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

Re: Preamp for a Mobile Application
by Bill Dzurilla 02 Apr '08

02 Apr '08

Kent, Never tried it, but I doubt a preamp would be worth the expense if mounted at the rig in a mobil set-up. I assume the feedline is only 10' or so. The preamp helps most when the feedline is lengthy, especially if cheap coax is used. If you want to try a switching preamp, the ARR SP432VDG is a good one, see http://www.advancedreceiver.com/page7.html For about the same price, you could buy an Arrow handheld yagi antenna, which would substantially improve both reception and transmission. See http://www.arrowantennas.com/146-437.html , although if the rig is fixed inside your car if might not be convenient to hold the Arrow, unless your mike cord is long enough so you can stand outside the car. If you are limited to operating from the car, try driving to a hilltop or somewhere with a clear view from horizon to horizon. 73, Bill NZ5N ____________________________________________________________________________________ Like movies? Here's a limited-time offer: Blockbuster Total Access for one month at no cost. http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text4.com

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Re: Help with CIV and IC-910H
by George Henry 02 Apr '08

02 Apr '08

-----Original Message----- >From: Tim Tuck <tim.tuck(a)penrith.net> >Sent: Apr 2, 2008 2:37 PM >To: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Help with CIV and IC-910H > [snip] >I'm pretty sure you will need to have your 910 in Satellite mode to work >correctly. >I use mine with Orbitron and WispDDE and that works fine as does SatPC32 > >regards > >Tim > SatPC32 puts it into Satellite mode for you when you enable CAT tuning. He won't need to touch the button on the radio at all. George, KA3HSW

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AMSAT-UK website
by John Heaton 02 Apr '08

02 Apr '08

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Greetings, I'm in the process of moving offices from ones end of the University campus to the other (around 0.75 mile) and since the AMSAT-UK website is on one of my desktop systems, it will be moving too. When that happens, sometime in the next week or so the AMSAT-UK website will be going offline for a few hours. I don't know exactly when, as its all dependent on when the University gets it done. Bye for now, John -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.3 (Darwin) iD8DBQFH8+qzDwhbGQHPUt0RAmZyAKCehjV2kHobnu91mqej9f0iiXsldgCeNF+W sETTcOg8IOiDxh7MRTSRNJQ= =O+ak -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----

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Help with CIV and IC-910H
by Ronald Nutter 02 Apr '08

02 Apr '08

I am trying to find some solution that will have my computer auto-adjust my IC-910H. I have verified that the computer interface is working on my IC-910H as I can read data from the radio using Win-EQF. Someone suggested I get SatPC. I downloaded it but cant seem to get it to talk to my IC-910H. I can work all the FM birds and AO-16, just having problems getting onto the SSB birds (i.e. VO-52). Thanks, Ron KA4KYI

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Re: Help with CIV and IC-910H
by Andrew Glasbrenner 02 Apr '08

02 Apr '08

Once you get it set up, SatPC32 is the cat's meow for tuning. This is of course dependent on keeping a fresh set of keplerian elements, an accurate clock sync on the PC, and initially calibrating the tuning equations for differences in frequency accuracy between rigs. The learning curve is a bit steep, but it is well worth the time and effort. 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: David <m0zlb(a)btinternet.com> >Sent: Apr 2, 2008 1:34 PM >To: G8IFF/KC8NHF <nigel(a)ngunn.net> >Cc: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Help with CIV and IC-910H > >HRD does not deal with the Doppler compensation correctly on the 910 >(and possibly other radios) its a known fault which has been on >Simon's "to do" list for a while! I gave up on it a long while back >and started manually tuning instead. If SatPC can do it then I will >take a look at that and see if it is any better. > >David >KG4ZLB / M0ZLB > >m0zlb(a)btinternet.com >david.m0zlb(a)gmail.com > >On Apr 2, 2008, at 12:10, G8IFF/KC8NHF <nigel(a)ngunn.net> wrote: > >> Have you tried Ham Radio Deluxe? >> >> Ronald Nutter wrote: >>> I am trying to find some solution that will have my computer auto- >>> adjust >>> my IC-910H. I have verified that the computer interface is working >>> on >>> my IC-910H as I can read data from the radio using Win-EQF. >>> >>> Someone suggested I get SatPC. I downloaded it but cant seem to >>> get it >>> to talk to my IC-910H. I can work all the FM birds and AO-16, just >>> having problems getting onto the SSB birds (i.e. VO-52). >>> >>> Thanks, >>> >>> Ron >>> KA4KYI >>> _______________________________________________ >>> 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 >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> -- >> <>< >> ><> >> <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> >> Nigel A. Gunn. 59 Beadlemead, Milton Keynes, MK6 4HF, England. >> Tel +44 (0)1908 604004 mobile +44 (0)7951079089 >> e-mail nigel(a)ngunn.net www http://www.ngunn.net >> Amateur radio stations G8IFF, KC8NHF >> Member of ARRL, GQRP #11396, QRPARCI #11644, SOC #548, Flying Pig >> #385, >> Dayton ARA #2128, AMSAT-NA LM-1691, MKARS, RAYNET >> <>< >> ><> >> <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >_______________________________________________ >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

