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

Call for Papers--2007 ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference
by Ford, Steve, WB8IMY 16 Jul '12

16 Jul '12

Technical papers are solicited for presentation at the 26th Annual ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference to be held September 28-30, 2007 in Hartford, Connecticut. These papers will also be published in the Conference Proceedings (you do NOT need to attend the conference to have your paper included in the Proceedings). The submission deadline is July 31, 2007. Please send papers to: Maty Weinberg ARRL 225 Main St Newington, CT 06111 or you can make your submission via e-mail to: maty(a)arrl.org Papers will be published exactly as submitted and authors will retain all rights. 73 . . . Steve, WB8IMY ARRL

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AO-16 Update and brief mode change
by Mark L. Hammond 02 Sep '08

02 Sep '08

Hello All, AO-16 has been in its "voice mode" continuously for nearly a month now. Many thanks to all the users of this "new" bird! It is time to pause voice operations long to receive some MBL telemetry (limited as it is, it's all we have). Around 0920 UTC on 17FEB08 I plan to return AO-16 to digital mode in order to receive some telemetry. If all goes as planned, it should be back to "voice mode" during the same pass. If not, I'll try to catch it on the 1056 UTC pass. Most of you will be asleep, so I don't think it will interfere with too many contacts. Looking to the future, we can see that after several months of continuous illumination, AO-16 will begin to experience eclipse periods at the end of March. The eclipse periods will increase and extend through the summer. This may impact AO-16's power budget such that the transmitter output will have to be reduced in order to protect its 18 year old batteries. We'll know more after the eclipse periods begin in late March and early April. In the meanwhile, enjoy AO-16 and her strong signals! 73 on behalf of the command team, Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Santa docks at the ISS
by Ed Tump 25 Aug '08

25 Aug '08

Happy holidays! I got a kick out of this video: http://youtube.com/watch?v=_Di8mZLu0VE <http://youtube.com/watch?v=_Di8mZLu0VE&feature=PlayList&p=26B9B2ACB4AAC849& index=7> &feature=PlayList&p=26B9B2ACB4AAC849&index=7 Maybe he dropped off some more amateur radio gifts. 73, Ed KC9GWK Grid EN52 AmSat Member

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Re: OLPC ... Neat!
by Bob Bruninga 20 Apr '08

20 Apr '08

> I think the XO is a... ground breaking device. > Did I get one? No, I realized that it is does > not meet my needs and would end up in the > closet or given away to a child... Mine have done just that since Xmas, until today. ... I couldn't find my shoulder bag big laptop and so on my way out the door, I grabbed one of the kids XO's so I could try it out for the 5 hours I would be sitting at the kids swim meet. Sitting in the stands, I fired it up, and to my amazement wireless! bingo up came my favorite web pages, and then email. After reading email I went to edit some of my web pages. Flipped the screen around to tablet/book style so that the pages were long and I could read like a book. Holding the device in one hand with the nice finger holes provided. Wow, what a neat way to access wireless, email, web pages, and live mobile APRS. Less than 1/2 the bulk of my big laptop, and only $200 at risk instead of the $1200 labtop. I can't wait for the ham software to start working with it. Talk about portability... The ease of use, will assure that I will now probbly have the ham radio laptop apps with me more often than before since I will be more apt to carry the small XO at low risk then lug the big laptop. I'm sold! And now that my kids see how easy the itnernet access was, I now have to buy my own XO, since now their inteerest has been re kindled and they do want to take them both back to school... Bob, WB4APR

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Re: (no subject)
by Bob Bruninga 10 Mar '08

10 Mar '08

Its a poor question. Both B and C are correct if you make some assumptions that they are talking about a linear satellite. B is what causes C... > E2A08 What is the primary reason for satellite > users to limit their transmit ERP? > A. For RF exposure safety > B. Because the satellite transmitter output power > is limited > C. To avoid limiting the signal of the other users > D. To avoid interfering with terrestrial QSOs Bob, WB4APR

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Ft-736 problem
by randy 01 Mar '08

01 Mar '08

When i key the mike the needle does not move forward to indicate the power output level but instead moves to the left and bottoms out. I have set the drive output to various levels but it still fails to indicate power. I know it's putting out power because i can hit repeaters but it won't indicate it by the needle going forward. It goes in the opposite direction to the left. Any help will be appreciated., Thanks, Randy

