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

Re: LEO's
by h05ram-k9ldw＠usa.net 19 Jun '08

19 Jun '08

Dishes like that or the larger "BUD" (Big Ugly Dishes) that folks USED to use for TVRO can often be found FREE (for the removal) in many neighborhoods. I have two "standard sized" BUD's, a 12'+ fiberglass monster (not likely to go up), and a "mini" ex-dish network one, and actuators for the 3 biggest ones... net cost for ALL: $50, and that was labor for a helper to take down the biggest one. Separately I actually BOUGHT an N3IYR 3' dish a few years back, but it wasn't terribly expensive. It came with a helix feed. Granted, it's not always something everyone has laying around but they CAN be had cheap or free for a little effort. If it were golf, people wouldn't just find a driver or putter in their yard, growing like a mushroom, either. :-) The hobby of amateur radio is worth taking some time and effort to invest in. Kind regards Lowell K9LDW ------ Original Message ------ Received: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:08:56 PM CDT From: "John AA5JG" <aa5jg(a)lcisp.com> To: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>, Mark Vandewettering <kf6kyi(a)gmail.com> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: LEO's > > > > > > >On Jun 18, 2008, at 2:46 AM, i8cvs wrote: > > > >> > >> A 3 to 4 foot dish with a 2400/144 MHz downconverter in the focal > >> point and > >> connected to any old 144 MHz CW/SSB receiver mounted on the balcony > >> was > >> sufficient to receive a nice downlink from all over the world by > >> many users > > > Yeah, and most of us, especially new hams, just happen to have a 3 to 4 foot dish laying around. > > 73s John AA5JG > > ________________________________________________________________ > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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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Eagle?
by ANTHONY JAPHA 19 Jun '08

19 Jun '08

I guess there's still an Eagle sometime in our future, but seeing no mention at all of it in the most recent Newsletter is disconcerting. As our most important project, shouldn't we have updates in every Newsletter? For example, is there any news about the Intelsat connection that was introduced several months ago? By the way, the writeup currently on the Amsat home page mentions ACP with a 3.4 Ghz (sic) downlink. Just a misprint? The nice Eagle flyer shows both up- and downlink on 5.6 Ghz. Most important. of course, is the projected date for completion of Eagle. Maybe it can't be completely finished before the launch is determined, but the transponders have been identified for some time now. Chicken and egg problems are solved by producing either a chicken or an egg and then nurturing the other. Right now, we have neither. When do we expect to have our chicken, i.e. a complete electronics package? I have great admiration for our designers and builders, and I also think that we should have some more visible time targets. If funding is an immediate issue that is limiting design and construction, or if it will be an issue in the near future, we should also to informed about that situation. Tnx and 73, Tony, N2UN

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LEO
by RFI-EMI-GUY 19 Jun '08

19 Jun '08

I can't agree more, I can't wait to hear the complaints about D-Star experiments from these folks. Instead of heterodyne, it will be dead air! Its just an experiment folks! Date: Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:11:09 -0400 From: "Jim Danehy" <jdanehy(a)cinci.rr.com> Subject: [amsat-bb] LEO To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <70E4A3CC414A4FE9A70E7681904AAE8D@JamesPC> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" I am perplexed why some have to be critical of another person's interest. I am a QRQ CW operator. If you do not like CW that is OK. I do. We will probably not work on that mode if you don't like it. I cut my teeth on Oscar 6 and dropped out of satellites in about 1982. I have not yet tried an FM bird. I am working to get back on LEOs on CW. I will probably do SSB too. I hope to be on soon. There is a saying that if it isn't CW it is just CB. I look forward to HEO but until then it is LEO. -- Joe Leikhim K4SAT "The RFI-EMI-GUY"© "Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason? For if it prosper, none dare call it treason." "Follow The Money" ;-P

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Airing Suitsat's dirty laundry
by David Donaldson 19 Jun '08

