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

Re: Satellite tracking programming ideas
by Phil 02 Feb '08

02 Feb '08

----- Original Message ----- From: "Anthony Monteiro" <aa2tx(a)comcast.net> To: "Phil" <phillor(a)telstra.com>; "Amsat-Bb" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Friday, February 01, 2008 1:17 PM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Satellite tracking programming ideas > At 10:57 PM 1/30/2008, Phil wrote: > <cut> >> >>If I read the frequency once per second while spinning the tuning knob, >>occasionally I'll see an incorrect value. That same value persists until >>the knob is moved again. I can see the problem but not the answer. > Thanks again for the replies Tony and Nate. Problem solved. It wasn't hardware but instead a bug, caused by the use of a signed char that sometimes caused a frequency calculation error. I've been tracking AO-40's ghost for the past few weeks and I'm enthused again and look forward to making contact once again through a real satellite. Regards, Phil.

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8085
by truckwiz 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

Does anybody know where I can find some RadHard 8085 chips? Brian

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AO7 Operating Tip #1
by WILLIAMS MICHAEL 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

If the station your in QSO with has a easily readable 5/5 signal from AO7 but your signal is three times as strong, what action should you take? 1. Marvel how well your station is performing. 2. Immediately reduce your uplink power. 3. Do nothing, keep pounding the transponder. 4. None of the above.

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Services offered
by truckwiz 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

I don't know if this is the right place to post this. I own a fully equipped machine shop and will donate my time to any satellite projects. Brian

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ISS Repeater Active
by Tony VK5ZAI 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

Hello all, The X band repeater has been activated on the ISS with good signals and activity over Australia. -- Regards Tony. VK5ZAI J.A.(Tony)Hutchison P.O.Box 470 Kingston SE South Australia 5275 National ARISS Co-ordinator and Satellite ground Station. Web Site :- http://www.electric-web.org

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Re: FW: Oh - my - God - (AO-7 uplink power).
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

John/etc To requalify- This is my capability! I use only the exciter IC-451 1-8W. I am acutely aware of the sensitivity of AO-7. However when attempting work footprint edge to footprint edge, I did run some power momentarily to find my down link. Yes John I have read all the available information regarding the history and operation of AO-7. I trust you will take the liberty to CC this email to the EU AMSAT reflector. I should have reread my initial post to the bb, as the context is not correct. My apologies to all for the justifyable outrage this has caused. I conciously make every effort to follow all the rules written and unwritten. -- 73 Bob W7LRD AMSAT member 28498 Seattle -------------- Original message -------------- From: john hackett <la2qaa(a)hotmail.com> > > For those that don't understand power budgets on satellites - especially ailing > ones - *PLEASE* make the effort to read up on the subject - so you can honestly > say "your" operating *DIDN'T* shorten a particular satellites life ... or ... > you were *NOT* being an alligator ... (all mouth and no ears) ... and using more > than your fair share of the available power. > > Remember ... there are potentially many !! users on AO-7 and the available power > is distributed among them ... a LINEAR transponder isd *NOT* like an FM > transponder. > > There is an excuse for simply "not knowing" - but there is no !! excuse for > knowing and ignoring the facts - that's just plain anti-social. > > If you're not aware of it, do please !!! take the time to read up on the > subject. > > 73 John > > From: la2qaa(a)hotmail.com > To: w7lrd(a)comcast.net > CC: eu-amsat(a)yahoogroups.com; allan_gm1sxx(a)hotmail.com > Subject: Oh - my - God - (AO-7 uplink power). > Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2008 09:41:04 +0100 > > > > > > > > > Oh - my - God!, > > >On 70cm I run about 80-100 watts to a 40 el cp > >yagi. I can pick up my down link when the sat > >is about 7 degrees. > > 73 Bob W7LRD That's not an AO-7 station Bob, it's an EME station. > > Did you not read the recommended operating proceedure for AO-7 > > > > 5 watts or less to a decent aerial is adequate. Personally, I have *NEVER* used > more than 5 watts to a homebrew 6 element yagi but this gave me 3rd place > worldwide - (currently 5th) - when I was more active. > > I have taken the liberty of CC'ing part of your mail to the EU amsat reflector > because like me - they won't believe! the power you're using ... 100 watts to 40 > elements is several kilowatts !! EIRP. > > I would respectfully suggest you do some research about *WHY* one should > maintain a reasonable power budget when operating satellites ... afterwards - > (hopefully) - you'll see what I mean. > > AO-7 is not in the best of health at at the best of times but hitting it with so > much uplink power is most certainly not going to prolong it's life. > > It is also thoroughly recommended to use a "receiver" with an aerial attached - > though with your uplink power - (if it's true) - > a wet shoelace ought to suffice. > > NB. > > You did say 40 elements ... did you mean 4 ???. > > 73 John. > ................................................................................ > ...... > > > From: w7lrd(a)comcast.net > > To: AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org > > Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2008 03:58:29 +0000 > > Subject: [amsat-bb] antenna attenuation > > > > Hello > > Has anyone encountered this situation- My satellite antennas are about 15 > feet off the ground. approximatly 18 feet away at that height is the base of a > 25 foot tripod that holds my HF quad. When aiming at a certain direction about > 15-20 degrees I can't seem to get through to AO-7. I am trying to connect with > OH8MBN. Other directions I can usually hear my downlink almost down to the > horizon. On 70cm I run about 80-100 watts to a 40 el cp yagi. I can pick up my > down link when the sat is about 7 degrees. > > 73 Bob W7LRD > > Seattle > > > > -- > > "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it" > > _______________________________________________ > > 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 > > Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! MSN Messenger > > _________________________________________________________________ > Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today it's FREE! > http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/ > _______________________________________________ > 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 -- 73 Bob W7LRD AMSAT member 28498 Seattle

