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

Ridge Test Results
by Nathaniel S. Parsons 22 Apr '08

22 Apr '08

Hi again, everyone. It's a little overwhelming to get so much help at once, but thank you, everyone, for all of it. One clarification: I did indeed mean pF, not uF for the capacitors in the matching circuit. Also, we performed another ridge test this evening (another typo there: the ridge is 3.18km from the roof where we have the ground station setup), using the complete ground station (minus pre-amp), and TH-D7 with rubber duck. We transmitted from the ground station, while varying the amount of attenuators between the TS-2000 and coax to the antenna. The "PWR" column is in the format (TH-D7)/(TS-2000). With each test, two 319-byte packets were sent by the ground station in rapid succession. The results are below. If any of this is not clear, I will do my best to clarify things. Also, the entire test was performed at 437.405MHz, at 1200 baud, even though we would like to operate at 9600. I have gotten 9600 baud to work when two TH-D7's are across the room from each other, but since 9600 baud didn't work during the initial configuration, we decided to just characterize the rubber duck at 1200. Ant. Pos. PWR Atten. Packets Vertical .05W/5W 0dB 2/2 Vertical .5W/5W 50dB 0/2 Vertical .5W/5W 45dB 1/2 Vertical .5W/5W 45dB 2/2 Vertical .5W/5W 50dB 0/2 Horizontal .5/5 50dB 0/2 Horizontal .5/5 45dB 1/2 Horizontal .5/5 45dB 0/2 Horizontal .5/5 45dB 0/2 Horizontal .5/5 45dB 0/2 Horizontal .5/5 40dB 0/2 Horizontal .5/5 40dB 0/2 Horizontal .5/5 35dB 0/2 Horizontal .5/5 30dB 2/2 Horizontal .5/5 30dB 1/2 Horizontal .5/5 30dB 2/2 45 deg. .5/5 30dB 2/2 45 deg. .5/5 30dB 2/2 45 deg. .5/5 35dB 2/2 45 deg. .5/5 40dB 2/2 45 deg. .5/5 45dB 1/2 45 deg. .5/5 45dB 0/2 Comments? Concerns? Questions? My initial interpretation of these data is that our square loop antenna has a MUCH lower gain than is required, and something like a short length of measuring tape would be a better substitute, as has been suggested by numerous people. -Nate

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TVI problem
by w0dxz＠aol.com 22 Apr '08

22 Apr '08

I have a TVI problem that may curtail my? ham operation... I run 5 watts on 145.920,? FM,? to a beam 5 feet above my roof. my next door neighbor says I am getting into their TV,,, they have cable... I need some help,,, I think it is a leak in the cable system... but how do I approach the? cable company, and how do i? make sure it isnt my problem... not theirs.? I have new 9913,,, Bob W0DXZ

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clarification : audio interference
by w0dxz＠aol.com 22 Apr '08

22 Apr '08

Let me modify that...? my original info was relayed from my wife... "you are getting into the neighbors TV"... after talking with the neighbors,,, I am NOT into their TV, I am being heard through her computer speakers... how do I solve this now that I know where it is... she is hearing audio on her speakers...? I am glad it is this rather than? TVI through cable. Bob W0DXZ

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Delfi-C3 telemetry decoding software test
by Wattage Perera 21 Apr '08

21 Apr '08

Hi to the BB, I was able to locally test the Delfi-C3 RASCAL software using the 5MB telemetry sound file from the Delfi-C3 website using my computer with the following method. Set your computer Sound Recording Device Properties using the following path. I am using Windows XP Home Edition. Control Panel ---- Sounds and Audio Devices ---- Sounds and Audio Devices Properties ---- Click on Audio tab ---- Click on Sound Recording Volume tab ---- Select Mono Mix on Sound Recorder Properties ---- Set the recording volume level to half way on the scale. Now make sure you have a check mark in the Sound Recorder select box. Download the 5MB WAV file onto your desktop from the following link in the Delfi-C3 website: http://www.delfic3.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23&Itemid=1… Open the computer Sound Recorder program ( All Programs ---- Accessories ---- Entertainment ---- Sound Recorder ) or use the Windows Media Player. Play back the telemetry sound file you downloaded. Open the Delfi-C3 RASCAL software. Now you should see the software screen decoding the playback telemetry sound file. You can set the audio level by adjusting the computer Sound Recorder Volume level setting. 73, Kumara Perera VE4WKP

