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

Re: AO-51 mode V/S
by Rm2642＠aol.com 13 May '08

13 May '08

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 **************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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Another cube RX
by Luc Leblanc 13 May '08

13 May '08

Just near the end of the SEEDS pass i copy another doppler affected CW signal. The short CW transmission start with XIV and strings of numbers. I think it is CAN X but i don't get a lot of details on their web site. Signal was quite load to interfere with SEEDS signal? "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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a016
by Pedro Cruz 13 May '08

13 May '08

Hi to all Does any one knows the status of the AO16? Best 73 ! Pedro Cruz - CU2JX

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Re: a016
by Mark L. Hammond 13 May '08

13 May '08

Hello Pedro, Thank you for your question. AO-16 continues to exhibit difficulty in keeping the transmitter turned ON. The last few days I have turned it ON as my schedule permits, only to see it turn itself OFF after a short time (sometimes minutes, other times a few hours). So, it hasn't been turned ON much over the last several days. It is looking less likely to be a power budget issue, and more likely that there is something going on with the hardware in the spacecraft; but this is still speculation. Time will tell. I wish the news was better! 73, -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH] AO-16 Command Station Date: Tue, 13 May 2008 17:08:27 -0000 From: "Pedro Cruz" <pccu2jx(a)sapo.pt> Subject: [amsat-bb] a016 To: <amsat-bb(a)AMSAT.Org> Message-ID: <84B0C8B8EA8E401E8B561DCCE18F5004@pedro> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Hi to all Does any one knows the status of the AO16? Best 73 ! Pedro Cruz - CU2JX

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Re: [eu-amsat] Another cube RX
by Luc Leblanc 13 May '08

13 May '08

On 12 May 2008 at 17:24, Chris Bloy wrote: > Hi Luc, > > That's one of the Cute satellites.. CO-55 - CO 58.. > > Thanks, > > Chris > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Luc Leblanc <lucleblanc6(a)videotron.ca> > To: amsat-bb(a)AMSAT.Org > Cc: eu-amsat(a)yahoogroups.com > Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 12:07:14 -0400 > Subject: [eu-amsat] Another cube RX > > Just near the end of the SEEDS pass i copy another doppler affected CW > signal. The short CW transmission start with XIV and strings of > numbers. I think it is CAN X but i don't get a lot of details on their web > site. > > Signal was quite loud to interfere with SEEDS signal? > > Thank's Chris It was CO-55 launch in 2003 as per the WEB site telemetry frames start with CUTE but i copy "xiv" ? "-"

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AMSAT-UK Colloquium - 2nd Call for Speakers/Papers
by David Johnson 13 May '08

13 May '08

Hi Folks, This is the second call for speakers for the 22nd Amsat-UK Colloquium which will be held at Surrey University, Guildford, Surrey, U.K., from Friday 25th July to Sunday 27th July 2008. Details of this and previous events can be found at: http:// www.uk.amsat.org/ Amsat-UK invite speakers, about amateur radio space and associated activities, for this event. They are also invited to submit papers for the "Proceedings" document which will be published at the same time but printed papers are not mandatory. We normally prefer authors to present talks themselves rather than having someone else give them in the authors' absence. We also welcome "unpresented" papers for the Proceedings document. Offers of talks should be submitted as soon as possible; the final date for full documents to be received is late-June 2008 in order that the "Proceedings" document be available to participants. Submissions should be sent *ONLY* to G4DPZ, via the following routes: Internet e-mail: dave @ g4dpz dot me dot uk SnailMail: QTHR from http://www.qrz.com AMSAT-UK also invite anyone with requests for Program Topics to submit them as soon as possible to G4DPZ. Invitations for any papers on specific subjects will be included in the future call. Likewise if anyone knows of a good speaker, please send contact and other information to G4DPZ. 73 Dave G4DPZ

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Interesting article that mentions Sumbandilasat
by Andrew Glasbrenner 13 May '08