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Re: Which Handheld...
by Clint Bradford 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

>>...which handheld do you use or which handheld is "the best" for sats. It must be full duplex. There are no new full-duplex HTs on the amateur market. The Icom IC- W32a was the last nit to have true full-duplex. Knowing that, the feature that is needed in an HT is the ability to RX on one band, and TX on another. So you have dual-band, dual receive HTs (TH-F6a from Kenwood...user un-friendly VX-7R from Yaesu) that can do it - obviously. I overlook the Kenwood TH=D7A(g) because it is a battery hog and much older technology than what is now avalable in amateur HTs. But there are also HTs that are dual-band, single-receive that work excellently. I show off the Yaesu FT-60R for my demos and sessions. 1,000 memories, strongest belt clip of any HT on the amateur market, built tough, 108-to-a-gig receive, easy to program...and, when using its optional AA dry cell case, you are working at FULL POWER! Unlike the TH-F6a - when you use its AA case, you're at 1/2 of one Watt. Al that in a radio for well under $200. See a picture of it in action in the December, '07 issue of CQ Magazine, where I am using the FT-60 with an Arrow antenna to wow an audience at a fair demo. Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 909-241-7666 On Feb 1, 2008, at 1:10 AM, amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org wrote: > I would like to know which handheld do you use or which > handheld is "the best" for sats. It must be full duplex. > Thanks in advance!

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Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 3, Issue 59
by Clint Bradford 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

...Interesting. If you turn off the TNC when not in use, and set power save, it is no different from any other radio I think. And nothing has changed in FM "technology" in 30 years... I don't understand your bias... My "bias" comes from knowing from first hand experience that the radio is NOT anywhere near as efficient with its energy consumption than more current (no pun intended) HTs. That fac has already been acknowledged ny another participant here, too. They used to ship with a SIX VOLT battery pack - PB-38 - which only allowed 2.5W VHF and 2.2W UHF ops out of the box. (Ebay buyers beware!!!!) But they now ship with a PB-39, offering 12VDC at 600 0r 650mAH and a full five Watts power output. More modern radios are offering full power output with 7.2V and much longer-lasting NiMH and Li-Ion battery packs. Owners (including myself) have "compensated" the TH-D7's poor original battery life with aftermarket NiMH packs and the like...But in responding to the original poster's inquiry (limited funds), I still believe I gave him some good information. But if one asks, "I need a TNC in an HT...APRS intrigues me..." - then the TH-D7a fits the bill. Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 909-241-7666

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Explorer I
by Roy 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

If I'm not mistaken this is the 50th anniversary of the launch of Explorer I, the USA's first satellite put in orbit. I listened to the telemetry broadcast on 108 mHz and recorded it. The JPL had asked for the loan of any recordings made so I sent them out for their analysis. I received my original tapes back along with a supply of new reels of tape for use in making further recordings. JPL sent copies on to the Air Force Research Center at Cambridge. I later received letters from JPL and the Air Force Research Center describing the data they had recovered from the recordings relative to micrometeorite impacts and other items. It was a really exciting period for Amateur Radio. -- Roy -- W0SL

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Re: Which Handheld...
by Clint Bradford 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