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Re: Newbie Here AO-51 Questions.
by Bill Dzurilla 29 Feb '08

29 Feb '08

Kent, I was on this morning for the pass you noted and made 3 contacts around 1350 UTC, there was plenty of activity and the signal from the bird was strong. So if you were listening at 435.3 mhz, plus or minus 10 for the doppler, and if your clock was correct, something must be wrong somewhere. Your antenna is not blocked by trees or anything, is it? And you are hearing local 70cm repeaters with no problem? 73, Bill NZ5N Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:40:19 -0600 From: "Kent R. Frazier" <k5knt(a)amsat.org> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Newbie Here AO-51 Questions. To: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <7caa889a0802290640q4cec83a3qf5570ed3c8b27191(a)mail.gmail.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 OOPS!! I listed the pass prediction for ISS, not AO-51. Here is the correct AMSAT Online Satellite Pass Prediction for AO-51 this morning: 29 Feb 08 13:58:51 00:13:47 20 44 110 179 14:12:38 I was trying to listen to both. I wanted to see if I could hear the ISS APRS digipeater. AO-51 was tuned on one band and ISS on the other. Nothing but noise from either. I'll concentrate on AO-51 now until I get a better understanding of what is going on. Kent ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

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Newbie Here AO-51 Questions.
by Kent R. Frazier 29 Feb '08

29 Feb '08

Hello all, my name is Kent Frazier, K5KNT. I am just getting interested in working amateur satellites. I just joined AMSAT on Tuesday, 26 February 2008. My current hardware is an Icom IC2720 dual band in my personal vehicle with a Comet C767 dual band antenna. I also have an Icom IC-T22A 2-meter hand held with a Diamond RH77CA antenna. I've been trying to listen to passes of AO-51 over the last week. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to hear anything since Monday, 25 February at approx 01:04 UTC (Saturday 24 FEB 19:04 CST). At that time, I thought I heard the call W9CPV. I'm currently using Satscape as my tracking software. My Gridsquare location is DM91sk. Are there other satellites I could monitor with the above equipment? Any suggestions for making my first contact? 73, Kent R. Frazier, K5KNT -- This electronic message transmission contains information which may be Confidential and/or Privileged. The information is intended to be for the use of the individual or entity named above. Any unauthorized disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of this information, is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please destroy all copies of the original message.

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Re: Newbie Here AO-51 Questions.
by GW1FKY＠aol.com 29 Feb '08

29 Feb '08

Hi John, Glad that you mentioned it - I was surprised that no one came up with this comment which of course is the key player at the root of any tracking programme. I use "Atom Time Pro" - a free version (unregistered use ) is available for those interested - - Yes I know that many other options are available for this function. Cheers Ken Eaton GW1FKY Amsat - UK Amsat NA

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Re: Configuring LUSAT-19 like AO-16???
by Mark L. Hammond 29 Feb '08

29 Feb '08

Hello John, Thanks for your query about LO-19. Thanks to the good efferts of our AMSAT Operations VP, Drew KO4MA and his establishment of the right contacts, a few weeks ago I spent some time corresponding with the LUSAT/LO-19 team. They are a great bunch of hams, and they are (rightfully so) very proud of their "old" bird. We came to the conclusion that the failure mode of LO-19 is quite different from that of AO-16, and that any change from its current state of CW telemetry would either be impossible, or sufficiently risky that it was best to "leave well enough alone." So, I think we can expect that LO-19 will continue to report CW telemetry for a long time. It's a great bird and its 18 years of continous operations is an amazing feat. Drew KO4MA has been attempting contact with the WO-18 folks. DO-17 isn't such a likely candidate for doing much of anything... Other thoughts...you can include IO-26 as being "nearly the same" as the original microsats, Oscars 16/17/18/19. In fact, I have started some preliminary testing of IO-26. The testing is especially slow, and it will take some time to sort out its current state (what works and what doesn't). Once we know that, we can begin to consider what function(s) IO-26 might serve. While we have no idea at the moment if it's feasible, in theory its hardware could permit being reconfigured like AO-16. We just don't know what our options are for now. Rest assured, we're working on it :) 73, Mark Hammond N8MH _______ Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:20:07 -0500 From: "John Marranca, Jr" < KB2HSH(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Configuring LUSAT-19 like AO-16??? To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Message-ID: < 8edcdb130802281420y10ef567djdb8f9f9fb7a8a466(a)mail.gmail.com > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 Good Afternoon, Everyone. Last month, a question was posed about the possibility of reconfiguring LUSAT/Oscar 19 in the "bent pipe" style that AO-16 is currently in. As I am writing this, both AO-16 and LU-19 are overhead...and both have stellar signals. Is there any news/update as to whether or not this can be accomplished?? Upon reading the Satellite Handbook, it appears as though 16, 17, 18, and 19 were pretty much similar. If I am wrong, then I will stand as corrected, but if 16 could be converted in such a fashion, what prevents 19? Wishing for Spring! John KB2HSH -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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LVB Tracker Questions
by 9w2qc＠9w2qc.net 29 Feb '08

