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

Rainer, DJ9BV SK
by i8cvs 05 Jun '08

05 Jun '08

Hi All, I just received the sad news that Rainer Bertelsmeier, DJ9BV , has become silent key. He was a famous yagi designer and the formal editor of DUBUS magazine. for many years. To get more information about Rainer's activity put only DJ9BV on Google 73" de i8CVS Domenico

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Re: Remoted rotator controller
by Lowell White 05 Jun '08

05 Jun '08

In my "someday stack" I have about 50 fiber-optic to DB-15 opto-isolator transceivers. I have flirted with the idea of using them and (some long run of) fiber optic cable (when found cheap enough) to run remote control for rotors. This does, of course, presume AC power is available at the tower and that there has been appropriate interface creation for either end. If someone wants to give that a go I will provide a pair or two of the transceivers. Kind regards, Lowell K9LDW ------ Original Message ------ Received: Thu, 05 Jun 2008 06:09:25 AM CDT From: "i8cvs" <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it> To: "AMSAT-BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>, "Scott Townley" <nx7u(a)cox.net> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Remoted rotator controller > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Scott Townley" <nx7u(a)cox.net> > To: <amsat-bb(a)AMSAT.Org> > Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2008 5:51 AM > Subject: [amsat-bb] Remoted rotator controller > > > Contemplating my Yaesu G-5400 and not so fond of the idea of running 2x > > 6x18AWG cables nearly 200'...(more accurately, paying for them). > > Has anyone ever put the controller at the antenna base and instead ran the > > computer<->controller wires the long distance between the computer > > interface and the control box? Seems like it would be a lot cheaper, in > > the sense of fewer wires of a smaller gauge, and not so much worry about > > voltage drop etc. My setup is low to the ground, so the control box would > > be ground-mounted in a weatherproof shelter. The "digital" run would be > > the 200' or more, and the "analog" or "power" run only 20' or so. If done > > the traditional way these lengths would be reversed. > > Or is this a stunningly dumb idea for reasons yet-unknown to me? > > > > Scott Townley NX7U > > Gilbert, AZ DM43di > > mailto:nx7u@arrl.net > > http://members.cox.net/nx7u > > > Hi Scott, NX7U > > Theoretically it should work but are you sure that your antennas will always > moving in AZ and EL according to your computer program or are you obliged > to go time to time upstairs over the roof just in doubt to verify the > situation ? > > When the control box is normally installed in the shack you run wires that > are 24 Vac for the motors and wires that are 0 to 5 V dc for the > potentiometers. > > If you install the control box over the roof you must run a 200' cable > between the rear 8 pin External Control DIN connector and your PC but pins > 4-2-5-3 are the high impedance wires connected to your PC to switch the > relays RY1-RY2-RY3-RY4 located into the control box. > > Only less than 1 mA between each pin 4-2-5-3 and ground is enough by > your PC to activate each relay so that the above long run wires are more > suscettible to get noise or RF interference or low insulation by the umidity > disturbing the system operation. > > Best 73" de > > i8CVS Domenico > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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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Remoted rotator controller
by Scott Townley 05 Jun '08

05 Jun '08

Contemplating my Yaesu G-5400 and not so fond of the idea of running 2x 6x18AWG cables nearly 200'...(more accurately, paying for them). Has anyone ever put the controller at the antenna base and instead ran the computer<->controller wires the long distance between the computer interface and the control box? Seems like it would be a lot cheaper, in the sense of fewer wires of a smaller gauge, and not so much worry about voltage drop etc. My setup is low to the ground, so the control box would be ground-mounted in a weatherproof shelter. The "digital" run would be the 200' or more, and the "analog" or "power" run only 20' or so. If done the traditional way these lengths would be reversed. Or is this a stunningly dumb idea for reasons yet-unknown to me? Scott Townley NX7U Gilbert, AZ DM43di mailto:nx7u@arrl.net http://members.cox.net/nx7u

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SEEDS doing fine (CW) (June 6, 7:50utc)
by Henk, PA3GUO 05 Jun '08

05 Jun '08

Just a snapshot taken while sat was <5 degrees elevation (437.475MHz) Seeds-II CW telemetry: jq1ygu seeds g401ed964dd42ffe77a08fd000d31ad1a8a649b2ad5ade1100000001000100015803b64034 jq1ygu seeds g401ed99c9d3fffe6950d0c7b3e3138170a4c99aac2acb11000000010001 Henk, PA3GUO http://www.qsl.net/pa3guo

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Possible SWR problems with 70cm antenna
by Michael Tondee 05 Jun '08