13 May '08

Here is an interesting article I just found that mentions the launch delays of Sumbandilasat. If you recall this satellite carries an amateur radio secondary payload, and was supposed to have been launched last year. http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=127993 73, Drew KO4MA

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Re: ao-27?
by George Henry 13 May '08

13 May '08

I am still baffled as to why this is happening... the clock on the AO-27 website agrees with my PC clock, we are both using the same EPOCH.TXT and TOPR.TXT files, and yet the website is somehow calculating different event times than my son's program (which, as you said, appears to be calculating the correct times). I just checked now, and at this moment, the website is behind by just over 5 minutes... I should try to get in touch with Mike Wyrick and see if he can tweak something over there at ao27.org. George, KA3HSW -----Original Message----- >From: "Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)" <amsat-bb(a)wd9ewk.net> >Sent: May 12, 2008 7:11 PM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: ao-27? > >Hi Bob! > >> I heard no stations on the most recent pass, at 2145Z,,, on >> AO-27... amI missing something? > >The AO-27 web site shows a period of repeater time at >2146 UTC tomorrow (Tuesday, 13 May), and the program >now available from KA3HSW's web site showed the repeater >should have been on at 2027 and 2208 UTC this afternoon. > >For tomorrow, the program is showing the repeater on at >2139 and 2320 UTC for passes that should be workable >here in Arizona. Keep in mind the AO-27 web site's >schedule for the upcoming 24 hours is off by several >minutes, and the program is off by a much smaller amount >(less than 1 minute). Check your pass predictions with sites >like the AMSAT web site, to ensure you are getting accurate >pass information - along with the start time for the AO-27 >repeater. > >73! > > > > >Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK >http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Re: Suggestions for Mode L antenna
by Edward Cole 13 May '08