Chad, email me privately. I'll let you borrow an FT-60R for a month or so... Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 clint(a)clintbradford.com 909-241-7666

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SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS.
by John Hackett 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

Special congratulations ought to be extended to JH3XCU/1 for soon to become the 8th station worldwide to attain 1000 points in the AO-7 log. 'Special' congratulations are in order because the station concerned has made this magnificent effort WITHOUT ACTUALLY HAVING A QSO. Quite an acheavement. Yes, I know it's an "activity" log but it does rather make a mockery of the log when you consider the stations that actually communicate with eachother. Likewise the stations that claim QSO points but log the transponder as *OFF* are not helping the general statistics page. The log page does have a link explaining how to correct incorrect entries - (the - "remember me next time" - checkbox needs to be checked). If you're going to bother to make an entry in the log, you might as well check that you've done it correctly - and if not, rectify it ... otherwise the log won't serve the purpose as it was designed for. 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org>

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Re: [ans] WSR-031 Weekly Satellite Report 031
by Keith N4ZQ 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

Nice catch including the last minute ISS change of status !! Thanks for keeping the Weekly Satellite Report current... Great job.. Keith N4ZQ -- James French <w8iss(a)wideopenwest.com> wrote: This report is organized into FIVE parts. Part 1 (S1) - operational analog amateur satellites Part 2 (S2) - operational digital amateur satellites Part 3 (S3) - non - operational satellites Part 4 (S4) - proposed satellites Part 5 (S5) - deborbited/returned satellites SB SAT @ AMSAT W8ISS ANS-031.S1 WSR 031 Part 1 01/31/2008 _____________________________________________________________ Shop from a huge selection of customized stationery designs! Click now! http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2221/fc/Ioyw6i4tcf4O0LmBHiRGodqfRKbs…

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Delfi-C3 launch delayed
by Wouter Jan Ubbels 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

Hi all, the launch of the NLS-4 cluster including Delfi-C3 has been delayed again, for now, it is scheduled for mid-april, we will update the mission status page as soon as possible, stay tuned! 73 Wouter Jan Ubbels PE4WJ

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Power budgets.
by John Hackett 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

Hello Folks, For those that don't understand power budgets on satellites - especially ailing ones - *PLEASE* make the effort to read up on the subject - so you can honestly say "your" operating *DIDN'T* shorten a particular satellites life ... or ... you were *NOT* being an alligator ... (all mouth and no ears) ... and using more than your fair share of the available power. Remember ... there are potentially many !! users on AO-7 and the available power is distributed among them ... a LINEAR transponder isd *NOT* like an FM transponder. There is an excuse for simply "not knowing" - but there is no !! excuse for knowing and ignoring the facts - that's just plain anti-social. If you're not aware of it, do please !!! take the time to read up on the subject. 73 John <la2qaa(a)amsat.org> .................................................................................................. >On 70cm I run about 80-100 watts to a 40 el cp >yagi. I can pick up my down link when the sat >is about 7 degrees. 73 Bob W7LRD ................................................................................................... Oh - my - God!, That's not an AO-7 station Bob, it's an EME station. Did you not read the recommended operating proceedure for AO-7 <http://www.planetemily.com/ao7/ao7log.php> 5 watts or less to a decent aerial is adequate. Personally, I have *NEVER* used more than 5 watts to a homebrew 6 element yagi but this gave me 3rd place worldwide - (currently 5th) - when I was more active. I have taken the liberty of CC'ing part of your mail to the EU amsat reflector because like me - they won't believe! the power you're using ... 100 watts to 40 elements is several kilowatts !! EIRP. I would respectfully suggest you do some research about *WHY* one should maintain a reasonable power budget when operating satellites ... afterwards - (hopefully) - you'll see what I mean. AO-7 is not in the best of health at at the best of times but hitting it with so much uplink power is most certainly not going to prolong it's life. It is also thoroughly recommended to use a "receiver" with an aerial attached - though with your uplink power - (if it's true) - a wet shoelace ought to suffice. NB. You did say 40 elements ... did you mean 4 ???. 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org> ...................................................................................... > From: w7lrd(a)comcast.net > To: AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org > Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2008 03:58:29 +0000 > Subject: [amsat-bb] antenna attenuation > > Hello > Has anyone encountered this situation- My satellite antennas are about 15 feet off the ground. approximatly 18 feet away at that height is the base of a 25 foot tripod that holds my HF quad. When aiming at a certain direction about 15-20 degrees I can't seem to get through to AO-7. I am trying to connect with OH8MBN. Other directions I can usually hear my downlink almost down to the horizon. On 70cm I run about 80-100 watts to a 40 el cp yagi. I can pick up my down link when the sat is about 7 degrees. > 73 Bob W7LRD > Seattle > > -- > "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it"

