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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Ham Radio Deluxe Sat Tracking
by Tony 24 Dec '08

24 Dec '08

All, Does anyone know how to store the transponder frequencies for each satellite with HRD's tracking program? There doesn't seem to be a 'save' button in the ground control window. Thanks, Tony -K2MO

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PCSAT
by Dave 23 Dec '08

23 Dec '08

Hi group- I recently acquired an ICOM-271H and have it running into AGW and PCSAT 2.4.2s Decoder. Anyone with a similar setup willing to help me ensure I am configured properly? Dave // DM78qd // KA0SWT

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Spectacular NASA Photographs
by Clint Bradford 23 Dec '08

23 Dec '08

It's that time of the year, folks ... where scores of "best of..." lists are released. From columns of cloud streaking over the Caspian Sea in January to vast tracts of cleared forest in Bolivia in December. In 2008, the NASA Earth Observatory has captured more stunning images of the Earth. Here's an article with several exciting NSAS photographs ... http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/12/23/nasa.space.images/index.html Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 909-241-7666

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ISS cross-band
by ANTHONY JAPHA 23 Dec '08

23 Dec '08

Has anyone had a cross-band QSO or heard yourself on ISS? Is ISS actually in cross-band mode? I may have heard myself at 1558Z just now, but there was a lot of crud along with any signal, so it was probably nothing. Certainly no other sigs in my 4 minute window. Tnx and 73, Tony, N2UN

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Space X and P3E discussions!
by Luc Leblanc 23 Dec '08

23 Dec '08

Here is "MY" translation of an article from AMSAT-DL web site http://www.amsat-dl.org//index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=… It was my best way to wished you all a Merry Christmas and a happy new year 2009 with this probably best refreshing news about amateur HEO satellite in 2008. SpaceX with AMSAT DL Written by Peter Gülzow Tuesday, 28 October 2008 This was the fourth and successful launch of the Falcon-1 rocket on September 29 2008 of the SpaceX program. It is the beginning of a new era . This first purely privately financed launch using a liquid fuels operated rocket, which can bring pay loads into a stable earth orbit. SpaceX (space exploration Technologies corporation) was created of the entrepreneur Elon Musk as a privately financed starting up enterprise for the building of a large extent re-usable two-stage rocket, the Falcon in June 2002. On the occasion of the successful launch of the Falcon-1 rocket AMSAT DL president Peter Gülzow congratulated the SpaceX team and Elon Musk personally for this huge success. AMSAT DL follow the activities of SpaceX already for quite some time with large interest, especially regarding a possible co-operation and launch possibility of the AMSAT P5-A Mars mission. On 9 October 2008, a meeting with SpaceX in the central development lab of the AMSAT DL in Marburg was organized in a relatively short notice. Jonathan Hofeller of SpaceX was received by AMSAT DL president Peter Gülzow and Hartmut Päsler. Professor Dr. Karl Meinzer, project manager of the P5-A Mars mission were in addition represented, as well as P3-E project manager Heike Straube. In the process of theses very detailed discussions it became obvious and again and again clear that the guest and the hosts of SpaceX and AMSAT share a quite unite and same philosophy and approach, and it will only lead again and again to success. Besides it was to be developed it is interesting to see that Elon Musk has already his own ideas and plans toward Mars and there is here quite further thing in common in our goals in the present time. In the further discussion also the technical aspects were discussed regarding possible launch configurations for AMSAT P3-E and P5-A, with the appropriate schedules in addition. After an afternoon of very informative very positive discussions for both sides future further deepening discussions were agreed upon. Possibly as a result of it also new perspectives for the AMSAT P3-E and P5-A Mars mission will arise. P.S. If AMSAT-NA set aside his Eagle funds towards P3E can we expect to have a HEO in 2009-2010? It is obvious that our German friends are in a very advance state of completion for their HEO project. I just hope in a TRUE amateur radio spirit that all the international AMSAT'S will regroup and support the AMSAT-DL project. It is no more a question of pride but a question of survival for the amateur satellite side of our hobby. "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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XE1AO @ DK99wt, through Friday (26 December)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 23 Dec '08

23 Dec '08

Hi! Omar XE1AO will be operating on the FM satellites from grid DK99wt between today and Friday (26 December). This location is near Oro de Hidalgo in the state of Mexico, the Mexican state that virtually encompasses Mexico City. Omar has an FT-60R HT and a handheld Yagi with him as his satellite station. Omar was on the AO-51 pass tonight around 0100 UTC. He was hoping to make more contacts, but unfortunately he was not able to answer most of the stations trying to call him with some stations talking over others. Keep in mind that English is not Omar's primary language. Please remember to call him using the standard international phonetic alphabet and digits ("four-three" for 43, not "forty-three") when trying to work him, and he will be happy to put a new grid in your satellite log. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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The 1st Anniversary of ANDE's Deorbit
by John Marranca, Jr 23 Dec '08

23 Dec '08

I just wanted to post here that we are coming up to ONE YEAR since our beloved ANDE-1 (NO-61) rejoined us here on Earth. Time sure does fly! 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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Space Shuttle Cycle
by Clint Bradford 22 Dec '08

22 Dec '08

Here is a 31-photo look at one full cycle for one space shuttle, starting with the landing of Endeavour from its previous mission (STS-123) on March 26th, and ending with its return to Florida 9 months (and 6.6 million miles) later, after mission STS-126. http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/12/round_trip_with_endeavour.html Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 909-241-7666