05 Jun '08

I'm having some problems with a homebrew lineasrly polarized "cheap yagi" for 70cm. I don't have any success hearing myself on VO-52 or AO-7. This antenna used to work reasonably well for both. The way the power out meter on my radio acts, it leads me to believe I may have an SWR issue. Unfortunately I don't own or have access to an SWR meter or anylyzer capable of working at 70Cm. I'm going to take a wild shot in the dark here and ask the bb because I sure don't know. Would it be possible to put my 2 meter SWR meter in the 70cm line and at least get a ballpark figure of SWR? Or would the reading be so far off, it would be useless? I'm not intending to try and tune the antenna in this manner, I just want to get some indication as to if SWR is indeed the problem. I must confess I don't know what the frequency range determining elements of an SWR bridge are. I must have missed that at some point or the other. Any other ways to determine if I have an SWR problem without a meter? It's just not in the budget to buy one right now. Any suggestions are appreciated. Tnx and 73, Michael, W4HIJ

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Beyond Telemtry....
by great trouble 05 Jun '08

05 Jun '08

Hello, I almost complete the down link chain to receive telemetry. (feeling good as i do it 1st time) Now I am looking forward to get images as well but don't know how to perform this interesting and valuable task. Following were the questions that disturbin me QUESTIONS How can I receive images? what are the required equipments necessary to accomplish the task? There are some satellites which provide images using CCD. Is it possible to receive and process their images? Kindly guide me. Regards, What lies behind us....&.....what lies before us....... are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

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UNI_TRAC 2003 AND WISP ??? HELP
by CWBILL＠bellsouth.net 05 Jun '08

05 Jun '08

HI ALL, TRYING TO SET UP MY NEW UNI_TRAC 2003 WITH MY WISP PROGRAM. HAS ANYONE TRYED THIS? MY WISP PROGRAM KEEPS TELLING ME THAT THE TWO BIRDS I PUT IN THE KEPS DATABASE THAT THE GSC. CANNOT FIND THESE SATELLITES, GO-32 AND AO-51. I CHECKED THE DATABASE AND BOTH BIRDS ARE THERE. I AM ENTERNG THE NORAD 2-LINE ELEMENTS IN THE DATABASE MY UNI_TRAC DIRECTIONS. IF THER IS CHANGES I HAVE TO DO TO THE WISP PROGRAM IN USING THE UNI_TRAC 2003 I SURE WOULD THANKFUL FOR SO HELP. BILL [WD4DHJ]...

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Kenwood THD7AG availability
by joe cassano aka jmario 05 Jun '08

05 Jun '08

All I've wanted to purchase a Kenwood THD7AG for several weeks but the place that I usually purchase from has been saying (on their web site) that the D7 is out of stock for more than a month. I called them and I was told that Kenwood is basically noncommittal and perhaps even evasive when asked about future THD7 shipments. Did anyone who attended Dayton happen to engage any Kenwood reps in a conversation about the THD7? If so would you tell us what you heard? The THD7AG is presently listed on the Kenwoodusa'a web site. Inquiring minds would like to know what is going on here... My list of possibles are RoHS compliance issues (aka tin whiskers are in your future), someone is trying to avoid the classic Osborne-I to Osborne-II sales and marketing debacle prior to introducing a follow on to the D7, or perhaps the market is too small to justify continued manufacturing... JoeC K3FMA

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DO-64 heard over VK
by David 04 Jun '08

04 Jun '08

Hello All, Just hear DO-64 over VK (2008/06/03:23:40 UTC). Even managed to see the S-meter go to S7 on my FT-817 - nice and loud. First reception of DO-64 since 22nd May and 10 attempts. 73 de David VK5DG

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Re: DO-64 heard over VK
by Andrew Glasbrenner 04 Jun '08

04 Jun '08

Maybe everyone in this discussion should take note that DO-64 has a working transponder onboard. Should we travel back in time and rescind the Oscar numbers for DO-17 and UO-11 while we are at it? 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: i8cvs <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it> >Sent: Jun 4, 2008 2:08 PM >To: Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF <nigel(a)ngunn.net>, john heath <g7hia(a)btinternet.com> >Cc: amsat <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: DO-64 heard over VK > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF" <nigel(a)ngunn.net> >To: "john heath" <g7hia(a)btinternet.com> >Cc: "amsat" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 6:12 PM >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: DO-64 heard over VK > >> How about stop whinging. >> If you don't want to know about the "non transponder" sats then edit them >out of your keps download. >> Spacetrack allows you to compile a favourites list. >> >> >> john heath wrote: >> > How about Oscar numbers issued only for satellites with working >> > transponders. >> > >> > 73 John g7hia >> > >Hi John, G7HIA > >For Oscar numbars issued only for satellites with working transponders >I suggest to use the "imaginary numbars" as for example OSCAR j73 > >73" de > >i8CVS Domenico > > > >_______________________________________________ >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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