29 Feb '08

Dear All, Greetings from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I have built one LVB Tracker complete kit from AMSAT-UK, and am extremely pleased with it. Now I would like to build another unit, but this time from scratch. I have two questions about this tracker, which I hope someone can help me clarify. 1. Can someone kindly advice a suitable LCD panel for this tracker? Would the Powertip PC1602ARU-HWB-G be compatible with this tracker? (RS Part Number 466-6452) 2. I am also very interested into the Ethernet interface, but have no clue on how this works. I know a suitable unit is produced by Lantronix but that is about it. Could someone kindly advice what do I need to get the Ethernet interface going? Is there an evaluation kit readily available like the one from FTDI for the USB interface? Any help and advice is really appreciated. Thank you very much in advance. 73, Sion Chow Q. C., 9W2QC.

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FO-29 schedule Mar.2008
by Mineo Wakita 29 Feb '08

29 Feb '08

Mar. UTC 1 3:43 - 2 2:47 - 3 none 4 2:43 - 5 3:34 - 6 2:38 - 7 3:30 - 8 2:35 - 9 3:25 - 10 none 11 3:20 - 12 2:25 - 13 3:15 - 14 2:20 - 15 3:10 - 16 2:15 - 17 none 18 2:10 - 19 3:00 - 20 2:07 - 21 2:55 - 22 2:03 - 23 2:53 - 24 none 25 2:47 - 26 3:40 - 27 2:43 - 28 3:35 - 29 2:38 - 30 3:30 - 31 none

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SDR for satellites
by pcalvi＠bluewin.ch 28 Feb '08

28 Feb '08

Hello everybody. I was wondering if anybody has experimented with the FLEXI RADIO Software Defined Radios on satellites. I know the SDR 5000 can do dual receive, but can cross-band full duplex be done as well? Grateful for any wisdom. 73 Piero MM0TWX/HB9DSU ________________________ Piero Calvi-Parisetti MM0TWX currently also HB9DSU for music, Ham Radio and more visit http://www.qsl.net/hb9dsu

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Configuring LUSAT-19 like AO-16???
by John Marranca, Jr 28 Feb '08

28 Feb '08

Good Afternoon, Everyone. Last month, a question was posed about the possibility of reconfiguring LUSAT/Oscar 19 in the "bent pipe" style that AO-16 is currently in. As I am writing this, both AO-16 and LU-19 are overhead...and both have stellar signals. Is there any news/update as to whether or not this can be accomplished?? Upon reading the Satellite Handbook, it appears as though 16, 17, 18, and 19 were pretty much similar. If I am wrong, then I will stand as corrected, but if 16 could be converted in such a fashion, what prevents 19? Wishing for Spring! 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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Re: Newbie Here AO-51 Questions.
by Clint Bradford 28 Feb '08

28 Feb '08

WELCOME, Kent, to this wonderful aspect of amateur radio! Because you did hear something earlier this week, tha means you're close to perfecting your setup. Check the ideas on my tutorial at... http://homepage.mac.com/clintbradford/Menu3.html ...and see if any of that helps. Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 909-241-7666

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Todays passes
by Fred (VE3FAL) 28 Feb '08

28 Feb '08

Weird stuff today, I even checked my antenna to make sure it was up , frequency correct, but not nearing either PCSat or ISS today and last 2 passes were directly overhead. Fred VE3FAL --- avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean. Virus Database (VPS): 080228-0, 28/02/2008 Tested on: 28/02/2008 1:26:11 PM avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2008 ALWIL Software. http://www.avast.com