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Power budgets.
by John Hackett 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

Hello folks, For those that don't understand power budgets on satellites - especially ailing ones - *PLEASE* make the effort to read up on the subject - so you can honestly say "your" operating *DIDN'T* shorten a particular satellites life ... or ... you were *NOT* being an alligator ... (all mouth and no ears) ... and using more than your fair share of the available power. Remember ... there are potentially many !! users on AO-7 and the available power is distributed among them ... a LINEAR transponder isd *NOT* like an FM transponder. There is an excuse for simply "not knowing" - but there is no !! excuse for knowing and ignoring the facts - that's just plain anti-social. If you're not aware of it, do please !!! take the time to read up on the subject. 73 John <la2qaa(a)amsat.org> From: la2qaa(a)hotmail.com To: w7lrd(a)comcast.net CC: eu-amsat(a)yahoogroups.com; allan_gm1sxx(a)hotmail.com Subject: Oh - my - God - (AO-7 uplink power). Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2008 09:41:04 +0100 ....................................................................................... Oh - my - God!, >On 70cm I run about 80-100 watts to a 40 el cp >yagi. I can pick up my down link when the sat >is about 7 degrees. 73 Bob W7LRD ......................................... Wow!, That's not an AO-7 satellite class station Bob, it's an EME station. Have you not read the recommended operating proceedure for AO-7 !!. <http://www.planetemily.com/ao7/ao7log.php> 5 watts or less to a decent aerial is adequate. Personally, I have *NEVER* used more than 5 watts to a homebrew 6 element yagi but this gave me 3rd place worldwide - (currently 5th) - when I was more active. I have taken the liberty of CC'ing part of your mail to the EU amsat reflector because like me - they won't believe! the power you're using ... 100 watts to 40 elements is several kilowatts !! EIRP. I would respectfully suggest you do some research about *WHY* one should maintain a reasonable power budget when operating satellites ... afterwards - (hopefully) - you'll see what I mean. AO-7 is not in the best of health at at the best of times but hitting it with so much uplink power is most certainly not going to prolong it's life. It is also thoroughly recommended to use a "receiver" with an aerial attached - though with your uplink power - (if it's true) - a wet shoelace ought to suffice. NB. You did say 40 elements ... did you mean 4 ???. 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org> ...................................................................................... > From: w7lrd(a)comcast.net > To: AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org > Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2008 03:58:29 +0000 > Subject: [amsat-bb] antenna attenuation > > Hello > Has anyone encountered this situation- My satellite antennas are about 15 feet off the ground. approximatly 18 feet away at that height is the base of a 25 foot tripod that holds my HF quad. When aiming at a certain direction about 15-20 degrees I can't seem to get through to AO-7. I am trying to connect with OH8MBN. Other directions I can usually hear my downlink almost down to the horizon. On 70cm I run about 80-100 watts to a 40 el cp yagi. I can pick up my down link when the sat is about 7 degrees. > 73 Bob W7LRD > Seattle > > -- > "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it" > __________________________

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antenna attenuation
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

Hello Has anyone encountered this situation- My satellite antennas are about 15 feet off the ground. approximatly 18 feet away at that height is the base of a 25 foot tripod that holds my HF quad. When aiming at a certain direction about 15-20 degrees I can't seem to get through to AO-7. I am trying to connect with OH8MBN. Other directions I can usually hear my downlink almost down to the horizon. On 70cm I run about 80-100 watts to a 40 el cp yagi. I can pick up my down link when the sat is about 7 degrees. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle -- "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it"

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Re: Satellite tracking programming ideas
by phillor＠telstra.com 01 Feb '08

