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

orbiting "disco ball" bounces back single photons
by Nate Duehr 19 Mar '08

19 Mar '08

Interesting for satellite fans... http://arxivblog.com/?p=317 One photon at a time... might take a while to send CQ... (Yes, that's a joke... for the humor-impaired.) Nate WY0X

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Coax run on the Beams
by Prathap Kumar 19 Mar '08

19 Mar '08

Hi All I have a question regarding the coax run on the boom or cross arm supporting the Vhf and Uhf beams. All these years I was feeding the coax to the beams running it backwards and allowing it to drop behind the relector downward as suggested, that it does not affect the performance. But most pictures I see these days have the coax being run forward towards the centre and supported on the crossarm and brought downward to the AZEL rotor. Now does these different coax runs have any effect on the performance forward gain or radiation pattern ? Just a few days ago I had a tough time on the new tower lifting the 2 beams with coax weight at the back and placing it on the rotator. Hence if it does not matter much I plan to change the coax run towards the centre and bring to the crossarm holding the V and U cross yagis. Looking forward to your valuable suggestions and knowledge. Best 73 Pop VU2POP

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Arthur C. Clarke, RIP
by Alan P. Biddle 19 Mar '08

19 Mar '08

Sir Arthur passed away at the age of 90, and is usually credited with inventing the idea of communications satellites. http://tinyurl.com/3bhykr Alan WA4SCA

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[OT] Is it possible to directly receive TDRSS Ku-band TV?
by Rick Mann 19 Mar '08

19 Mar '08

Sorry for the OT question, but I figure there's a lot of expertise on this list. I was just curious...is it possible to directly receive TDRSS Ku-band TV transmissions? I don't know what Ku-band gear entails, and I don't know if that stuff is encrypted or otherwise only available to NASA, but I thought it might be cool to get. TIA, -- Rick

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looking for N2BX, Paul Trush
by Stargate 19 Mar '08

19 Mar '08

If anyone has an email contact for Paul Trush (N2BX), please have him contact me via my email address. Thanks for any help, 73's RoD KD0XX

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Re: Help with rotor control and GS-232B
by WILLIAMS MICHAEL 19 Mar '08

19 Mar '08

WILLIAMS MICHAEL <k9qho6762(a)sbcglobal.net> wrote: Download the trail version of PCSAT32 from the AMSAT website. It is just like the purchased version except that you have to but your logitude and latitude of your QTH when starting the program. That is the only difference. GL Mike K9QHO "N3UJJ (Scott Gillis)" <N3UJJ(a)N3UJJ.COM> wrote: Mike, I went to the AMSAT Store to purchase PCSAT32 and it's CLOSED until further notice (sigh) To buy anything, you have to call "Martha", but she is out of town until the 25th. I have heard GREAT things about PCSAT32, and in the couple times I've played with it I haven't had a lot of time to dig deeply into it. You are right that NOVA does not control Doppler (as far as I can see). I have played quite a bit with Ham Radio Deluxe, and I think it's a GREAT program. I wonder if anyone has got it to work with WiSP & the GS-232B? Scott Gillis N3UJJ My Current Location My Amateur Weather Station -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of WILLIAMS MICHAEL Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2008 09:48 To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Help with rotor control and GS-232B The last I knew, Nova didn't control Doppler by itself only rotor control. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong about this. SatPC32 is the software to go with for both rotor and Doppler control. Somebody out there should have a 910 set up with SatPC32! SatPC32 is somewhat hard to get going and operate but runs really well once you get used to it. Look in your 910 manual and see if there is an display indicator that comes on when you establish communications between the radio and the PC. This might tell you if you are successful in communicating with the rig. If I can be any help please email. I'm using an FT-847, but I have a detailed setup procedure around here somewhere. Please let us know if you are having any success. Mike K9QHO AMSAT 33589 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hi Scott, I am using the GS-232B/G-5500 with SatPC32 (Yaesu_GS-232 rotor selection) and a Kenwood TS-2000X and it works very well. I haven't tried it with Nova. SatPC32 does have a radio selection for the 910H so I presume SatPC32 would control both Doppler and your rotor just fine. You could download the trial version (http://www.dk1tb.de/satpcsetup_a.ZIP) and give it a try. If you are a member of AMSAT then it would only be $45 to register the application. SatPC32 is a little complex at first; however, if you spend some time to get comfortable with it, I am sure you will like it. I hope you get everything working. 73 Jeff - K7WIN

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KD6PAG grid ??
by Alvaro de Leon Romo 18 Mar '08

18 Mar '08

Who heard KD6PAG in the AO27 at 2130 pass ??? He was in CN93 ??? I had some problem here and lost reception :-( Al XE2AT _________________________________________________________________ Tú, como Pedro, gana tiempo buscando en Live.com http://www.live.com

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Re: Courteous AO-51 Operation
by John Marranca, Jr 18 Mar '08

18 Mar '08

Good Afternoon, all... Robert, I think the main point that Ben is trying to make with these "friendly suggestions" is civility. Love the single-channel FM satellites or not, they are a fact of life throughout AMSAT. And AO-51 is arguably the worst as far as manners and good operating procedures are concerned. This doesn't mean that it doesn't happen on other single-channel birds. Consider this: You are trying to give a demo to a group that's interested in satellite-based Amateur Radio. You do your best to convey ease of use, technical skill and accomplishment, and the fact that satellite hams in general are a great bunch of guys...etc etc etc. Then, you tune into AO-51 for the demo...and you hear "the Zoo". Some of it is just common sense...like using headphones...not using too much power (we ALL know at least one person that does), but Ben worded some of the suggestions to try to "level the field", and help to make it more fair for everyone. As our fleet gets older, and more satellites become non-operational...and more Amateurs enter the ranks, the FM satellites will undoubtedly get worse, more crowded, etc. As this becomes reality, there are 3 routes to take to solve the "problem": A) Move to the Linear Satellites...B) Build more FM Satellites (which some will absolutely HATE)...or C) Learn to become a more efficient operator and get along with each other. Sadly, though...I have a feeling that this will reignite the Linear Vs. FM debate. 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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General Astrodynamics Library
by Willmott, Paul 18 Mar '08

18 Mar '08

Hi All, I've been working on a general c/c++ astrodynamics library. It is strictly a work in progress, and so far only includes the basic astronomy routines. Next up will be the orbit propagators, and tracking stuff. Anyway, its time for it to see the outside world. It can be downloaded from here: http://homepage.mac.com/pclwillmott/GAL/index.html Its released under GPL 2 and was developed under OSX using the GNU development tools, so should compile OK on UNIX / GNU Linux / and under cygwin in Windows. The routines are primitives, and it is deliberatly not framework based, so you can rip bits for your projects without lots of baggage. Please let me know any comments. 73 Paul, VP9MU ********************************************************************************* This message and any files transmitted with it are confidential and may be privileged and/or subject to the provisions of privacy legislation. It is intended solely for the person to whom it is addressed and review by anyone else is unauthorized. Any use, disclosure, reproduction, modification or distribution of the contents of this e-mail, or any part thereof, other than by the intended recipient, is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient or have received this message in error, please notify the sender of this e-mail immediately by return e-mail and destroy the message and all copies in your possession. Oil Management Services Ltd *********************************************************************************

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HQ8R Swan islands contact
by Luc Leblanc 18 Mar '08

18 Mar '08

I just got them (HQ8R) on AO-27 1553 EST pass quick exchange and they where loud and clear between a LOT of QSO'S and QRM. They will surely need a more quiet satellite in a way to give them a chance to work as many station possible. If they have any internet access i want to know if they log me as i log them in FN36. "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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