13 May '08

Bob, Ron and Greg: The problem we have at this point is that uplink and downlink performance has not been specified by the P3E team. So, in my thinking, one can only go with the AO-40 experience for making enigneering decisions for your ground station. On SSB I found that 9.5w and 20-dBi (linear pol) was inadequate for AO-40. It looked to me that I needed a minimum of 15w and more would have been better. This is power at the antenna terminal not at the radio, so one has to calculate line loss. For operating the Leos your uplink needs are probably less and I will leave it to experienced operators to state what that is. Fortunately, Times Microwave gives you a wonderful on-line cable-loss calculator for their entire line of cables: http://www.timesmicrowave.com/cgi-bin/calculate.pl or you can download the zipped program to run on your local computer: http://www.timesmicrowave.com/cable_calculators/ Plugging in LMR-400 x 50-feet at 1268-MHz results in 2.3 dB line loss or 58.3% power at the antenna. Using my AO-40 requirement of ERP = 15w x 100 = 1500w: One would want 25w at the radio end of the 50-foot cable. Bob has this easily with his KJ6KO 60w amp with over 3-dB spare. BTW my current 1296 setup uses 150-feet of 7/8 hardline with ~20 feet LMR-400 to give me 20w at the antenna (I have a KJ6KO amp as well). For satellite, I will probably mount my 15w 144/1268 Tx converter at the antenna, thus eliminating expensive hardline. I do that for my 435-MHz uplink by using a 50w brick at the satellite tower and using 125-foot of RG-213 to provide an input of 12w from my FT-847(50w). I have an outside equipment box with 12-v power supply and room for preamps and coax relays: http://www.kl7uw.com/sat.htm Bob, you might be OK with a 16-dBic Helix considering the power you have. A 4-foot dish is equivalent in gain to a 12-foot long Loop Yagi (20-dBi) and much harder to mount and aim, so my recommedation would be using yagis to get the gain (and be easier on your az-el mount). If I recall the M2 yagi has that. Don't forget that you gain a 3-dB advantage when using a CP antenna on Mode-L. If you are going to use the dish for 2.4-GHz reception then dual-band use might be an advantage. With Ron's 10w in the shack he will only have about 5.8w at the antenna, so you may need more gain. For P3E this is most likely; for AO-51 that might be OK. In any case I would recommend LMR-400, at minimum, as low-loss cable, or placing a brick amp at the antenna to boost up your power. Note: Dale-KL7XJ runs 10w on 1268 to a helical beam on AO-51 so, without knowing his line loss, one might guess that 50-feet LMR-400 + Helix will be adequate on AO-51. 73 Ed - KL7UW At 11:15 AM 5/12/2008, w7lrd(a)comcast.net wrote: >Hello >Currently the way I have been doing L band is as follows. IC1271A >(1.2ghz xcvr) 10 watts, KJ6KO 60 watt amp to a M squared 23cm22E2 >yagi at 50 feet, through 50 feet of LMR400. The yagi is at 50 feet >for terrestial L band. When we get our next HEO (praying) I will >most probably put the 22 el on the satellite array at 15 feet with >the az/el rotor. I have been able to work through AO-51 with the >current set up. The power is enough so some RF gets squirted up. I >am considering a helix for 1.2 for satellites, or even my four foot >dish. So many choices <grin>. Does anyone know what the expected >ERP on L band should be?? >73 Bob W7LRD >Seattle > >-- >"if this were easy, everyone would be doing it" > >-------------- Original message -------------- >From: Ronald Nutter <rnutter(a)networkref.com> > > > Greg: > > > > Thanks for your option. My antenna building abilities havent been the > > best, so I am looking at commercially made antennas. > > > > What type of coax/feedline should I use ? I will probably have the run > > under 50 ft. I would hope I dont have to use hardline as that will > > probably be very expensive with the price of copper. As I get close to > > the antenna, should I shift over to a different type of coax/feedline so > > that I can rotate the antenna to track AO-51 ? > > > > Ron > > KA4KYI > > > > Greg D. wrote: > > > Hi Ron, > > > > > > I've done ok on AO-51 with a homemade helix. See > > http://home.wavecable.com/~ko6th at the bottom of the page. I > also have watts > > in the shack, but a full az/el rotor system. I don't know how > sharp the pattern > > is for the helix, so I don't know how effective a fixed elevation > system will > > be. But from the reports I've received, the 10 watts and my 60' > of hardline > > with about 7 feet of RG-214 at each end seems to be quite adequate. > > > > > > Good luck, > > > > > > Greg KO6TH > > > > > > ---------------------------------------- > > >> Date: Sun, 11 May 2008 20:49:23 -0500 > > >> From: rnutter(a)networkref.com > > >> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > > >> Subject: [amsat-bb] Suggestions for Mode L antenna > > >> > > >> I am considering purchasing the 1.2 ghz module for my IC-910H. For my > > >> satellite work, I have my antennas angled at about 20 degrees since I > > >> dont have an az/el rotor. This setup worked reasonably well with Mode S > > >> this weekend. What are my chances to be able to work Mode L with this > > >> kind of setup ? Also, I would appreciate any suggestions for an antenna > > >> that I could use. With only 10 watts, I am not expecting a great signal > > >> but I would hope to have at least a readable signal. Also, would > > >> appreciate any suggestions as to coax/feedline that I should look at > > >> buying ? > > >> > > >> 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 > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > > Windows Live SkyDrive lets you share files with faraway friends. > > > > > > http://www.windowslive.com/skydrive/overview.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_Refresh… > > > rive_052008 > > > _______________________________________________ > > > 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 >_______________________________________________ >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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Delfi C3: spin rate unchanged in the past 2 weeks
by Henk, PA3GUO 13 May '08

13 May '08

Dear all, Based on my simplistic experiment of yesterday, May 12th, I would say that after the first two weeks in space the spin rate / rotation of Delfi C3 has not changed much (read: reduced). At least, due to the multiple variations it's difficult for me to observe a significant change already. Here is the graph of May 12th: http://home.vianetworks.nl/users/hamoen/pa3guo/dc3_12may08_2045utc_pa3guo_s… Here is the graph of April 29th: http://home.vianetworks.nl/users/hamoen/pa3guo/dc3_29apr2008_pa3guo_rotatio… Henk, PA3GUO http://www.qsl.net/pa3guo

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