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

Delfi-C3
by WILLIAMS MICHAEL 11 Aug '08

11 Aug '08

I'm having trouble receiving DO-64. It seems to be strongest at the beginning of the pass and then gets weaker. What is the polarization of the up link and down link? I'm using a KLM 14 el LHCP for down link and 11 turn helix RHCP for up link. When conditions are good (no local QRM) , I can hear AO7, VO-5, and FO-29 easily AOS/LOS even thought I have ground clutter up to about 20 degrees with my antennas 8 ft. off the ground. I would be interested in how strong others are receiving DO-64 and at what signal strengths. By the way, the beacon sounds stronger than the transponder signals. Tnx, Mike K9QHO AMSAT 33589

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Re: WD9EWK's first non-FM satellite QSOs today!
by K & R Yoksh 11 Aug '08

11 Aug '08

Clint Bradford said: > lo and behold, Athens, Georgia's own N3TL came through. It was a 4.1 > degree of elevation pass for him. Let me repeat > that, in case you thought there was a typo: FOUR POINT ONE DEGREES OF > ELEVATION for Tim in Georgia. But he > was cheating: he was using a full five Watts output on his Yaesu FT-60. I > refuse to use high power during my demos...(grin) N3TL has gone QRO!?! <grin> I worked him the other day on AO-51 when was using 50 mW! 73. Kyle Yoksh K0KN Olathe, Kansas

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WD9EWK now on VO-52!
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 11 Aug '08

11 Aug '08

Hi all! After my success with FO-29 yesterday, I decided I would try that satellite again and also try VO-52. Although I was not successful with my second attempt on FO-29, I was successful in making my first 2 QSOs on VO-52. VO-52 had a very nice high pass, with maximum elevation of 82 degrees, at 1734-1747 UTC this morning. I was ready for that with my two FT-817ND transceivers and Arrow Antennas handheld 2m/70cm Yagi. Only 5W, and I would adjust my transmit frequency with the pinky on my hand with the microphone to keep on/around my receive frequency. I set up shop around 145.910 MHz USB, and started calling on there. Glenn AA5PK in Texas came back to me at 1740 UTC, and we had a nice chat. After that, Tom N6NUG found me at 1744 UTC near the end of the pass for another quick chat. I've worked both of them on the FM satellites in the past, and it was nice to get them on VO-52. Thanks Glenn and Tom! I then planned to make one more attempt on FO-29 before returning to Phoenix this afternoon. I found a nice high (maximum elevation 75 degrees) pass at 1835-1851 UTC. I could hear the downlink about a minute or so into the pass, and could hear myself through FO-29 shortly after that. Around the halfway point of the pass, I lost the downlink. I was not able to hear it for the remainder of the pass. My radios checked out OK, so now I need to take a look at my Yagi and coax. I had a coax issue crop up a few months ago, so that could be the problem. I have not read anything that would indicate a new problem on FO-29, and I'm hoping there are no problems with that satellite. I know I need to get a tripod for the Yagi, to free up a hand during the pass, and get more practice with my two- radio setup with an eye to adding computer control for both 817s in the future. I will put Delfi (DO-64) in my tracking program, and add it as a favorite on my account at www.space-track.org, so I can try that one out as well. I will also try AO-7 again, and maybe even go back to my AOR handheld receiver in place of the second 817, to see if I can make that work. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Yaesu G-5400B calibration
by John E 11 Aug '08

11 Aug '08

I have a Yaesu G5400B that came in in a box all disassembled. I put the azimuth unit together and it is working ok, But I am unable to calibrate it. The direction indicator works and follows with the rotor but is off. Is there a correct way to position the potentiometer when re assembling? I have followed the manual as to calibration set up. Any ideas? Thanks de John KØCQW

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Re: Fw: Re: [eu-amsat] AMSAT UK P3E Lecture Available
by Trevor 11 Aug '08

