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

Re: Organised Chaos.
by Dave Guimont 16 May '08

16 May '08

>Try copying only the name of the link and pasting it into your >browser window, or type in the name www.observations.biz into >Internet Explorer, and it should work. >If not, I need to find out why! It works just fine...I don't know what I did the last time?? I've had the site on my favorites list, and did not recognize it until it came up...Yes, indeed, full of information....I'll be mentioning it every once in a while, full of good info..... Word about it has to be spread!! All the other AMSAT's in the world, are just fine, just the crap that AMSAT-NA spreads..... We had a visit many years ago from Althani Mohamed, ham operator, that I worked on AO13...He spent several days with us on a round the world tour, and when he got back to Qatar he established AMSAT-QATAR, but I guess nothing came of it.....we exchanged e-mails, but then he just sort of disappeared... A very nice young man, but world politics experienced a big change, may have had something to do with it...He lived in Doha, and was one of a chain of, I guess dozens, of Althani's... Tnx, agn fer the info.... I'm going to hang in there, things can't get any worse!! The rest of the world will pull us out!! 73, Dave, WB6LLO dguimon1(a)san.rr.com Disagree: I learn.... Pulling for P3E...

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AO7 DX N. Europe
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 16 May '08

16 May '08

Hello At 1704Z, 1857Z, 2050Z and 2239Z there is a mutual footprint from Northern Europe to Seattle Washington (CN87wk), on AO-7 albeit a short one. I will be found on 145.958. Lets make it happen. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle -- "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it"

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AO-40 DUH
by WB2LLP 16 May '08

16 May '08

Thank you for the responses. The answer should have been obvious since I was using my IC-821 to work through AO-40. To make it worse, I have a couple of other rigs which have the 2M band. The next time we have a V/S configuration I shall try to overcome my senior moment. Gene WB2LLP

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AO-40 S band
by WB2LLP 16 May '08

16 May '08

I was going to set up to receive AO-51 on VS when it occurred to me that I need the 144 band as the receiver for the S band down-converter. Then I remembered that I used to have QSOs on AO-40 with the same gear that I still have, but I do not remember and can not find any notes as what band we used for the uplink. Will someone with a better memory/set of notes please remind me what band we used for the uplink? TNX es 73 de WB2LLP

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trade-secret, patented, copyrighted nature of the AMBE voice codec used in the D*STAR
by Rob Rousseau 16 May '08

16 May '08

Not sure if you folks have seen this recently. It has a reference to AMSAT in the draft: http://codec2.org/ and the referring article: http://technocrat.net/d/2008/5/14/41380 Also, regarding the LEOs, I really enjoyed using them and only found them to be busy on weekends and at night, but I wouldn't say they were hard to use. Plus, for someone who doesn't have the expensive HF gear, it was my only way to get into exchanging QSL cards using N2SPI's homebrewed antennas that I got from AMSAT's website. 73, -Rob

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SEEDS Digi-talker operation
by Masahiko Yamazaki 16 May '08

16 May '08

Dear All, I'm Masahiko Yamazaki at Nihon University (JQ1YGV). Now we are conducting "FM operation", because SEEDS is currently over charged. After we have discussed the production of electricity and power consumption, we decided the operation of Digi-talker Mode. I'm sorry for the late notice. We have a plan to conduct "Digi-talker Mode". >From May 2, 12:45 to 15:45(UTC) I would like you to recive "SEEDS voice"!! And, please send your data. We will have a plan to conduct "Digi-talker Mode" aftertime. Please check our website!! http://cubesat.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp/index.html Please continue your favors toward the reception cooperation about SEEDS in the future. ------------------------------------- Masahiko YAMAZAKI yamazaki(a)forth.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp Department of Aerospace Engineering College of Science and Technology Nihon University 7-24-1 Narashinodai, Funabashi, Chiba 274-8501 JAPAN

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Re: Organised Chaos.
by Edward Cole 16 May '08