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Re: Help with CIV and IC-910H
by George Henry 02 Apr '08

02 Apr '08

With SatPC32, you won't need to set memories on the rig... in the Doppler.sqf file, you need to have an entry for VO-52 that looks like this: VO-52,145900,435250.3,USB,LSB,REV,0,0 This tells your radio the relationship between the uplink and downlink frequencies, what modes to use, etc., for that particular satellite. You can either open Doppler.sqf in Notepad (it's in the folder where you installed SatPC32, usually C:/Program Files/SatPC32), or from the Auxiliary Files section under the "?" option on the menu bar. Make sure that you not only have matched the addresses for your radio in the Setup menu, but the baudrate aand COM port as well, and put in a CAT delay value of around 60 or so. Then when you select VO-52 as the active satellite and press the "C" button in the upper left of the display, the program should automatically switch the radio to Satellite mode, LSB on the uplink, USB on the downlink, and set the frequencies to the values in the Doppler.sqf file. (Don't forget to turn the squelch knob, which is the RF Gain control in SSB mode, UP) You can then tune up or down from there manually, and the uplink VFO will track your changes to the downlink. Once you can hear yourself on the downlink, follow the instructions in the file FAQ.htm, in the section titled "AO-40 Operation," to fine-tune your uplink to match your downlink (every radio is slightly different). You should then be good to go! 73, George, KA3HSW -----Original Message----- >From: Ronald Nutter <rnutter(a)networkref.com> >Sent: Apr 2, 2008 9:31 AM >To: Bruce <snyderb(a)cox.net> >Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Help with CIV and IC-910H > >Bruce: > >Think I found part of the problem. I glossed over the CIV addressing. >I am used to applications that "know" the default CIV addressing, so I >hadnt looked at it. Although I hadnt changed mine, I looked at the >settings in my 910H and changed the settings in SatPC32. I can now see >there some indication of RIG control. Have to figure out now how to get >things to work. > >I dont use the satellite function in the radio, I put the vhf frequency >in one memory and uhf in the other. I shift the receive channel into >the slave part of the radio (lower display) and put the transmit in the >higher display. > >I will continue to look at the docs for SatPC but would appreciate any >pointers you can give on how you use SatPC32 with the SSB birds (i.e. >setting up the radio, etc). > >Thanks, >Ron >

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Re: Feedback on downlink on VO-52
by John Kopala 02 Apr '08

