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

Field Day 2008 Rules (correction)
by Bruce 17 Mar '08

17 Mar '08

I had made a mistake and did not show AO16 as a single channel FM satellite even though the downlink is DSB (I showed it as if it were like FO29 and AO7 .... multi-user). I have updated the rules on my website and they will shortly be updated at amsat.org. I think I got the correction in to the editor in time for the change to be made in the journal. 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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AO-51 transmitter shut down?
by Charles Reiche 16 Mar '08

16 Mar '08

On the "gut pass" (as I like to call it), right up the middle of the USA at Mar 17 ~0040Z the ao-51 435.300 transmitter shut off for an estimated 5-10 seconds, enough for me to stare at my computer and radio to wonder if I hit a button, then it came back and I heard K7WIN and i believe N5AFV verify that it indeed happened. Was it just being programed by a ground station at that time or is it something we should continue to watch for? I did not have a recording of it, maybe someone else does. N3CRT Charlie

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Re: presentation for hamfest
by Bob Bruninga 16 Mar '08

16 Mar '08

> I am looking for power point presentation > suitable for a hamfest forum.. The #1 point I make at hamfests are: 1) You dont need special antennas 2) You dont need elevation rotatros 3) You dont need tracking software 4) Just operate from your mobile FM or APRS rig anytime you are commuting or otherwise in the car. AO51 sked repeats every 5 days, and GO-32 every 9 days. A simple table on your dashboard will give you pass times for months... See http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/MobileLEOtracking.html But there are a few more slides in my general APRS presentation at the end that also show why elevation is simply not required. In fact, I should cut them out into an AMSAT presentation just for this purpose. get the power point link at the top of this page: http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/aprs.html

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2-to-1 spliiter with DC pass?
by Jeff Mock 16 Mar '08

16 Mar '08

I have an Icom 910, the preamp control is very convenient for turning on masthead preamps. I also have an Icom R8500 comm receiver and I would like to do a little hacking with the 10.7MHz IF output of the R8500 using the same antenna feed as the IC-910. So, is there a 2-1 splitter available that will pass DC from the 910 to the antenna but not to the other receiver? Also some sort of arrangement that doesn't blow up the R8500 would be kind of nice in case I accidentally key the 910 transmitter. thanks, jeff AD6EO

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Re: Presentation for hamfest
by Clint Bradford 16 Mar '08

16 Mar '08

Anyone is welcome to download and print out my 4-page tutorial, "Working Ham Sats with Your HT"... If you have a print utility that makes brochures, you can get it all on one page, duplex printing. http://homepage.mac.com/clintbradford/FileSharing1.html Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 909-241-7666

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Re: Opinion regarding satellite radios
by G8IFF/KC8NHF 16 Mar '08

16 Mar '08

But there are no satellites on 222 and only little ol' USA has that band. It's a broadcast band with all your favorite music stations in Europe. Nate Duehr wrote: > > Bah. Still no one making anything for 222

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Replacement Switch for Yaesu G-5500 Controller
by Eduardo Jacob 16 Mar '08

16 Mar '08

Hi A switch for our faculty0s club Yaesu G-5500 Controller is broken. We have put another one but I would like to know of it's possible to get a replacement for aesthetic view. Sent a message to Yaesu with no answer. Any ideas? Best regards and thank you Eduardo/EA2BAJ

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UT1FG/mm now in the Med
by Robert Turlington 16 Mar '08

16 Mar '08

Hi All Yuri UT1FG/mm is making steady progress and is now in the Mediteranian Sea today I worked him at the following times 1214utc on SO50 in IM96 1405utc on AO27 in JM05 1634utc on AO16 in JM07 1941utc on AO51 in JM17 Regards Robert G8ATE _________________________________________________________________ Get Hotmail on your mobile, text MSN to 63463! http://mobile.uk.msn.com/pc/mail.aspx

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Re: presentation for hamfest
by Bob Bruninga 16 Mar '08

16 Mar '08

> I'm amused at your presumption that all hams > have a mobile ham radio and spend a great > deal of time in their car. Actually, I am amazed/amused at the number that don't. Nationally, the average person spends what, 45 minutes a day in their cars commuting...? And if we are to fulfill our radio service mission, are we not all supposed to be prepared to comunicate in emergencies? So it has always been a surprise of mine that some very active hams in fact do not have an FM rig in their car... I'm not saying they need to use it, but It seems that it would be good preparation to have one, at least an HT in the glove box. I guess it is the boy scout legacy to be prepared. But then today, that means having a cell phone, not a ham radio....;-) On the otherhand, I can admire that many people do in fact have another life besides ham radio too. I now drive to and from work, purposefully not on any commuter repeater. But my APRS position report always shows what frequency I am monitoring so that I can be called if needed. Family communications also plays a big part, and so monitoring a normally quiet repeater makes contact easier. A brief satellite pass is also fun sometimes. This is just my current state in life. It will change. So I do not in anyway suggest any judgement on others use of Ham radio or lack thereof. I actually longingly remember 20 years ago when I actually did have some time to play radio while doing something other than commuting... And the empty nest is less than a year away... Bob, WbAPR

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Re: Predict 2.2.3 for Linux
by John Marranca, Jr 16 Mar '08

16 Mar '08

Happy St. Patrick's Day... Kent, et al: I also use Ubuntu 7.10...and find it both intellectually stimulating and refreshing to use an OS other than a flavor of Windows that's ACTUALLY useful and robust. It may seem a bit of blasphemy, but Ubuntu (and most Linux distros) either have WINE or can be loaded WITH WINE. That being said, I use Orbitron....the same Orbitron for Windows. And it works just as well. Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig oraibh! 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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