16 May '08

Dave, It is obvious that there is a whole generation of Leo-FM sat users that are clueless of what ham radio on a Heo linear-tranponder is like. Although it must be harder than a cell phone since so many cannot seem to figure out how to operate on the Leos...I would say it is not "much" harder than using the local repeater. I offer an analogy: Compare all the ham radio contacts that are done on HF with the same number of folks trying to talk thru a single FM repeater! First it cannot be done; second the attempt results in total chaos with "big fish" eating the little fishes! I am waiting for the next Heo and hoping it survives better than the last one. 73 Ed - KL7UW At 12:31 PM 5/14/2008, Dave Guimont wrote: >John, the operation of FM voice satellites is a travesty for ham radio... > >I've been licensed for 57 years, on amateur satellites for 33 years >(Oscar 7) and the FM voice operation is the most ridiculous >aberration I've witnessed in all of amateur radio...Pandemonium >exists here also!! > >It is pretty obvious NO COMMUNICATION exists on AO51, >all of their communication is on here. Why do they bother to turn >the radio on??? > >Many of us attended AMSAT a lot conventions in an attempt to >discourage throwing that money "down the tubes" on FM voice, to no >avail. Someone had an "ax to grind", and several of the existing >"powers that be" in AMSAT-NA told me to "mind my own business". They >were obviously the "ax grinders". > >FM voice on the amateur satellites is about equal to the same degree >of difficulty as a cell phone operation! > >No wonder our membership is deteriorating. > >Ancient AO7 and present VO52 hopefully are keeping some interest, >until Europe launches P3E.... > >That's where my donations go..... > > > >At 10:14 AM 5/13/2008, you wrote: > > >In 17 years of satellite operating - and literally thousands of > >QSO's, I'm proud of the fact that I have actually had 2 - (that's > >two, folks) - QSO's on FM. I believe the last one was W3SM/OE on > >AO-27 about 10 years ago. > > > >For want of something better to do today I went outside with my > >arrow aerial, a MYCOM handheld scanner and a little IC-E91 (also > >handheld) to have a listen to AO-51 ... (I've heard it described > as a "zoo"). > > > >I monitored the 16:15Z pass over Russia/LA/Europe/UK and what I > >heard can only be described as the worst operating I've heard in 41 > >years of radio. > > > > > >I also sincerely hope that the standard of operating (read: > >disipline/ proceedure) is better in North America than it is in > >Europe - actually, I've listened via N1DID and Echolink, as well as > >the promo video so I know it is. > > > > > > > 73, Dave, WB6LLO > dguimon1(a)san.rr.com > > Disagree: I learn.... > > Pulling for P3E... > >_______________________________________________ >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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Satellite Demos at Dayton
by Keith D. Pugh 15 May '08

15 May '08

The Satellite Demo Station at the Dayton Hamvention will use the callsign, W5IU, and will attempt to follow the following schedule: WinAos QTH: -84.3/39.8 T#: 11093 Sat.: 5 [Standard] ---------------------------------------------------------- Day Object AOS (L) LOS Period maxEl AZ ---------------------------------------------------------- 16.05.2008 AO-51 08:55 09:09 14 58 017 - 185 16.05.2008 AO-07 09:18 09:39 21 63 019 - 188 16.05.2008 AO-51 10:34 10:46 12 17 353 - 237 16.05.2008 VO-52 10:48 10:59 11 15 034 - 155 16.05.2008 AO-07 11:11 11:31 20 31 008 - 236 16.05.2008 VO-52 12:24 12:36 12 45 005 - 208 16.05.2008 AO-27 14:32 14:44 12 15 116 - 003 16.05.2008 AO-16 16:06 16:18 12 19 122 - 003 16.05.2008 AO-27 16:10 16:24 14 66 172 - 345 16.05.2008 AO-16 17:44 17:58 14 53 179 - 342 WinAos QTH: -84.3/39.8 T#: 11094 Sat.: 5 [Standard] ---------------------------------------------------------- Day Object AOS (L) LOS Period maxEl AZ ---------------------------------------------------------- 17.05.2008 AO-51 09:54 10:08 14 37 003 - 216 17.05.2008 AO-07 10:11 10:32 21 67 014 - 210 17.05.2008 VO-52 11:07 11:18 11 23 028 - 165 17.05.2008 AO-07 12:05 12:22 17 15 003 - 258 17.05.2008 VO-52 12:43 12:54 11 28 359 - 220 17.05.2008 AO-16 15:37 15:47 10 10 104 - 008 17.05.2008 AO-27 15:41 15:56 15 63 156 - 350 WinAos QTH: -84.3/39.8 T#: 11095 Sat.: 5 [Standard] ---------------------------------------------------------- Day Object AOS (L) LOS Period maxEl AZ ---------------------------------------------------------- 18.05.2008 AO-07 09:11 09:32 21 57 021 - 185 18.05.2008 AO-51 09:15 09:29 14 87 012 - 195 18.05.2008 AO-51 10:55 11:05 10 11 349 - 250 18.05.2008 AO-07 11:04 11:24 20 33 008 - 232 18.05.2008 VO-52 11:25 11:37 12 37 022 - 175 All times are in EDT 73 - Keith, W5IU