11 Aug '08

----- Original Message ----- > then why wouldn't we shift ALL > funding toward that effort? Following the PE3 launch, if any surplus > remains, the surplus could be transferred to the next HEO opportunity > (Eagle). If no surplus remains then at least we would have one working > HEO deployed. The drawback is that would kill Phase-IV stone dead and AMSAT-NA won't get another opportunity like that. There is unfortunately no existing big pot of money in the Amateur Satellite community to fund satellites/launches. Clearly funds have to be raised from collaboration with non-Amateur organisations wherever possible. Just building an HEO satellite can cost half a million+ dollars. In commercial satellite terms that's really cheap but it's still a struggle for Amateurs to raise particlarly when you consider there may be currently little more than a thousand Active satellite operators world-wide. Off the top of my head I can only think of three AMSAT groups that have more than 100 members, AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-DL. (I really would love to be proved wrong on that). The half million+ dollars is just to to build the sat, as has been mentioned many times there's the $4+ million for a commercial launch as well. As an illustration of the funding issues take the 1.2 /2.4 GHz Amateur Antennas that where installed on the Columbus Module of the ISS. Eight months after launch Amateurs still haven't managed to raise the money to pay for it, they are still 22,567 Euros short, see http://www.ariss-eu.org/donations.htm AMSAT-DL has been trying to raise money for P3E with it's pixel page, see Get into Orbit with AMSAT-DL's P3E-Satellite http://www.p3e-satellite.org/index.pl?lang=en_EN >From looking at it you can get a rough idea of how much they've raised so far and how much further there is to go. AMSAT-ZL are trying to raise NZ$12,000, that's 8,454 U.S. dollars, for KiwiSAT to complete the design and construction of the basic unit to flight ready status. I hope they are eventually successfull in managing to raise from Amateurs the $8K dollars they require for that stage of the project, see http://www.kiwisat.org.nz/funding.html I think we need as many different AMSAT groups as possible to press ahead with their own developments and tap whatever local funding sources may be available in their country. The more satellites that are built the greater the probability that one or more will successfully make it into orbit. We have to remember even 'reliable' launchers fail sometimes. 73 Trevor M5AKA __________________________________________________________ Not happy with your email address?. Get the one you really want - millions of new email addresses available now at Yahoo! http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/ymail/new.html

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ref my copy of ao-51
by Mr Jeffrey L Ross 11 Aug '08

11 Aug '08

hi folks, can anyone exlpain a little of this copy to us? PECHO-11*>PBLIST <UI>: PB: Empty. PACBLS-8*>PACBLS-8 <UI>: PACBLS S Meter = 0 PECHO-11*>STATUS <UI>: B: 120900539 PECHO-11*>PBLIST <UI>: PB: Empty. PACBLS-8*>PACBLS-8 <UI>: PACBLS S Meter = 0 PACB-1*>TLMI-1 <UI>: H$6 ZRX WdM3 !"#$w%&'p()*k+r,c-x.9/d0C12s3s456789`:;<=H>?@AB;CD=E=FG`HIJKLM PACB-1*>TLMS-1 <UI>: C0:0D C1:44 C2:76 C3:2F C4:04 C5:01 PECHO-11*>PBLIST <UI>: PB: Empty. PECHO-11*>PBLIST <UI>: PB: Empty. PACB-1*>TLMS-1 <UI>: C0:0D C1:44 C2:76 C3:2F C4:04 C5:01 PECHO-12*>BBSTAT <UI>: Open ABCD: PECHO-11*>STATUS <UI>: B: 120900539 PACB-1*>LSTAT <UI>: I P:0x13A8 o:0 l:27208 f:27245, d:1 st:6 e:8b PECHO-11*>PBLIST <UI>: PB: Empty. tks in advance kc8gkf

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TH-D7AG and accessories for sale... UPDATE
by Bill Bruno 11 Aug '08