19 Jun '08

Guys I am sorry but Tom Clarks description of stuffing Suitsats 2 legs with dirty laundry was just to much. The lines keep coming to mind. My mother (rip) used to call it Jr. High humor. So here goes.... 1) Thanks to Tom for airing the dirty laundry. 2) Can I donate some to the next flight? It would save me having to wash them. 3) I would like to propose an experiment on impact of weightlessness on muddy pants. Maybe we could measure the mud partical density in the lag. As the mud floats off the pants and into space the density will reduce. We could and send data via AX.25 packet, and provide a dirty online qsl card. 4) This project will actually help the enviorment by saving water necessary to wash. Just let the laundry burn up. Cool Maybe I will stick to designing cellsites and stay out of aerospace.... Sorry :>) this list sometimes takes its self to seriously.... Dave WB7DRU So many oppertunities so little time. Sent with Wireless Sync from Verizon Wireless - --- Get FREE High Speed Internet from USFamily.Net! -- http://www.usfamily.net/mkt-freepromo.html ---

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Re: DirecWav satellite internet useful?
by Chris Hackworth 18 Jun '08

18 Jun '08

On Wed, Jun 18, 2008 at 1:30 PM, Chris Hackworth <n8phucjh(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Greg and BBS, > > Here is an example of a lnb conversion: > > http://www.qsl.net/g0ory/10g/sce975/sce975.html > > On Wed, Jun 18, 2008 at 1:19 AM, Greg D. <ko6th_greg(a)hotmail.com> wrote: >> >> Hi folks, >> >> An update on my Ku dish, the result of some lite poking around. Links to pictures, below. >> >> The receive LNB has a sticker on it claiming "11.7-12.2 ghz", so this is a bit outside of the ham band. Judging from the construction, it looks like it's circularly polarized, and is fed with about a 3/4" round waveguide. According to another Ham, it appears to have what he called a "ceramic oscillator" or something like that, feeding a mixer for a low-gHz IF. He guesses the IF out is in the 1 to 2 ghz range. Since there's not a lot of filtering, and nothing is crystal controlled, we suspect that it should not be too hard to re-tune down to the 10-10.5 ghz range. It somewhat depends on whether the LO injection is on the high or low side, hopefully low. He's also worried if the waveguide is the right size. >> >> The transmit side of things appears to be linearly polarized, and at a higher frequency (guessing by the constrictions in the feed pipe). I haven't opened the full Tx module (didn't have a Torx screwdriver handy), so I don't know what's under the shield inside. Outside the shield are a bunch of parts, nothing resembling a transmitter... Their website talks about it putting out a couple of watts. >> >> I haven't opened up the control box yet. >> >> Some pictures, below. Any additional hints would be appreciated! >> >> The whole dish. Looking on the website, the new ones seem to be round; hopefully, they haven't changed the electronics part... http://home.wavecable.com/~ko6th/IMG_0115.JPG >> >> Side view of some of the plumbing. LNB is at the left, and the back of the feed horn is to the right. The transmitter is piped in from below. We are guessing that the lumps in the plumbing between the "T" and the LNB is a filter of some sort, keeping the Tx from frying the Rx. The crud on the parts is the remains of a rather large wasp nest that was waiting for me inside the plastic hood. http://home.wavecable.com/~ko6th/IMG_0123.JPG >> >> Outside of the LNB, with the round flange for the waveguide, and one of the feed probes. The other one is on the back side of the PCB, coming down from the top (up from the bottom on the next picture). http://home.wavecable.com/~ko6th/IMG_0131b.JPG >> >> Inside the LNB, with the cover and shield removed. The feed is on the right, and we believe the LO is the round doughnut thing just to the lower left of center. There's a set screw on the shield cover that comes down over the ring, to adjust the frequency. There's one filter section in the middle that might need tweeking. The IF comes out the upper left. http://home.wavecable.com/~ko6th/IMG_0130b.JPG >> >> Transmit module, with the inside shield still on. Haven't done much analysis on this yet... Where did I put that Torx? http://home.wavecable.com/~ko6th/IMG_0132b.JPG >> >> So, I turn it back to you guys... Any further thoughts? >> >> Greg