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SEEDS packet
by Robert Turlington 15 May '08

15 May '08

Hi All today at about 1220utc SEEDS was sending a packet sounding audio,I tried to decode using MixW but the audio tones didn't quite match anything ,they were about 1100hz/2300hz.Next time I hear them I will try and get an accurate value. The question:-is there any sound card software out there that can decode,its posible that I can use a similar method to UO11 decode using MixW ,I will have to see.Regards Robert G8ATE _________________________________________________________________ Discover and Win with Live Search http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/msnnkmgl0010000007ukm/direct/01/

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Re: Organised Chaos.
by John Mock KD6PAG 15 May '08

15 May '08

John Hackett LA2QAA wrote: > I also sincerely hope that the standard of operating (read: disipline/ > proceedure) is better in North America than it is in Europe - actually, I've > listened via N1DID and Echolink, as well as the promo video so I know it is. I can assure you it definitely is. If you have read my 'road trip' posts, then you would know that i do have alot of experience in mode J-FM. We have occasional problem with people calling CQ who can't hear the satellite and there is some unnecessary QRM from people who can't hear their own downlink (e.g. are not operating full-duplex). But it is quite workable much of the time, especially on weekdays. My biggest frustration out here is when alot of the satellite time is taken up with the 'regulars' saying hello to the same people, week after week. Weekends, particularly on AO-51 and often on AO-27, can get pretty chaotic. My experience on my trip from California to Colorado/New Mexico was that it seemed to get somewhat worse as i went east. So i would say it has to do with the population density in the footprint of the satellite. Yet on the quieter passes on that trip, several times i sent a quick message home third-party via satellite where i would be camping for the night when there was no cell phone coverage or pay phones available. Amateur radio works when nothing else will. Before i say alot more on why i think there might be such a difference between operating in the United States and in western Europe, i need to transcribe my satellite passes when i visited Paris last year. I've procrastinated doing this simply because i don't think i had more than one or two QSOs worthy of a QSL card out of 7 passes attempted while i was over there this time. I did do better in 2005 with two successful QSOs in 4 passes from southern France. In North America, Mode J-FM is quite workable if what you are looking for is a QSL card. It is also good for amateur satellite demonstrations, as almost always, there will be someone to talk to. Please use a linear transponder if you want to have an extended QSO when a satellite covers well-populated areas. While Mode J-FM can be very frustrating at times, if you're looking for VUCC or Worked All States on satellite, clearly it is the best way to go in North America. -- KD6PAG P.S. Except on SO-50 when i'm on the road, all contacts referenced above were made at 1W or less. So power is not necessarily a factor. P.P.S. Addendum to my Portland trip report, W6ASL received 17 grid squares out of 19 activated. Good work, Jim.

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