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Reminder
by Martha 21 Apr '08

21 Apr '08

If you have not called me for reservations for the AMSAT/TAPR Banquet, please do so as soon as possible. Just sending an email is not enough. I need your credit card number and expiration date. Please note that this will be a buffet and you do not have to make a choice of an entree - you can have all three! AMSAT's free phone number is 1-888-322-6728. -- 73- Martha

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TH-F6A?
by w0dxz＠aol.com 21 Apr '08

21 Apr '08

I am updating some radios I have,,, I am going to sell my Alinco dual bander? a DJ-V5, which I had used on sats,and as a scanner, and the W32A I had bought just for satellite work. I am going to update to a Kenwood TH-F6A,,, because I can work sats with it, but I also like having the? SW and AM band coverage. I saw, but didn't pay much attention to the recent HT discussion... is the TH-F6A my best choce for HT? for sats, ... or at least in the top two?? Before I go down thr street to HRO and plunk down the money... Any comments on this radio? in general or for? sat work (a radio to take on trips, etc) Bob W0DXZ DM33

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Delfi-C3 telemetry decoding software available
by Wouter Jan Ubbels 21 Apr '08

21 Apr '08

Hi all, we have released RASCAL, the telemetry decoding software for the Delfi-C3 satellite. You can find the download page at http://www.delfic3.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=94&Itemid=1… This page also includes instructions on how to apply for a user account to submit telemetry to our servers, and how to use RASCAL. Furthermore, the Mission Operations page is online, at http://www.delfic3.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=93&Itemid=1… Here you can find all information regarding frequencies, TLE's and so on. Hoping for a successful launch, enjoy, Wouter Jan Ubbels PE4WJ

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WD9EWK's 19 April road trip (long)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 21 Apr '08