KO6TH >> >> >> ---------------------------------------- >>> From: ko6th_greg(a)hotmail.com >>> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >>> Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 21:42:21 -0700 >>> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: DirecWav satellite internet useful? >>> >>> >>> Hi all, >>> >>> Well, it's been saved from the dumpster, at least for now. But, I kind of don't care much about the dish itself - it's probably a bit big /heavy for my Az/El rotor setup, though it's hard to tell with the huge steel support mount still attached. I nearly wrenched my back out carrying it over to my side yard this morning. (I think the Advil is wearing off... oow) >>> >>> But, back to the pre-amp and other electronics pieces... I found a reference to the Hughes DirecWay (not wav) service on the Web. Looks like the stuff runs in the Ku Band (11-14.5 ghz, according to Wikipedia), and has a 0.5-2 watt transmitter, depending on model. Sounds like it's possibly a good bit out of band for P3E needs, and I'm not much good with microwave hacking. Am I better off taking another two pills and putting it back on the pile, or is there a reasonable chance that I can do some simple (think "Drake") modifications to get it to work? >>> >>> Greg KO6TH >>> >>> >>> ________________________________ >>>> From: w7lrd(a)comcast.net >>>> To: ko6th_greg(a)hotmail.com; kc6uqh(a)cox.net; amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >>>> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: DirecWav satellite internet useful? >>>> Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 17:14:01 +0000 >>>> >>>> Greg- They seem to be an off center feed antenna, similar to the old primestar dish of which I have been successfully using for several years. If it's free you can't beat the price. >>>> 73 Bob W7LRD >>>> >>>> -- >>>> "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it" >>>> >>>> -------------- Original message -------------- >>>> From: "Greg D." >>>> >>>>> >>>>> Hi Art, >>>>> >>>>> The DirectWav is an Internet link - data, not TV - but good point about LO >>>>> stability being an unknown. >>>>> >>>>> But, my base question was whether any of the pieces can be used, and it sounds >>>>> like it's worth saving. Thanks! >>>>> >>>>> Greg KO6TH >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ---------------------------------------- >>>>>> From: kc6uqh(a)cox.net >>>>>> To: ko6th_greg(a)hotmail.com; amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >>>>>> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] DirecWav satellite internet useful? >>>>>> Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 22:20:55 -0700 >>>>>> >>>>>> Greg, >>>>>> These dishes are used on 10 GHz and lower frequencies. Designed to operate >>>>>> in Ku Band ~12 GHz they will give ~30 dBof gain. The LNB and feed can be >>>>>> used , at least the LNA section. As the intended use is television the LO is >>>>>> not stable enough for Amateur Satellite work. >>>>>> >>>>>> Art, >>>>>> KC6UQH >>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>>> From: "Greg D." >>>>>> To: >>>>>> Sent: Monday, May 26, 2008 8:23 PM >>>>>> Subject: [amsat-bb] DirecWav satellite internet useful? >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Hi folks, >>>>>> >>>>>> My neighbor appears to be tossing their Hughes "DirecWav" satellite internet >>>>>> dish and associated dish-mounted electronics. By any stroke of luck, is >>>>>> this stuff reasonably convertable for use with any of the the proposed P3E >>>>>> up or downlinks? I have no idea what frequency it runs. It appears to have >>>>>> both transmit and receive capabilities (based on the warnings posted). >>>>>> There are no model numbers tha t I can find on the electronics. >>>>>> >>>>>> I've got my AO-40 S-band receive setup, but nothing for the higher bands. >>>>>> >>>>>> Thanks, >>>>>> >>>>>> Greg KO6TH >>>>>> _________________________________________________________________ >>>>>> >> _________________________________________________________________ >> The i'm Talkathon starts 6/24/08. For now, give amongst yourselves. >> http://www.imtalkathon.com?source=TXT_EML_WLH_LearnMore_GiveAmongst >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >> > > > > -- > Chris N8PHU > ET1(SW) USN (Ret) > Chief transmitter Heavy SES-Americom > -- Chris N8PHU ET1(SW) USN (Ret) Chief transmitter Heavy SES-Americom

