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

AMSAT-BB Digest AO-51 & SO-50 Yaesu VX-7R
by ki6rrq 07 Dec '08

07 Dec '08

I am currently using a Yaesu VX-7R (not the best for satellites, also using it because that's what I had)for the ISS and the FM birds. I don't know if this will help anyone but I found using the memory tune feature is very helpful for working the Doppler, I don't know if your TH-F6A or many other HT's have it but I think it saves me a little time and hassle, when the receive frequency is on 2 meters, anyway. I know the FT-60's have it too. For AO-51, I save a memory channel with the 2 meter receive freq and then add the odd split or odd band split to the TX part of that memory and the pl where appropriate ... Then when I use it out in the field on my Arrow II, I bring up the memory and then select the memory tuning mode, which I guess is similar to the VFO mode but keeps the TX side in place and allows me to tune the RX frequency up and down to adjust for the Doppler and all I have to do is push the PTT when I make my call and the 2 meter TX frequency is automatically used. I don't even have to hold the radio, just get my fingers to the dial tuning knob, a few times during the pass. (tripod mounted radio, per my qrz.com) I haven't found its worth worrying about the Doppler on the 2 meter side, since the radio only does 5k at a time. After trying numerous methods, I found this to be easiest, with everything else you have to deal with on a mobile sat. operation; writing calls down, keeping the antenna on the bird, testing for polarity alignment, dealing with the dark, oh yea what was that guys call again... Its like an Apollo 13 rescue mission to get it all done... except its always a fun ride... LOL, I needed to simplify everything. Best Rich KI6RRQ ------------------------------ Message: 2 Date: Sun, 7 Dec 2008 13:42:01 -0500 From: "Jim Leder" <k8cxm(a)fuse.net> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Kenwood TH-F6A for AO-51 / SO-50?? To: "Amsat" <AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org>, "Guy Brauning" <guyjeanbraun(a)comcast.net> Message-ID: <547D1F8574B04DDC801A1FD71EB224FE@Toshibalaptop> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original I have used my Kenwood TH-F6A along with an Arrow antenna, and IMHO it works just fine. You do need to get it programmed right and you need to get used to switching between VFOs as you track the satellite and the Doppler effect on frequency. It is NOT a full duplex radio like the W32A, and you will not be able to hear yourself, but I have never felt that's been a problem.. I programmed mine to transmit on one VFO (uplink) and be able to receive on several different frequencies (downlink) on the other VFO. On the transmit VFO, the squelch is closed all the way, while on the receive VFO, it's open all the way. So, VFO A is set for uplink of 145.920 on memory channel 150 and on memory channels 152-153 I have them programmed for 435.290 and 435.295 (downlink which is in VFO B). 154 is center frequency of 435.300 and of course 155 and 156 are set to 435.305 and 435.310. By switching between VFOs I can change downlink channels/frequencies to fit the Doppler shift. A little cumbersome, but that little radio works very well. You can follow a similar scheme on the QRP channel of AO51 (mine is 160-166) and SO50 (mine is 170-176-get the picture). I have made several contacts with it on the QRP channels but have had no luck on SO50, which is a lot more difficult satellite to hear. I'm using it because it's what I had, and I'm happy to say with a little use and practice you quickly get the hang of it. Of course, either the W32A or the Kenwood TH-D7A do FULL duplex, but both are no longer in production. Hearing yourself is nice, but not necessary. Jim Bob Buckeye AKA **** Jim Leder**** K8CXM since 1961 IBM retiree since 1999

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Cross Band Repeater Active
by David Barber 07 Dec '08

07 Dec '08

Just in case you missed Curt's posting. Cross Band Repeater is active. Good luck.