01 Feb '08

> SatPC32 works similar as Instant Tune (see Anthony Monteiro's detailed > answer): Thank you Anthony and Erich for your replies. I'm always impressed by the generosity of this list's members. During the past week I've spent hours debugging my code because it was originally supposed to work the way that you have both described. Actually it did, or at least I thought it did, but that was before I bought a laptop computer and a USB to serial converter. The code has been updated many times during the past eight years and during one of those updates I changed the user interface so that the user had to stop the tracking during manual tuning; effective but clumsy. Reading the FT-847's receiver frequency originally caused me some frustration. I had included a delay after each read and write command because the FT-847 doesn't return a command acknowledgement. While writing this reply I realised that instead of a delay I shroud be waiting for the serial port to receive five bytes from the radio. This has turned out to be more reliable but I still get occasional read errors and I feel that it's due to the USB to serial converter. When an incorrect frequency value is read, at one second intervals, the same value is reread from the serial port buffer each second until the tuning knob is moved again. Maybe the read command is working correctly and instead it's the write command that instructs the radio to output it's frequency that's not working reliably. I remember reading about some sort of delay that the FT-847 requires but I cannot remember what it was all about. It could be important. A lecturer once told a class that I attended that explaining a problem to anyone, even your dog if no one else will listen, often leads to an answer. It's helping in this instance, but not enough to lead me to the final answer. To add to my frustration, my ISP has made changes to their mail server which now prevents me replying to any e-mails that are outside of their domain. I have a workaround but it's a real pain. Thank you Wayne for your thoughts on frequency drift. I spent many hours listening to AO40's beacon and did manage, eventually, to get the drift under control. -- Regards, Phil.

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SatPC32 wont stay in UTC mode
by Charles Reiche 31 Jan '08

31 Jan '08

Anyone know of a way to get SatPC32 to stay in UTC mode every time on startup. There is a setup checkbox to "turn on" the time feature on startup but I dont find that it acts any differently whether or not I have the program in UTC or Local when setting this option or when starting up or closing down the program. Thanks Charlie N3CRT

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ISS Repeater turned on
by Tony 31 Jan '08

31 Jan '08

All, The ISS repeater was on during the last pass - orbit #52688. Uplink - 437.800FM Downlink - 145.800FM Tony -K2MO

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Re: antenna attenuation
by Dave Guimont 31 Jan '08

31 Jan '08

> >Has anyone encountered this situation- My >satellite antennas are about 15 feet off the >ground. approximatly 18 feet away at that >height is the base of a 25 foot tripod that >holds my HF quad. When aiming at a certain >direction about 15-20 degrees I can't seem to >get through to AO-7. I am trying to connect >with OH8MBN. Other directions I can usually >hear my downlink almost down to the horizon. On >70cm I run about 80-100 watts to a 40 el cp >yagi. I can pick up my down link when the sat is about 7 degrees. Bob, Be wary of AO7! It is my old standby, and I do a lot of listening...In attempt to determine a pattern, but my efforts have been fruitless.. Today, 1feb08z, I chased the band and NOTHING until about 30°, then the sigs were erratic...made two contacts... Sometimes it is loud and clear AOS to LOS... Not suggesting that is YOUR problem, but be wary, my friend....And I have nothing but sky from horizon to horizon...with my sat antennas.... 73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1(a)san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

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RFI source found - sort of
by Tony 31 Jan '08

31 Jan '08

All, I was able to track down the general location of an RFI problem I've been hearing since December. It's in the vicinity of 3 new homes on a cul-de-sac not far from my QTH. I'm told the pulse noise sounds like the RFI from an invisible electric fence. At this point, it's hard to tell which home it's coming from with the HF mobile because the signal strength is overwhelming at the location. I'll have to get up close with a portable AM radio; I'll probably need some shielding around it. Wish I knew exactly what the noise was; I'd hate to 'accuse' a neighbor of causing RFI and have it turn out to be the power company. I have a recording if anyone is interested. The question is, what to do in the worse case scenerio if the home owner decides not to take action to remedy the problem? Anyone on the reflector been through this before? Apologies for the off-topic note -Please reply direct... Tony -K2MO

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Trade Compaq server for radio!
by chad phillips 31 Jan '08

31 Jan '08

As you may have seen in my last post, I am looking to purchase a handheld or rig similar to a Tr-751a to get me back on the air. I have a Compaq DL-360 server that I plan on posting on ebay this weekend. However if there is someone on this list that is interested in trading for it, I would be happy to consider it. Either email me for the specs if you are interested or I will post them tonight later. Thanks again, Chad kg0mw

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Which handheld for sats?
by chad phillips 31 Jan '08

31 Jan '08

I don't want to open up a can of worms, just looking for your advice....... I have been off the birds for a few years and am wanting to get back on next month. Because funds are somewhat limited, I am considering every possible combination of radio(s) for getting back on the air. One option is to purchase a handheld that I can use with an Arrow antenna. I would like to know which handheld do you use or which handheld is "the best" for sats. It must be full duplex. Thanks in advance! Chad kg0mw en-13 Sioux Falls, SD kg0mw.blogspot.com

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