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Re: DirecWav satellite internet useful?
by Chris Hackworth 18 Jun '08

18 Jun '08

On Wed, Jun 18, 2008 at 10:14 AM, Chris Hackworth <n8phucjh(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Hi Greg, > > I am a bit of a lurker, my name is Chris. I work professionally in > the commercial satellite industry. > > What you have is a dish that was used as a Ku band up and downlink setup. > > 11.7 - 12.2 Ghz is the normal downlink band for Ku band transmissions > in the U.S.. Transmit for the U.S. is 14.0 to 14.5 ghz. Also the feed > horn assy. is linearly polarized, I.E. horizontal and vertical. > Usually they are setup so that transmit and rcv are opposite > polarities I.E transmit can be linear, but rcv is horizontal, or vice > versa.This is done so that you can get 500 mhz of space on the > horizontal pole, and still be able to use the same 500 mhz on the > vertical pole. This is called frequency reuse. > > Normal operation of this setup is the modem inside the house uses a > I.F. freq range of 950-1550 Mhz (L band) for both transmit and > receive. > > There is a set of articles on the net that explain how the satellite > end of things work, here are the links : > > http://www.uhf-satcom.com/misc/satloop/ > > http://www.uhf-satcom.com/misc/satellitebeacons/ > > The LNB might be able to be modified for use in the 10Ghz range. I > have seen a few articles on the net about conversion of LNA's to 10 > Ghz, so a LNB might be do able. > > The transmitter is usually in the range of 14 - 14.5 Ghz and usually > is only 2 to 4 watts out. I wouldn't think this would be a hard > conversion, but I haven't heard of anybody having done it, Maybe you > could be the first! > > Good luck, there is a lot of this stuff starting to become dumpster > fodder, maybe we can convert it for ham use... > > Chris N8PHU > Chief of Transmitters and RF > SES-Americom, Washington International Teleport > Alexandria Va. > > > On Wed, Jun 18, 2008 at 1:19 AM, Greg D. <ko6th_greg(a)hotmail.com> wrote: >> >> Hi folks, >> >> An update on my Ku dish, the result of some lite poking around. Links to pictures, below. >> >> The receive LNB has a sticker on it claiming "11.7-12.2 ghz", so this is a bit outside of the ham band. Judging from the construction, it looks like it's circularly polarized, and is fed with about a 3/4" round waveguide. According to another Ham, it appears to have what he called a "ceramic oscillator" or something like that, feeding a mixer for a low-gHz IF. He guesses the IF out is in the 1 to 2 ghz range. Since there's not a lot of filtering, and nothing is crystal controlled, we suspect that it should not be too hard to re-tune down to the 10-10.5 ghz range. It somewhat depends on whether the LO injection is on the high or low side, hopefully low. He's also worried if the waveguide is the right size. >> >> The transmit side of things appears to be linearly polarized, and at a higher frequency (guessing by the constrictions in the feed pipe). I haven't opened the full Tx module (didn't have a Torx screwdriver handy), so I don't know what's under the shield inside. Outside the shield are a bunch of parts, nothing resembling a transmitter... Their website talks about it putting out a couple of watts. >> >> I haven't opened up the control box yet. >> >> Some pictures, below. Any additional hints would be appreciated! >> >> The whole dish. Looking on the website, the new ones seem to be round; hopefully, they haven't changed the electronics part... http://home.wavecable.com/~ko6th/IMG_0115.JPG >> >> Side view of some of the plumbing. LNB is at the left, and the back of the feed horn is to the right. The transmitter is piped in from below. We are guessing that the lumps in the plumbing between the "T" and the LNB is a filter of some sort, keeping the Tx from frying the Rx. The crud on the parts is the remains of a rather large wasp nest that was waiting for me inside the plastic hood. http://home.wavecable.com/~ko6th/IMG_0123.JPG >> >> Outside of the LNB, with the round flange for the waveguide, and one of the feed probes. The other one is on the back side of the PCB, coming down from the top (up from the bottom on the next picture). http://home.wavecable.com/~ko6th/IMG_0131b.JPG >> >> Inside the LNB, with the cover and shield removed. The feed is on the right, and we believe the LO is the round doughnut thing just to the lower left of center. There's a set screw on the shield cover that comes down over the ring, to adjust the frequency. There's one filter section in the middle that might need tweeking. The IF comes out the upper