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RECHERCHE TRANSISTOR...
by F2lq＠aol.com 07 Dec '08

07 Dec '08

Bjr , Je recherche un MRF286... 73's Guy F2LQ IN98eb

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Question re rx/tx relays and diplexer
by RFI-EMI-GUY 07 Dec '08

07 Dec '08

All the ones I have seen do not short the unused port. -- 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

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ARISS downlink frequencies
by Ronald G. Parsons 07 Dec '08

07 Dec '08

ARISS currently has four modes, Packet Radio (1200 and 9600), Voice, Cross-band repeater, and SSTV. All modes use 145.800 MHz as the downlink frequency except Packet which uses 145.825. These last and next few weeks have (and will be) very exciting as all these modes are being used. I currently keep several programs running just in case a mode change occurs. I am using Ham Radio Deluxe for SSTV, AGWTracker for Packet, and SatPC32 and SatPC32ISS for frequency control for all modes with my Icom IC-910H. Why couldn't Packet operate on 145.800 simplex instead of 145.825? Then one could just listen to 145.800 and tell which mode is being used. Currently I must switch between 800 and 825 if no mode is apparent. Ron W5RKN

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BBsat Call for ideas
by JoAnne Maenpaa 07 Dec '08

07 Dec '08

Ok folks, Its time for some fun ... how about we design and fly our own transponder via the amsat-bb? I propose BBSat (sounds better than AdHocSat). This is a call for ideas of a single board transponder in cubesat form factor ... what can we put on a 10cm ^2 circuit board? FM, SDR, packet? Initially there are only two rules ... 1) No griping 2) This is going to be an open source project Let us know what you think right here on the -bb ... -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org

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Re: Kenwood TH-F6A for AO-51 / SO-50??
by Jim Leder 07 Dec '08

07 Dec '08

Guy, I have an FT-857D in my car and an old Kenwood TM-G707A in the shack. While neither will do full duplex either, both do a nice job on cross band. The TH-F6A won't do cross band, but it still works just fine as I described the method I use. Good luck 73 ... Jim Bob Buckeye AKA **** Jim Leder**** K8CXM since 1961 IBM retiree since 1999 There are 10 types of people in this world -- those who understand binary and those who don't. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Guy Brauning" <guyjeanbraun(a)comcast.net> To: "'Jim Leder'" <k8cxm(a)fuse.net> Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2008 2:16 PM Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Kenwood TH-F6A for AO-51 / SO-50?? > Jim, > Thanks very much for the detailed information about the TH-F6A. It > sounds > like, based on your experience, it will work very well for my intended > use. > I have programmed my FT-817 in a very similar manner to that which you > described for the TH-F6A except that the 817 allows for split band memory > storage so you don't have to manually switch VFOs while switching from TX > to > RX to compensate for Doppler, you just step through the preprogrammed > memories which are set up for Doppler on both TX and RX frequencies. I > think I could get used to working the TH-F6A the way you have described. > (SO-50 is a lot tougher to work than AO-51.)Thanks a million! > > CUL, > Guy > > -----Original Message----- > From: Jim Leder [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2008 1:42 PM > To: Amsat; Guy Brauning > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Kenwood TH-F6A for AO-51 / SO-50?? > > I have used my Kenwood TH-F6A along with an Arrow antenna, and IMHO it > works > > just fine. You do need to get it programmed right and you need to get used > to switching between VFOs as you track the satellite and the Doppler > effect > on frequency. It is NOT a full duplex radio like the W32A, and you will > not > be able to hear yourself, but I have never felt that's been a problem.. I > programmed mine to transmit on one VFO (uplink) and be able to receive on > several different frequencies (downlink) on the other VFO. On the transmit > VFO, the squelch is closed all the way, while on the receive VFO, it's > open > all the way. So, VFO A is set for uplink of 145.920 on memory channel 150 > and on memory channels 152-153 I have them programmed for 435.290 and > 435.295 (downlink which is in VFO B). 154 is center frequency of 435.300 > and > > of course 155 and 156 are set to 435.305 and 435.310. By switching between > VFOs I can change downlink channels/frequencies to fit the Doppler shift. > A > little cumbersome, but that little radio works very well. You can follow a > similar scheme on the QRP channel of AO51 (mine is 160-166) and SO50 (mine > is 170-176-get the picture). I have made several contacts with it on the > QRP > > channels but have had no luck on SO50, which is a lot more difficult > satellite to hear. > I'm using it because it's what I had, and I'm happy to say with a little > use and practice you quickly get the hang of it. > Of course, either the W32A or the Kenwood TH-D7A do FULL duplex, but both > are no longer in production. Hearing yourself is nice, but not necessary. > > Jim Bob Buckeye > AKA > **** Jim Leder**** > K8CXM since 1961 > IBM retiree since 1999 > > There are 10 types of people in this world -- those who understand binary > and those who don't. > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Guy Brauning" <guyjeanbraun(a)comcast.net> > To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2008 12:06 PM > Subject: [amsat-bb] Kenwood TH-F6A for AO-51 / SO-50?? > > >> Thanks for reading this. I am considering buying an HT for AO-51 and >> SO-50 >> as well as AO-27 (hopefully!). I have been using a Yaesu FT-817 and >> either >> an Arrow or Elk antenna and this has worked very well; however, an HT >> would >> be easier to carry around. I am looking for recommendations / warnings / >> etc. specific to the Kenwood TH-F6A. I would like some advice from those >> who have used the radio for satellite work before I shell out $320.00. I >> seriously considered a used IC-W32A on e-bay but it went for over $150.00 >> and I couldn't see paying that much for something that may or may not >> work >> properly. Any insights would be greatly appreciated. >> >> >> >> Thanks, >> >> >> >> Guy >> >> N3SCR >> >> Finksburg, MD >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com > Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.9.15/1834 - Release Date: 12/6/2008 > 4:55 PM >