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Re: Newbie Here AO-51 Questions.
by Bill Dzurilla 28 Feb '08

28 Feb '08

Hi Kent, Welcome to the sats. I just started myself a few weeks ago. AO-51 is quite popular and there are usually many stations calling when it is on mode V/U (Friday through Monday UTC). So if you are not hearing anything, even on a high pass, there must be some problem with your receiver/antenna, or you are not tuned to the correct frequency, or your tracking program is off and you are not listening at the correct time, etc. There's a nice AO-51 operating guide at: http://www.g6lvb.com/Articles/operatingAO51.htm The other sats you can work with FM-only gear are AO-27 (daytime only) SO-50 (a bit weaker than 51 and 27), and the International Space Station (although transponder is often turned off). 73, Bill NZ5N >>>Hello all, my name is Kent Frazier, K5KNT. I am just getting interested in working amateur satellites. I just joined AMSAT on Tuesday, 26 February 2008. My current hardware is an Icom IC2720 dual band in my personal vehicle with a Comet C767 dual band antenna. I also have an Icom IC-T22A 2-meter hand held with a Diamond RH77CA antenna. I've been trying to listen to passes of AO-51 over the last week. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to hear anything since Monday, 25 February at approx 01:04 UTC (Saturday 24 FEB 19:04 CST). At that time, I thought I heard the call W9CPV. I'm currently using Satscape as my tracking software. My Gridsquare location is DM91sk. Are there other satellites I could monitor with the above equipment? Any suggestions for making my first contact? 73, Kent R. Frazier, K5KNT ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

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Greater Houston Hamfest operations March 1
by Bruce 28 Feb '08

28 Feb '08

The Greater Houston Hamfest is Saturday, March 1. We will be on the satellites. Look for our demo station on the morning passes (especially AO-51 at 9am CST). 73...bruce -- Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on SkyScanner Satellite Radio Network on Galaxy-25 @97° West, Transponder 23 (12115 Vert), Symbol Rate: 22425, APID: 1794 (DVB Free To Air) Also streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News http://www.arrl.org

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S-band test gear.
by John Hackett 28 Feb '08

28 Feb '08

Certainly Kevin, <http:www.observations.biz> Observations From Norway, article 1 for 2008. ............................................................................................ 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org> > From: kevin.j.smith(a)comcast.net > To: la2qaa(a)amsat.org > Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] S-band test gear. > Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:44:17 -0500 > > John, > > You may have been told this already but your attachment(s) was stripped off > before posting to the Amsat BB. It's a shame because would have liked to > see it(them). Do you have a website to see your pictures? - Kevin/N3HKQ > > -----Original Message----- > From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of John Hackett > Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 6:23 AM > To: allan_gm1sxx(a)hotmail.com > Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org; Eu-amsat(a)yahoogroups.com > Subject: [amsat-bb] S-band test gear. > > > OBSERVATIONS FROM NORWAY. February 2008. > > Based on SV1BSX's comments about receiving a *THUNDERING* signal from > AO-51's S-band transmitter on a patch antenna 'without' a reflector - I > decided to chuck together a few components to see if somebody as 'thick' as > LA2QAA could manage it. > > The attached pic is the ... 'fruits of LA2QAA's labour'. > > Starting at the top right we have a silver covered brass plate 2.4Ghz patch > antenna (note the real gold SMA connector, folks) mounted 3mm over a (ditto) > groundplane, via a short length of high quality (fell off the back of a > North Sea Oil industry lorry) coax feeding the input of a 2.4G 70 70cm > converter ... the output of which goes to the IC-E91 dual mode handheld and > a pair of 'cans' ... (headphones, to you!). > > To the right of the IC-E91 is a Nokia N70 mobile phone - (not shown in this > pic because I was using it to take the picture) - with the 'SATme' tracking > software ... which is very !! useful for tracking S-mode signals from LEO > birds with the 'slight' doppler thus received. > > The phone also contains a compas as well as GPS software so there's no > excuse for ... 'but I can't find north' ... (not always easy in 3 feet of > snow, null visibility and cloudy conditions) ... and there's *NEVER* a > brownie or a girl guide around when you want one. > > S-band signals in those conditions? ... you'd be surprised - we don't all > live in satellite friendly climes you know. > > Mak (SV1BSX) is right. A 60cm dish is overkill for AO-51 mode-S ... though > of course, there are! those that think you need a personal Jodrell Bank to > hear anything above 70cm. >