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IC-7000, SatPC32
by Erich Eichmann 22 Dec '08

22 Dec '08

Hello all, I'm in contact with Scott, K0ATC. He tries to control his Icom IC-7000 with SatPC32, but has problems to get it working. I don't have that radio. Is there anyone on the board who steers an IC-7000 with the program or has already done that? Many thanks. 73s, Erich, DK1TB

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ISS EVA Coming UP
by David Barber 22 Dec '08

22 Dec '08

Don't forget, EVA coming up. David G8OQW

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ISS SSTV active! (22 Dec. 2008).
by Cor 22 Dec '08

22 Dec '08

Hello All WB9IIV reported me that ISS SSTV is on again at 145.800Mhz (FM). On Harry his received ISS SSTV image is a paper to see written: Go for EVA I have posted the ISS SSTV image (from Harry) on my website. Good luck if you go to trie. 73's Cor PD0RKC http://iss.ontwikkel.nl

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Making regular QSOs on the Linear Satellites
by John Marranca, Jr 22 Dec '08

22 Dec '08

Happy Holidays Everybody! Recently, I added a CT62 cable to my FT-817ND, and have been using Ham Radio Deluxe for computer control. And without changing anything else (i.e. Still using the Eggbeaters on the garage), I have made several contacts on both VO-52 and FO-29. I have to say that it is JUST AS EASY, if not easier to make said contacts on the linear satellites due to more room on the transponder as well as having better reception capability since it isn't using FM as the mode of choice. Next challenge is to operate AO-7. 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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Perl - ppd files
by renauld halbardier 22 Dec '08

22 Dec '08

Hello to the group , I know this not really related to the right forum but.... Perl 5.10 is now installed on my XP system ; and trying now to install *.ppd files without success : error message is 'the ppd does not provide code to install to this platform'. Any idea ?? Tnx for help Renauld on4kvi

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Re: Web Audio Ursid Meteor Pings
by Steven Bienvenu 22 Dec '08

22 Dec '08

Try the fun I had 10 years ago: http://science.nasa.gov/newhome/headlines/ast22dec98_1.htm It's very easy to do; I just sat perched a TV antenna (only thing I could get very quickly) on a camera tripod, and pointed it in the direction of Lake Kickapoo, Texas (very close to Wichita, Tx) with some slight elevation. Lots of very loud returns (had to dive for the audio control at times) during the shower, lots of short ones- a great visual as well as radio event. As for Spacecraft, it was no sweat to pick up returns from the then small ISS. Just use your prediction program to predict when the station will pass through the beam (a huge, fan shape directed straight up), point your antenna at that point in the sky, and you will hear it if it is above the horizon at that moment at your location, and you are not too far away. The station is *much* larger now, so has a much greater RCS/larger return signal, so the horizon might be the only limiting factor now. I found the strongest signals occurred when the spacecraft was located in the NavSpaSur radar beam, and between my location and the transmitting ground site or nearer overhead and in the beam. I used no preamp, and only the twin lead from the antenna directly to an Icom R7000 receiver. The Shuttle was also quite audible. I did not try other spacecraft; remember these two are leo's. I could not convince the author of the NASA article that the short fainter pings were not other satellites, even with simple math examples. The receiving sites the government runs catch about 20,000 pings a day according to personnel. 73, Steve W5ZA (located in Shreveport, La. -Northwest Louisiana, about 300 miles east of the radar site)

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Re: Web Audio Ursid Meteor Pings
by Bob Bruninga 21 Dec '08

21 Dec '08

> I just listen when ISS was traveling > over NA and nothing seems to be "Ping" > only a faint long and slow fading tone > and i'm not even sure if it was due to ISS? The beam is only 0.2 degrees wide, so a spacecraft moving at 5km per sec will only be in the beam a fraction of a second. However for a number of days each month, the moon passes through the beam twice a day, and is moving slow enough to be in the beam for about 2 minutes. Maybe that is what you heard? Easy to prove, jsut set up Kikapoo Texas as a ground station, then run a moon track, and the time of the fence crossing is whenvever the moon croses the 91.5 or 271.5 azimuth from Kikapoo. And the mooon being so far away, anyone on this hemisphere can hear it. But for LEO spacecraft you have to live within the mid to southern USA. Bob, Wb4APR > > >"-" > > >Luc Leblanc VE2DWE >Skype VE2DWE >www.qsl.net/ve2dwe >WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE > > > >_______________________________________________ >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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ITAR - Chinese Launchers
by Trevor 21 Dec '08

21 Dec '08

One of the effects of ITAR on satellite launches is mentioned in a BBC news report which says: "But we're in a situation today where you cannot launch satellites with American components using Chinese rockets. It is against the ITAR restrictions of the United States." Full story "Ariane makes final launch of 2008" at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7793715.stm ----

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Another newbie question
by Mark Lunday, WD4ELG 21 Dec '08

21 Dec '08

Again, thanks to all who are so supportive on this BB. I am trying out one of the ARR mast-mounted pre-amps on 432. I just listened to the SO50 and AO51 passes. I swear I cannot hear any difference, ok maybe just a bit. But not much, not enough to make a difference. SO50 was not audible except for a brief portion of the pass here (my antennas are oriented horizontal at 30 degrees elevation, so that explains part of it). Maybe the pre-amps really do their stuff on the passband birds? If I am wasting my time, I won't be embarrassed if somebody tells me so. Please, I am open to suggestions. Mark Lunday WD4ELG wd4elg(a)arrl.net http://wd4elg.net

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