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Re: Kenwood TH-F6a
by Clint Bradford 07 Dec '08

07 Dec '08

Do you need 220 capability? The TH-F6a is a great HT...but if you do not need 220, you can spend a lot less for a FM-bird-capable HT. I use the Yaesu FT-60R in my demos and presentations. Not because it's the "ultimate," but to show folks that they don't have to spend an awful lot to get into ham satellites. The FT-60 has a rather unique battery situation, too, compared to several other HTs: Add its optional AA alkaline case and populate it with either NiMH cells or alkalines, and you have the capability of working at FULL TX POWER. Add the optional AA case to the TH-F6a, and you're working at one-half of one Watt (alkalines only - no NiMH). And the rest of the features: 1,000 memories, 108-to-a-gig RX, bulletproof case design, strongest belt clip of ANY amateur HT chassis on the market... If you decide upon the TH-F6a, stick withthe stock antenna for local work. Although physically ugly, Kenwood put a lot of research time into that antenna, and it is quite a capable performer. Of course, a Smiley 270A ($16) or a Diamond SRH-320A ($50) will perform better - but work with the stock antenna for your local repeaters first before you shell out bucks for after-market antennas. Clint Bradford, K6LCS 909-241-7666 -------------------------------------- Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 909-241-7666 - cell

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PCSAT-1 Operations Guidelines
by Robert Bruninga 07 Dec '08

07 Dec '08

We are attempting to restore PCSAT-1 to full operation. Until we are successful, we need to ask all users to stop using the W3ADO-1 callsign. You may prepare for full operation with the PCSAT-1, ARISS and WIDEn-N digipeating aliases, and as soon as PCSAT is capable of supporting a user load, then your packets will get through. Today, we attempted to logon to do some preparation work, but the satellite was being beat-to-death literally by users. Of the many dozens and dozens of packets, W3ADO-1 could not successfully complete even a single packet without failure. It cannot support this kind of load until we get the batteires charged up, and we cannot restore PCSAT if we cannot get in a few good packets. So we request users to stop using W3ADO-1 until we activate the proper PCSAT-1 callsigns and digipeater. Oh, also, due to problems with outside access to the original PCSAT web page, we have moved it off-site to: www.aprs.org/pcsat.html But notice that all links are broken on this new site until we have time to re-direct them. In the mean time, though, that is where we will put CURRENT information. Thanks Bob, Wb4APR

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Re: Re Choppy ISS signals
by G0MRF＠aol.com 07 Dec '08

07 Dec '08

Hi. If you look at the received signal strength on the downlink, the crew are saving the radios from overheating by having the squelch turned up. i.e. the radios get a big rest over the oceans. Unless you put in a fairly large signal then the squelch drops out and part of the transmission is lost. Result: It sounds 'choppy' David G0MRF In a message dated 06/12/2008 21:53:38 GMT Standard Time, n3tl(a)bellsouth.net writes: I believe it has to do with the relative position of the antenna(s) on the ISS and all the "stuff" connected to the station that run in different directions. I can see how the antennas might be blocked from out "line of sight" as this module or that solar array "gets in the way" on a given pass. Any other thoughts about it out there?

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