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

Dayton
by Sebastian 15 May '08

15 May '08

Is there any possibility that one of the major manufacturers will introduce a new satellite rig in Dayton? Or that the mail order houses will have special prices for those who can't attend Dayton? Is that a common practice? I'd like to thank everyone on here who replied when I mentioned that I was starting back up on satellites. Your suggestions have pretty much convinced me that I should go with the Kenwood TS-2000. So if anyone strongly thinks that I shouldn't, please express your thoughts on this. 73 de W4AS

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"Birdies" from Linksys Wireless router
by Mark L. Hammond 15 May '08

15 May '08

Hello all, The launch of Delfi-C3 has brought to my attention a very strong birdie at 145.930 MHz that clearly comes from the Linksys WRT54G Wireless router that sits in the shack. Forcing the wireless signal to another frequency/channel has no impact whatsoever... Anybody on the list have a clever solution (other than 'get a different router' or 'move it' or 'shut it off', etc...hi hi) that they may have used for a similar problem? Thanks, Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Organised Chaos.
by John Hackett 15 May '08

15 May '08

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. There were stations battling it out with the mine's bigger than yours mentality, stations "hogging" it, constantly calling CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ ... pause for breath ... CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ, CQ ... (no callsign given but obviously a Russian station), Several stations replied to this gentleman but he was obviously *NOT* hearing them. There was the 'obligatory' awwwwwla, awwwwwla, awwwwwla, awwwwwwla - (the mic-shy gentleman who can't find his downlink). (Don't these clowns have receivers ??.....LA2QAA) AO-51, what a wonderful resource for showing the non-amateur listeners that these operators are fully competant to operate an emergency network like the one mentioned planned for Intelsat. I'm absolutely convinced !!! Intelsat will welcome such operating with open arms!. My (non-amateur) neighbour's immediate comment was - "I'm glad my !!! life doesn't depend on you lot, it sounds like a fox loose in a henhouse". I'm ashamed to say, I absolutely agree with him. 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 John. <la2qaa(a)hotmail.com>

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Re: AO-51 mode V/S
by George Henry 15 May '08

15 May '08

You can use any oscillator module, such as from an old PC motherboard, that will put out harmonics up in the 2.4 GHz range. I happened to find a 24.000 MHz one on an old MB. Just now, looking around in the junk drawer, I found ones for 4.000 and 16.000 MHz as well. Add 5 volts and a short piece of wire on the output pin, and you're good to go. 73, George, KA3HSW -----Original Message----- >From: Rm2642(a)aol.com >Sent: May 13, 2008 10:53 AM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 mode V/S > >Unfortunately, I had no success with the AO-51 V/S mode this past week. > >Before the next V/S mode operation comes around, I want to double check >performance of my antenna and downconverter. Some of the folks in the UK had >these items available during AO-40 days but don't think they're available today, >such as: > >_http://www.uk.amsat.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=252&Item… >86_ >(http://www.uk.amsat.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=252&Itemi…) > >I've seen Bob's K5GNA 2.4GHz Source >on eBay with the: >_http://cgi.ebay.com/2-4-GHz-SIGNAL-SOURCE-GARDINER-TYPE-LO2398-AMSAT_W0QQi… >Z110251114382QQcmdZViewItem_ >(http://cgi.ebay.com/2-4-GHz-SIGNAL-SOURCE-GARDINER-TYPE-LO2398-AMSAT_W0QQit…) > >Are there other small modular type 2.4Ghz Sources out there that I can use >to verify downlink setup? > >Thanks, >Ron >N6PAA

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Finding Folks at Dayton
by Robert Bruninga 14 May '08

14 May '08

You don't need GPS for finding folks at Dayton Unless you are lost and cannot read a map. I have prepared 3 maps of the Dayton Buildings and Flea Market area that have LAT/LONG coordinates on them. Just manually enter your coordinates for your space or booth or present location into your D7 and then your radio will tell you which direction and how far anyone else is... Indoors, the maps work fine (GPS doesn't). Even at 60 foot resolution, there are 75 discrete locations inside. In the flea market, there ar 650 sets of coordinates to help you find anyone. It also helps if you key in your space or booth number into your text for the final few feet... To find someone, enter your manual position into your D7, then your radio will tell you which direction and how far away they are! Or look at their coordinates on the these gridded maps: http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/aprs/Dayton-inside-map.GIF http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/aprs/Dayton-flea-east.GIF http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/aprs/Dayton-flea-west.GIF Bob, WB4APR

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Re: AMSAT-UK Colloquium - 2nd Call for Speakers/Papers
by G0MRF＠aol.com 14 May '08

14 May '08

Dave. Re your call for papers. The e-mail address just bounces. Thanks David G0MRF ----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors ----- <dave(a)g4dpz.me.uk> ----- Transcript of session follows ----- 451 4.4.1 reply: read error from mailserver.g4dpz.me.uk. <dave(a)g4dpz.me.uk>... Deferred: Connection timed out with mailserver.g4dpz.me.uk. Message could not be delivered for 3 hours Message will be deleted from queue Final-Recipient: RFC822; dave(a)g4dpz.me.uk Action: failed

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Re: AO-51 V/S mode
by Rm2642＠aol.com 14 May '08

14 May '08

Thanks to all regarding assembly kits and hardware for a 2.4Ghz Source. Your response was overwhelming. Choices are many. Thanks again. Ron N6PAA **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)

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General Astrodynamics Library v0.2.0
by Paul Willmott 13 May '08

13 May '08

The latest version of the General Astrodynamics Library has been released. Version 0.2.0 can be downloaded from: http://homepage.mac.com/pclwillmott/GAL/Download.html New features in this release include: SGP4 orbit propagator based upon David Vallado's combined SGP4/SDP4 model. Additional time conversion routines ITRF-GCRF-ITRF position and velocity reference frame transforms based upon IAU2000A/B & IAU2006A resolutions. Gravity model support added Ellipsoid model support added. The General Astrodynamics Library (GAL) is a numerical library for C and C++ programmers. It is free software under the GNU General Public License. The library provides a wide range of astrodynamical routines such as ephemerides, earth orientation, and orbit propagation. There are over 210 functions in total with an extensive test suite. Next up numerical orbit propagation.

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Re: Ham Radio
by Robert Smith 13 May '08

13 May '08

Ham RadioHey What about the main course??? Disneyland/s plus Blues house. dad ----- Original Message ----- From: Miyuki Smith-Richardson To: Robert Smith Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 10:30 AM Subject: RE: Ham Radio i can't read yours either. super small. ihave to blow it up. skip bodyworlds because i will throw up for sure. im still looking into magic castle. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: Robert Smith [mailto:dukenuke@pixi.com] Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 1:29 PM To: Miyuki Smith-Richardson Subject: Re: Ham Radio Yeah Pretty weird. Nothing like a nice hot lunch right afterwords!! This is ur legal font on my side. I hope I spelled everything right because I sure can't read it dad 865 South Figueroa Street Suite 2900 Los Angeles, California 90017 Telephone: (213) 694-1200 Facsimile: (213) 694-1234 ________________________________________________________________________________________________ This e-mail was sent by a law firm and may contain information that is privileged or confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete the e-mail and any attachments and notify us immediately. Thank you. ________________________________________________________________________________________________

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UK DX on short notice AO7
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 13 May '08

13 May '08

Hello Gents We have a mutual footprint (really short) at 2155Z on AO-7 from the UK to Seattle Wa. cn87, at 2155Z. Downlink 145.958. Look for me> Thanks. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle -- "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it"

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