11 Aug '08

For sale: 1- TH-D7AG HT, with (Batteries America) 1100mha battery and clip, Antenna, BC 17 Charger, Manuals, Wrist strap. 2- BC19 Rapid Charger, SMC34 hand held mic, HMC3 headset / mic, Extra PB39 1100 mha battery with clip, extra battery clip, Diamond RH77CA antenna, SMC to BNC adapter. Both 1 and 2 $350 plus shipping, Just 1 $250 plus shipping. Please contact me off list if interested. Bill Bruno KB2RC ALSO INCLUDED IN #2... 2 EXTRA POWER CORDS FOR HT One with cigarette lighter plug attached and the other with two open wires and fuses in both lines. TWO CABLES FOR CONNECTING HT TO GARMIN 12XL gps One wired to Garmin plug the other with open wires

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Fw: Re: [eu-amsat] AMSAT UK P3E Lecture Available
by Joe Westbrook 10 Aug '08

10 Aug '08

----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Westbrook" <k7zt(a)suddenlink.net> To: "John B. Stephensen" <kd6ozh(a)comcast.net>; "Luc Leblanc" <lucleblanc6(a)videotron.ca>; <eu-amsat(a)yahoogroups.com> Cc: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Sunday, August 10, 2008 11:32 AM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: [eu-amsat] AMSAT UK P3E Lecture Available > John: > Yes, you may have heard statements like in the past we've relied on > charity, and Amateur Radio Operators alone can not fund a launch, what you > haven't heard are any solutions for launching any HEOs. It seems that the > DL folks haven't lost that as a focus, they acknowledge that as expensive > as it is to launch an HEO, it is still doable. 3 - 4M Euros $4 - 5M at > least they gave us a tangible figure we can work with. This amount may be > a reach for AMSAT-NA alone, but given that we finally understand what it > would take to make a HEO Launch reality, then why wouldn't we shift ALL > funding toward that effort? Following the PE3 launch, if any surplus > remains, the surplus could be transferred to the next HEO opportunity > (Eagle). If no surplus remains then at least we would have one working > HEO deployed. > > Additionally, at least we know the PE3 platform is well vetted, and would > have the lowest risk. Rather than spending time and resources on a new, > untested platform why wouldn't we just facilitate PE3 FIRST? > > Ok, I'll speech for myself here, but the GEO ride-share simply isn't an > opportunity that will interest the HEO crowd. Launching an appliance to > serve the disaster response community and entry level satellite users > won't do a thing to satisfy the need for a HEO. I don't care if it's > free, like AO51, I would probably get on it, make a couple contacts say > "that's nice" and be done with it. Please understand, I'm not saying to > abandon GEO as a viable option, just don't spend a cent on it until we > launch an HEO. > > What we need is a satellite that enables the real sprit and intent of the > Amateur Radio Service, to push the envelop of the technology, allow for > experimentation, consider all of the alternative antenna solutions that > our resourceful community developed to receive the 2.4Gig Down Link. No > rotator required, different feed systems, a fairly modest resource outlay > to get on the air. I did it with a totally home brewed system in a > restricted neighborhood back yard. Had a blast and learned allot. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "John B. Stephensen" <kd6ozh(a)comcast.net> > To: "Luc Leblanc" <lucleblanc6(a)videotron.ca>; <eu-amsat(a)yahoogroups.com> > Cc: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Sent: Friday, August 08, 2008 3:14 PM > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: [eu-amsat] AMSAT UK P3E Lecture Available > > >> I've been hearing these two statments from AMSAT-NA officals for at least >> 2 >> years -- in person and on this BB. >> >> 73, >> >> John >> KD6OZH >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Luc Leblanc" <lucleblanc6(a)videotron.ca> >>> >>> Very nice presentations. One attract my attention was made by Peter >>> Guelzow DB2OS one one of his slide we can read: >>> >>> ATTRACTIVENESS OF AMATEUR RADIO HAS DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY >>> >>> FUNDING A SATELLITE FROM AMATEUR RESSOURCES ALONE NEVER WORKED BEFORE >>> AND >>> WILL NOT WORK NOW. >>> >>> I don't how to explain how all the wisdom and reality knowledge seems to >>> be concentrated in Europe when speaking about amateur satellite? >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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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Starting program before SatPC32
by Bruce Robertson 10 Aug '08