02 Apr '08

Ron, I have to throw in my 2 cents. I'm not sure why you would be getting any desense. I have virtually the same setup. I have not had any indications of desense with my installation. I'm using an IC-910H, separate feedlines, mast mounted preamps, and yagi antennas. Feedlines are 9913F7 ultraflex and are about 60' long plus connections from the preamps to the antennas. I have a 2 meter CP KLM (oldie), a 1.2 GHz looper, and a 435 KLM. Separation between the 2 meter and the 70 cm antennas is about 8 feet. I do use an elevation rotor and so the antennas can be aimed quite precisely. Normal power output is usually about 5 watts unless the satellites have a very low pass. Using more than 25 watts would be pretty unusual with most satellites. I live in Phoenix, AZ, and am surround by mountains, some within walking distance, so in most directions I have an elevated, rugged horizon. The first question that I would ask is how much power are you running on the uplink? And then, how far apart are the antennas? I use the CI-V interface with SATPC32 to control the doppler. It works great. You just have to make sure the address in the radio matches what you have set in the software configuration files. For SSB I have the frequency updated whenever it gets off by 20 or more Hz. For FM I'm using 300 Hz. Maybe overkill on SSB, but it's better than having the tone jumping up and down all the time. As George said, do the CAT interface first, expecially if you plan to be doing SSB or CW. Once you have that set up, you can tweek your downlink on the CAT display when you first transmit. After that, your uplink and downlink should pretty well track with each other. The fun comes when you have to follow someone who has no doppler control. I don't think you are going to find any easy way to interface the Channel Master rotor to a computer interface. Generally the interfaces expect a voltage between 0 and 5 volts representing the azimuth of the antenna. A higher indicator voltage can be scaled down to the 0 to 5 range if you can find something suitable. Most ham rotors have separate wiring for the indicator potentiometer in the rotor and that can be easily scaled and used with computer interfaces. Hope this helps. I can set a picture of my antenna installation if that would help. John N7JK Message: 13 Date: Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:12:03 -0500 From: Ronald Nutter <rnutter(a)networkref.com> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Feedback on downlink on VO-52 To: George Henry <ka3hsw(a)earthlink.net>, "amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >> AMSAT-BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <47F250C3.7020801(a)networkref.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed I am using seperate antennas and feedlines. For the time being, I am using a Channel Master antenna to turn the antennas. I have a pvc pipe rig setup with the antennas at an angle of 25 degrees due to the clutter in the neighborhood I have to clear to see the sats. I hope to have a tower in the future but with being laid off from my job, cant really have any expenditures right now. I have the cat interface for the IC910H but havent looked into how to set it up yet. Ron KA4KYI George Henry wrote: > -----Original Message----- >> From: Ronald Nutter <rnutter(a)networkref.com> >> Sent: Mar 31, 2008 10:40 PM >> To: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >> Subject: [amsat-bb] Feedback on downlink on VO-52 >> >> Thanks to the help of several on this listserv, I was able to get a >> contact on VO-52 until I lost coordination on keeping the rotor turned >> and the IC910H tweaked the right way on the VFO's. I had problems >> finding my downlink because of what I think is desensing on the 2M >> downlink. >> >> Can I resolve this by putting a filter on the 2M receive to stop the >> desensing like I would on the UHF receive on the FM birds ? If not, is >> there another way to fix the problem ? >> >> Thanks to W0EOZ for putting up with me while I was trying to figure >> things out. Hopefully my next contacts will last a bit longer <G>. >> >> Ron >> KA4KYI > > Are you using separate 2 meter and 70 cm antennas with separate feedlines, > or diplexing onto a single feedline to a single antenna? First thing to > do is reduce your uplink power as much as possible while still being > heard. If you are diplexing to a single feedline, you only have about > 60dB or so of isolation, so too much uplink power can exceed that. You > should be able to work VO-52 with 25 watts or less... > > I have never experienced desense on 2 meters from my 70 cm uplink... only > the reverse, which can be cured with separate feedlines and antennas, > ample separation between the antennas, and the diplexer-as-filter trick > found at <http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/articles/Mode-J/> > > And I strongly recommend buying or building a CAT interface and letting > your tracking program take care of tuning the radio (and turning the > rotors, if you buy or build a rotor interface as well). The demo version > of SatPC32 is fully functional except for saving your station parameters, > and can be downloaded from <www.dk1tb.de/indexeng.htm>. > If you like it, register it: all proceeds go directly to AMSAT. A CAT > interface PC board with the harder-to-find chips included is available > from <www.farcircuits.net> and only costs about $20 to build. The > FOD-Track rotor control PC board is also available from Far Circuits, and > will cost $45 - $50 to build. The LVB Tracker is available thru the AMSAT > store, and has the advantage of being able to operate without a computer > attached... nice for mobile ops! > > Go for the radio control first: that'll free you up to deal with the > rotors manually, and they demand far less attention than tuning does. > > 73, > George, KA3HSW > > > >