left. http://home.wavecable.com/~ko6th/IMG_0130b.JPG >> >> Transmit module, with the inside shield still on. Haven't done much analysis on this yet... Where did I put that Torx? http://home.wavecable.com/~ko6th/IMG_0132b.JPG >> >> So, I turn it back to you guys... Any further thoughts? >> >> Greg KO6TH >> >> >> ---------------------------------------- >>> From: ko6th_greg(a)hotmail.com >>> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >>> Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 21:42:21 -0700 >>> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: DirecWav satellite internet useful? >>> >>> >>> Hi all, >>> >>> Well, it's been saved from the dumpster, at least for now. But, I kind of don't care much about the dish itself - it's probably a bit big /heavy for my Az/El rotor setup, though it's hard to tell with the huge steel support mount still attached. I nearly wrenched my back out carrying it over to my side yard this morning. (I think the Advil is wearing off... oow) >>> >>> But, back to the pre-amp and other electronics pieces... I found a reference to the Hughes DirecWay (not wav) service on the Web. Looks like the stuff runs in the Ku Band (11-14.5 ghz, according to Wikipedia), and has a 0.5-2 watt transmitter, depending on model. Sounds like it's possibly a good bit out of band for P3E needs, and I'm not much good with microwave hacking. Am I better off taking another two pills and putting it back on the pile, or is there a reasonable chance that I can do some simple (think "Drake") modifications to get it to work? >>> >>> Greg KO6TH >>> >>> >>> ________________________________ >>>> From: w7lrd(a)comcast.net >>>> To: ko6th_greg(a)hotmail.com; kc6uqh(a)cox.net; amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >>>> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: DirecWav satellite internet useful? >>>> Date: Tue, 27 May 2008 17:14:01 +0000 >>>> >>>> Greg- They seem to be an off center feed antenna, similar to the old primestar dish of which I have been successfully using for several years. If it's free you can't beat the price. >>>> 73 Bob W7LRD >>>> >>>> -- >>>> "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it" >>>> >>>> -------------- Original message -------------- >>>> From: "Greg D." >>>> >>>>> >>>>> Hi Art, >>>>> >>>>> The DirectWav is an Internet link - data, not TV - but good point about LO >>>>> stability being an unknown. >>>>> >>>>> But, my base question was whether any of the pieces can be used, and it sounds >>>>> like it's worth saving. Thanks! >>>>> >>>>> Greg KO6TH >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ---------------------------------------- >>>>>> From: kc6uqh(a)cox.net >>>>>> To: ko6th_greg(a)hotmail.com; amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >>>>>> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] DirecWav satellite internet useful? >>>>>> Date: Mon, 26 May 2008 22:20:55 -0700 >>>>>> >>>>>> Greg, >>>>>> These dishes are used on 10 GHz and lower frequencies. Designed to operate >>>>>> in Ku Band ~12 GHz they will give ~30 dBof gain. The LNB and feed can be >>>>>> used , at least the LNA section. As the intended use is television the LO is >>>>>> not stable enough for Amateur Satellite work. >>>>>> >>>>>> Art, >>>>>> KC6UQH >>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- >>>>>> From: "Greg D." >>>>>> To: >>>>>> Sent: Monday, May 26, 2008 8:23 PM >>>>>> Subject: [amsat-bb] DirecWav satellite internet useful? >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> Hi folks, >>>>>> >>>>>> My neighbor appears to be tossing their Hughes "DirecWav" satellite internet >>>>>> dish and associated dish-mounted electronics. By any stroke of luck, is >>>>>> this stuff reasonably convertable for use with any of the the proposed P3E >>>>>> up or downlinks? I have no idea what frequency it runs. It appears to have >>>>>> both transmit and receive capabilities (based on the warnings posted). >>>>>> There are no model numbers tha t I can find on the electronics. >>>>>> >>>>>> I've got my AO-40 S-band receive setup, but nothing for the higher bands. >>>>>> >>>>>> Thanks, >>>>>> >>>>>> Greg KO6TH >>>>>> _________________________________________________________________ >>>>>> >> _________________________________________________________________ >> The i'm Talkathon starts 6/24/08. For now, give amongst yourselves. >> http://www.imtalkathon.com?source=TXT_EML_WLH_LearnMore_GiveAmongst >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 >> > > > > -- > Chris N8PHU > ET1(SW) USN (Ret) > Chief transmitter Heavy SES-Americom > -- Chris N8PHU ET1(SW) USN (Ret) Chief transmitter Heavy SES-Americom