21 Apr '08

Hi! I haven't done a road trip like I did on Saturday in a long time. I woke up early, left Phoenix before sunrise (5am local/1200 UTC), was part of an event with a radio club 90 minutes north of the city, and then proceed to put a bunch of miles (456.5 miles/734km) on my truck. In all of this, I was able to park in 4 different locations, putting a total of 4 different grids on the air during 4 AO-51 and 2 AO-27 passes and making a total of 65 QSOs with stations in the continental USA, Canada, Mexico, and Alaska. Through my fuel purchases, I also made a small boost in the economies of some oil-producing countries. The primary reason for the trip on Saturday was to help the Yavapai Amateur Radio Club with their activity at an event in Prescott AZ, about 100 miles/160km north of Phoenix. I added to that a loop through northern Arizona that would allow me to operate from 4 different grids, and in particular put a couple of unusual (for satellite ops) grids on the air: DM35 and DM45. These two grids in northern Arizona are rarely on the satellites, unless someone driving on I-40 decides to stop and work passes from up there. I can probably count on one hand the number of passes I've heard stations from both of these grids in the last 2+ years. First stop... 1410 UTC, about 85 miles/137km north of Phoenix, west of the I-17 freeway in grids DM34xm and DM44am at 4455 feet (1358m) elevation: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&time=&date=&ttype=&q=34+31.1… This was a pass to my east, and the only time I would be on the air from DM44 during the day. Lots of activity, and I was able to log contacts with 12 stations in Canada, Mexico, and the US. I have operated from this spot off and on in the past year, and this time I had an "audience" - some cattle, roaming through this field just inside the Prescott National Forest. In this area, the national forest has very few trees. It is more high desert than forested area. After this pass, I made the 30-mile/50km drive west to Prescott. The event I was helping with would be in the public library in downtown Prescott, grid DM34sm: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=34.5397+n+112.4672+w&jsv=1… The event was only for 2 hours, between 10am and 12 noon (1700- 1900 UTC), and its location on a hill prevented me from working any eastern passes unless the satellites were above 40 or 45 degrees elevation. I was able to do a demonstration on one AO-51 pass to the west at 1548 UTC, logging contacts with 9 stations from Alaska to Mexico. The event, primarily focused on astronomy, was a good one. The Yavapai Amateur Radio Club had a table with general information on amateur radio including details of a local school's SAREX contact in 1994 and another table with information on radio astronomy, along with my table with satellite-related information. Thanks to Ray W1OTH, Terry KB7TRE, Bob WB6ODR, and the others with the radio club and the Prescott Astronomy Club for your assistance. After the event wrapped up, I grabbed some lunch and drove 35 miles/56km north to a spot east of Arizona route 89 in grids DM34tx and DM35ta near Drake AZ (25 miles/40km south of Ash Fork and the I-40 freeway): http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=35+0.00+n+112+23.132+w&jsv… This was a very nice spot, again just inside the Prescott National Forest in the high desert (4735 feet/1443m elevation, per my GPS receiver). I had a great view of the sky in all directions, no hassles from people driving on the road, and was able to work a pair of AO-27 passes. I made 10 QSOs on the 2121 UTC pass to the east, and 8 more on the 2302 UTC pass to the west. After those passes, it was time to pack up my stuff and move on to the last spot I wanted to reach. After a 45-mile/72km drive I reached a spot on old US 66 west of Parks AZ in grids DM35xg and DM45ag: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=35+15.570+n+112+0.00+w&jsv… No more high desert here. I was in the Kaibab National Forest, and this actually looked like a forest with lots of tall trees. I had gone up in elevation, up to 7128 feet/2173m. I had almost 90 minutes before the first AO-51 pass of the evening, so I tried to find a good spot that would still put me on the DM35/DM45 line away from the road. No luck with that, so I parked on the side of the road and prepared for the first pass. When I started to hear the satellite come up from the southeast, it was already jammed with stations from all over the USA and Mexico. Despite the crowd, I was able to make quick contacts with 15 different stations during the 0120 UTC pass. Between that pass and the 0259 UTC pass to the west, I drove around the area again to see the sights while there was still sunlight. I returned to the same spot for the 0259 UTC pass, and made 11 more contacts with stations from Mexico up to Alaska to wrap up my satellite operating for the day. After I dismantled my station, I drove to Flagstaff for dinner. Then a quick look around that city, before driving down the I-17 freeway to go home. If anyone who worked me Saturday wants a QSL card for the contact(s), please e-mail me. If I already have a QSL card from an earlier satellite QSO with you, there's no need to send me another card. If we have not worked before, I would appreciate receiving your QSL card. If you didn't work me and would like to hear DM35, DM45, or some other unusual grids in Arizona on future satellite passes, there will be other opportunities as summer approaches. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Re: Website
by N3UJJ (Scott Gillis) 21 Apr '08

21 Apr '08

Looks like it's up now, it wasn't even answering a tracert before Scott Gillis N3UJJ My Current Location <http://location.n3ujj.com> My Amateur Weather Station <http://weather.n3ujj.com/> > _____________________________________________ > From: N3UJJ (Scott Gillis) [mailto:N3UJJ@N3UJJ.COM] > Sent: Monday, April 21, 2008 12:53 > To: 'AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org' > Subject: Website > > > Is the AMSAT website down? > > I can't get it to come up > > Scott Gillis N3UJJ > My Current Location <http://location.n3ujj.com> > My Amateur Weather Station <http://weather.n3ujj.com/> > > >

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Re: Delfi-C3 telemetry decoding software available
by Wouter Jan Ubbels 21 Apr '08

21 Apr '08

Hi Alan, make sure to first extract the entire RASCAL zip file (including the lib folder) before running the jar file, RASCAL gives this error because it cannot reach the lib, most probably because it has not been extracted from the zip file. Let me know whether that works! For further questions, please also cc rascal(a)delfic3.nl which is a special e-mail address we have created for Q&A regarding RASCAL, and for obtaining a user account. 73! Wouter Jan Ubbels PE4WJ

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