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AO-51 Mode L/U
by James Denneny 02 Apr '08

02 Apr '08

Has anyone copied the Mode L/U BBS yet? I caught two passes on April 1 and could not hear or connect with BBS. Jim K7EG

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interesting site
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 02 Apr '08

02 Apr '08

I happened across this site. It has probably been on the BB before. Still interesting http://science.nasa.gov/realtime/jtrack/Spacecraft.html 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle -- "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it"

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Re: [eagle] Re: WARNING!!! DMHO -- A threat to you and the environment
by Jim Sanford 01 Apr '08

01 Apr '08

Pontificating here . . . . Mortal sin . . . . adulterating good Scotch with such hazardous waste . . .. . Very 73 to all, Jim wb4gcs(a)amsat.org Stan Wood wrote: > Tom, > > Frozen it's great with Scotch. > > 73 Stan > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* Tom Clark, K3IO <mailto:[email protected]> > *To:* AMSAT BB <mailto:[email protected]> > *Cc:* AMSAT BoD <mailto:[email protected]> ; AMSAT Eagle > <mailto:[email protected]> ; senior-officers > <mailto:[email protected]> > *Sent:* Tuesday, April 01, 2008 2:17 PM > *Subject:* [eagle] WARNING!!! DMHO -- A threat to you and the > environment > > This is an alert to warn all AMSAT members about the threat to > your lives; I refer about exposure to DHMO (Dihydrogen Monoxide). > > Due in part to its widespread use in industry, Dihydrogen Monoxide > (DHMO) is involved in many environmental incidents each year. > While most are unavoidable given current technology, there can be > little doubt that the presence of DHMO in each significantly > increases the negative impact to the environment. > > Among the many commonly-sited DHMO-related environmental impacts are: > > * DHMO contributes to global warming and the "Greenhouse > Effect", and is one of the so-called "greenhouse gases." > > * DHMO is an "enabling component" of acid rain -- in the > absence of sufficient quantities of DHMO, acid rain is not a problem. > > * DHMO is a causative agent in most instances of soil erosion > -- sufficiently high levels of DHMO exacerbate the negative > effects of soil erosion. > > * DHMO is present in high levels nearly every creek, stream, > pond, river, lake and reservoir in the U.S. and around the world. > > * Measurable levels of DHMO have been verified in ice samples > taken from both the Arctic and Antarctic ice caps. > > * Recent massive DHMO exposures have lead to the loss of life > and destruction of property in California, the Mid-West, the > Philippines, and a number of islands in the Caribbean, to name > just a few. > > * Research has shown that significant levels of DHMO were > found in the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 which killed > 230,000 in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and elsewhere, making it > the deadliest tsunami in recorded history. > > * It is widely believed that the levee failures, flooding and > the widespread destruction resulting from Hurricane Katrina along > the U.S. Gulf Coast in 2005 were caused or exacerbated by > excessive DHMO levels found in the Gulf of Mexico, along with > other contributing factors. > > In spite of the recent movement to ban unlawful dumping of > hazardous chemicals into waterways in the U.S. and abroad, release > of massive quantities of DHMO continues. Industry cannot be held > accountable entirely because lawmakers are reluctant to pass > legislation to make most forms of dumping of DHMO illegal. Reasons > for this could include pressures from corporate leaders, industry > lobbyists, and even vested foreign governments. This governmental > inaction leading to nearly unregulated dumping may be one of the > most overlooked environmental impacts of DHMO. > > The U.S. government refuses to ban the production, distribution, > and use of DHMO. This inaction may be due to pressures from > private interests and corporate-sponsored economists, among many, > who predict a DHMO ban could produce disastrous results. Claims > include damage to public health and the well-being of the U.S. and > world economies. > > To inform you of some of the dangers of DHMO You should review the > material available on the DHMO FAQ <http://www.dhmo.org/facts.html>. > > 73 de K3IO > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > _______________________________________________ > Via the Eagle mailing list courtesy of AMSAT-NA > Eagle(a)amsat.org > http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/eagle > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Via the Eagle mailing list courtesy of AMSAT-NA > Eagle(a)amsat.org > http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/eagle >

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