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(no subject)
by Tom Clark, K3IO 18 Jun '08

18 Jun '08

Domenico, I8CVS said > When OSCAR-10, OSCAR-13 and AO40 where alive and well we all > were assisted in solving our technical problems by some well know teachers > and radio scientists every day on this BB like James Miller G3RUH, > Charles Suckling, G3WDG and Tom Clark W3IWI now K3IO but > unfortunately they actually desappeared from this BB because they are > not anymore interested to discuss about the technical level and matters > actually seen on this BB. > > I won't speak for the others, but I am still here, reading all these discussions. I choose to be very selective in my posting of comments unless I have something positive to offer. Regarding these current discussions, I am at a loss to understand why the amateur community has become so self-centered that they cannot see that we MUST pursue programs that involve the education of new. young and enthusiastic amateurs to carry on the hobby in the future. The frequencies do not BELONG to us, they are merely entrusted to us to do good deeds for humanity. As far as I am concerned, unless we encourage projects like the Cubesats, then amateur radio est morte. I am also dismayed at the "linear vs FM" diatribes that seem to go on unabated. I was a major player in the decision for AMSAT-NA to pursue AO-51 because we needed a simple, short-term project to keep the organization alive. We solicited the contribution of a linear transponder and no one, none, zip, Nada was offered. NBFM hardware was available, so it flew. It was disappointing for me to learn that there was no one in the USA, Canada or Mexico (the "turf" of AMSAT-NA) who could tackle the building of such a simple piece of RF hardware. One piece of news on the linear transponder front that I do want to mention. This past weekend we had a small technical meeting to understand the status of Suitsat-2 -- like the first Suitsat, this will involve putting radio equipment on an out-of-warranty Russian ORLON space suit, stuffing the legs with dirty clothes, and pushing it out of the hold of the Space Station. The current plans for Suitsat-2 include a low-powered Software Defined Transponder (SDX) with 70 cm in & 2M out. The linear transponder passband will be 20-25 kHz wide. Some of you who were at Dayton may have seen some of the Suitsat/SDX hardware running on the air. The satellite demo folks (W5IU, N8MH) in the parking lot demonstrated it working to many folks. The SDX activity is being done under the auspices of the High Performance SDR (HPSDR) group which has AMSAT & TAPR sponsorship. An early version of the "Odyssey" SDX can be seen at http://hpsdr.org/wiki/index.php?title=ODYSSEY. All along, we have been hoping that we can make a version of the Odyssey SDX be small enough to fit into a Cubesat. And so Domenico, despite your statement, I'm still here! 73 de Tom, K3IO (ex W3IWI)

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Re: LEO's
by John AA5JG 18 Jun '08

18 Jun '08

> >On Jun 18, 2008, at 2:46 AM, i8cvs wrote: > >> >> A 3 to 4 foot dish with a 2400/144 MHz downconverter in the focal >> point and >> connected to any old 144 MHz CW/SSB receiver mounted on the balcony >> was >> sufficient to receive a nice downlink from all over the world by >> many users Yeah, and most of us, especially new hams, just happen to have a 3 to 4 foot dish laying around. 73s John AA5JG ________________________________________________________________

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Re: Eagle?
by ANTHONY JAPHA 18 Jun '08

18 Jun '08

Thanks JoAnne. I'm sure it's a great team. What's troubling is that the fullscale development effort will take a great deal of time. I had assumed, obviously incorrectly, that the development process was much further along than it appears to be. It may not be possible to project critical dates so early in the process, but the Cubs may show up in the World Series before this transponder is done--and I don't mean this year! What would be the impact on the completion date for Eagle (and the Intelsat transponder) if this ambitious piece of work was aimed instead at the following HEO? If our membership had some dates there could be an informed discussion of the options. There has been a lot of enthusiasm for a 5.6Ghz groundbreaking transponder, but its cost, in terms both of dollars AND TIME, must be considered as well. Will the development of this transponder delay our HEO beyond what is acceptable or not? As planned, can anything be produced ready to launch within 5 years? What's the outlook? 73, Tony, N2UN > [Original Message] > From: JoAnne Maenpaa <k9jkm(a)comcast.net> > To: <tjjapha(a)earthlink.net>; amsat-bb <amsat-bb(a)AMSAT.Org> > Date: 6/18/2008 7:59:52 PM > Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Eagle? > > Hello Tony, > > > By the way, the writeup currently on the Amsat home page mentions ACP > > with a 3.4 Ghz (sic) downlink. Just a misprint? The nice Eagle flyer > > shows both up- and downlink on 5.6 Ghz. > > Perhaps these links will reveal the current system configuration: > > Summary description of the microwave utilization: > http://www.delmarnorth.com/namaste/Namaste_Overview_Microwave.pdf > > Project Namaste general information: > http://www.amsat.org/namaste (this link is also mentioned in the ACP article > on the AMSAT home page.) > > Hope this helps! > -- > 73 de JoAnne K9JKM > k9jkm(a)amsat.org > >

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Spanish cubesat
by ANTHONY JAPHA 18 Jun '08

18 Jun '08

My vote is for a linear transponder. Hope there's enough power and space for that. If there is, it would set a very nice precedent for a fair price to pay for using ham frequencies. Thanks for asking. 73, Tony, N2UN

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