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Re: A0-51 "easy sat"
by Clint Bradford 28 Feb '08

28 Feb '08

> I just wanted to let you know that I called and called and called > CQ on AO-51 this morning with no takers... Uh, no you didn't. You simply keyed up and announced you were listening. How about trying to use the more preferred protocol of... Callsign phonetically. grid square, op mode Like... Kilo-Six-Lima-Charlie-Sierra, Delta Mike 13, handheld Use of the word, "listening," may be taken literally - you are on the air, LISTENING. I am assuming you were in the correct ops mode for the bird during this pass...were you? Clint Bradford, K6LCS 909-241-7666

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New at the AMSAT Online Store - 2007 Symposium DVD
by Bruce 28 Feb '08

28 Feb '08

I just added the following item to the AMSAT online store. It is the long awaited 2007 AMSAT Symposium DVD. It is under CDROM's. This is a must for anyone that was not able to attend the 2007 AMSAT Symposium in Pittsburgh or those that attended who would like the Symposium on DVD. This DVD has all of the 2007 papers, PowerPoints and audio of the presentations. Additional features of this DVD are the Symposium papers from 2004 and 2005, ISS Columbus module video and much more. 73...bruce AMSAT Online Store Manager -- Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on SkyScanner Satellite Radio Network on Galaxy-25 @97° West, Transponder 23 (12115 Vert), Symbol Rate: 22425, APID: 1794 (DVB Free To Air) Also streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News http://www.arrl.org

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Re: Radio amateur calling protocol
by Bato, Andras 28 Feb '08

28 Feb '08

Gentlemen, In case we are rally corresponding about radio amateur calling and QSO protocol, Dave WB6LLO is quite right writing: "AO7, is what, 25 years old, none of those problems existed there, and still don't today..." Except for the sad fact that some feels it is compulsory to call like "CQ CQ CQ CQ AO7 satellite this is EE0LL (15 times) is standing by for any possible satellite call." During this time of a long call VO52 flyes across Europe and no QSO will be made at all! I was planning to write this list asking everyone to KEEP IT SHORT for the God's sake !!! I call like "HA6NN CQ" That's all. As somewhere someone told those who had not been experienced in RTTY contests, it is a general habit on that mode! Than there is no rule to tell QSP-partners even your name every time! Beside this, some tells everything about his equipment, the wx, etc. THERE IS NO TIME TO DO THAT ON SATELLITES! Learn the only sensible radioamateur QSO protocol what OH8MBN Mika or UA9CS Igor uses -not to mention K3SZH and some other regulars on AO7. > Blame those that encouraged and built AO51... That was one of the gratest mistake of the history of Amateur Radio. > Why was it built?? ...that is the question. gl de ha6nn Andras

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IEEE Student High Efficiency Power Amplifier Design Competition
by Arthur Feller 28 Feb '08

28 Feb '08

This competition is open to all students and graduate students registered at an educational establishment. Competitors are required to design, construct, and measure a high efficiency power amplifier, at a frequency of their choice above 1 GHz, but less than 20 GHz, and having an output power level of at least 5 watts, but less than 100 watts. See: http://www.ims2008.org/publications/PA-POSTER08-RevA.pdf Go for it! 73, art..... W4ART Arlington, VA Life is short. Be swift to love! Make haste to be kind! - Henri Frederic Amiel, philosopher and writer (1821-1881)

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Ham Log Grid Mapping Software, on http://ve2zaz.net
by Dr. Jay Garlitz 27 Feb '08

27 Feb '08

Thanks to Bert, VE2ZAZ, for posting the link to his Website containing his Ham Grid Mapping Software on our listserv. I was easily able to download the software, install it, export my data from my DXkeeper logging program, and set up the bands description so the program could read the data. Great result for a first version! Took less than ten minutes to get it going...Thanks Bert. Jay, AA4FL, EL89wo

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Patch Antenna
by Ronald A. Stunden 27 Feb '08

27 Feb '08

What effect is using a thicker plate have on the antenna. Say going from .010 to .032.

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