10 Aug '08

Gang -- I seem to remember there is a configuration file somewhere for SatPC32 which tells the program to run an ancillary program before SatPC32 starts up. I have one such ancillary script, but now I can't find the setting where I can tell SatPC32 to start it. Incidentally, I'm not speaking of the standard 'drivers' for rotors, like SDX. One solution, of course, is to use a macro or bat file to launch SatPC32 and my custom script, but, as I say, I have some recollection of SatPC32 doing this itself. Perhaps I'm just so used to it fulfilling my every wish :-) 73, Bruce VE9QRP

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Re: WD9EWK's first non-FM satellite QSOs today!
by Bill Dzurilla 10 Aug '08

10 Aug '08

Hi Patrick, That's pretty impressive, working a linear sat with an Arrow and manual tuning. You must have 3 hands. Hope to work you someday on the linear birds. By the way, I'm back in Florida now after a summer in Europe and Africa. Had about 30 FM sat QSOs in Europe and 14 in South Africa, using an HT and an Arrow. 73, Bill NZ5N **** Date: Sat, 9 Aug 2008 15:50:46 -0700 (PDT) From: "Patrick STODDARD $WD9EWK/VA7EWK$" <amsat-bb(a)wd9ewk.net> Subject: [amsat-bb] WD9EWK's first non-FM satellite QSOs today! To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Message-ID: <50018.69717.qm(a)web56101.mail.re3.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Hi! After months of trying to make a portable station that would allow me to work the SSB/CW satellites (first with an FT-817ND and AOR AR8200Mk2B wide-band receiver, then later with two FT-817NDs, all using my Arrow Antennas handheld Yagi), I finally made everything work. At 1756 and 1758 UTC today, I logged my first two satellite QSOs not using FM on either the uplink or downlink. As I expected, it was not an easy thing; FO-29's 2m uplink seemed to make it a bit easier than a 70cm uplink like I had tried before on VO-52 or AO-7. Now, after over 4100 satellite QSOs in the last 2 1/2 years or so, I can say I've got at least a couple SSB satellite QSOs to go with the others I've done on FM. I know that computer control for either - or both - of the radios is the preferred way to go. Less work for the operator, reducing how much my signal moves through the passband due to Doppler, and simply more time to work other stations. I will most likely end up with a portable setup using a small laptop that can control these two FT-817NDs or some other radio(s), eventually. I will also rig up a tripod or something for the Yagi, or try another antenna, so I don't have to hold it while trying to work the radio(s). I decided that the 1745-1759 UTC FO-29 pass this morning to my east would probably be a good pass to try. Good elevation, and a footprint covering most of North America. I set up my radios in the back of my truck just over the line into grid DM44ha northeast of Phoenix AZ, and tried my luck. It took a couple of minutes to get used to finding my signal in the downlink. My 5W signal with the Yagi was more than enough. I heard some CW early in the pass, then I could hear a couple of voices - Joe K3SZH and Jeff K7WIN. When those two finished their QSO, I quickly called K7WIN. K3SZH came back instead, and I made a quick QSO with Joe. I followed that up with another quick QSO with Jeff K7WIN. Both Joe and Jeff commented I had a good signal through the satellite. Thanks for the QSOs, and especially for dealing with my non-automated station near the end of the pass! Now I can go back to working on VO-52 and AO-7, plus the new Delfi satellite, and see if I can do the same with a non-FM satellite using a 70cm uplink. And keep on working FO-29, a very nice bird. I'm not turning my back on the FM birds, but adding more options when I want to play radio via satellite. :-) 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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