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

For sale: Yaesu FT-736r
by Dave hartzell 05 Aug '08

05 Aug '08

Hello, I'm selling my trusty Yaesu FT-736R rig. This has been a great satellite rig. The unit works fine, and is in good shape (but NOT mint). It has been used but NOT abused. No major scratches or blemishes on the front panel. The price is $550, plus shipping. I take PayPal only (or cash if the deal is local). The FT-736r has the following features: * Factory Standard 2m and 70cm modules ONLY * AM/FM/SSB/CW modes * 25 Watts on both bands * Built-in AC power supply * MH-1 Microphone (standard, with box) * FTS-8 Tone board * 9600-baud tap (to a new 1/8" plug on back, very professional, so you know I didn't do it) * CAT to RS-232 adapter included (non-Yaesu) * Manual with schematics (used a bit, written in, but complete) * Stack of information about the rig (9600-baud mods, CAT info). * AC Power cord * Includes Original box and Styrofoam packing * Non-smoking home The unit works great, but there are some minor issues which will NOT hamper operation: * Keypad beeps were disabled (previous owner) * Meter light-bulb is out * 2" strip of Velcro on the side * .75" rubber feet on the top Pictures are available at: http://picasaweb.google.com/hartzell/FT736r I would love to coordinate a hand-off in the San Francisco Bay Area (south Bay). Or, shipping (via FedEx) will be around $45. Contact me OFF LIST for more information: hartzell at gmail dot com 73, Dave AF6KD

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Re: OSCAR - Acronym for...?
by James Whitfield 05 Aug '08

05 Aug '08

Reading this thread has been entertaining, particularly the discussion about its importance. I am pleased, if also surprised, that there are writers and editors that actually care that much about the accuracy of what they write and edit. I have had a moderately long technical career, occasionally punctuated by what I now view as futile attempts to get co-workers, most of whom were supposedly well educated, to understand the meaning of the term "acronym". The difficult, and most frustrating, part is in trying to communicate what an acronym is not. COBOL is an acronym, but IBM and BLT are not. ( Since most of the time I have tried to point out the distinction, the reaction that I got was "serious don't care". ) With that as a back drop, I would speculate that since the term OSCAR was coined during a rampant epidemic of the alphabet soup of both government and industry, the term was created for its panache and the actual words for which it would stand were finalized afterward. The strongest evidence that I can bring forth is that it was a common practice at the time. If anyone can tell the story as it happened, or even some of the unverifiable legends of the time, I would enjoy hearing about it. Sputnik certainly proved that amateurs could receive signal from a radio in a man made satellite. The really great creative spark was suggesting that one could be build, not by the military or a government agency...or even an industrial corporation, but by amateurs, for amateur experimentation. Eventually it had to lead to the need to name it. Amateur radio equipment onboard a satellite. AREOS. Nothing to grab attention there. Satellite with amateur radio - SWAR. Nope. Satellite carrying amateur radio -- SCAR. Better, but not a positive message. However the name got to OSCAR, it was and still is a good name. Even so, I am a bit troubled by the thought that the expanded name for the project might not have been selected simply for the contraction to OSCAR. Suppose that Orbital ( or perhaps Orbiting ) Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio was really the name and OSCAR came later. What exactly would be the reason to use the combined term "orbital satellite". A quick check of the dictionary suggests to me that in the technical context, satellite is an object that is in orbit. That being the case, why use the term "orbital satellite"? At the time were there "non-orbital satellites" that needed to be distinguished from the amateur radio variety? The dictionary doesn't help, what with all of the different ways that the terms orbital, orbiting, and satellite are used, one can concoct a lot of different concepts, none of which I can tie into the basic concept, which in my mind needs not additional discrimination. It is only my opinion, but the term OSCAR has outgrown its roots as an acronym. Consider the word "radar". It has been so ingrained into the every day language of our society, even allowing for the dependence of society on technology, that it is no longer recognized as an acronym. Perhaps there are linguistic scholars that can trace its origins, but in the language of today, the term radar has lost its distinction from other words. So it is within the language of amateur radio. An OSCAR is a recognized thing. The term OSCAR, though perhaps it is still capitalized, invokes direct meaning rather than translation into the components that made up its origin phrase. Perhaps it is a fitting tribute to those whose genius and sweat built and operated OSCARs that the word has been accepted as a normal part of the amateur radio lexicon. My thanks to each of you, old timers and newcomers alike. James n5gui

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Re: OSCAR - Acronym for...?
by Trevor 05 Aug '08

05 Aug '08

I've missed some of the earlier posts on this but there is only one meaning for OSCAR given on the AMSAT-NA website so at the risk of repeating what someone may have already pointed out: OSCAR stands for "Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio" Intro to sats: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/information/faqs/Intro_sats.pdf OSCAR Numbers Policy: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/amsat-na/oscar.html The Project Oscar website at http://www.projectoscar.net/ also gives the same definition. 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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Re: More than Sats Lost Last Week
by Armando Mercado 05 Aug '08

05 Aug '08

Hello, Only a "symbolic portion of cremated remains" are sent into space. See http://www.memorialspaceflights.com/process.asp Looks like a few grams per "participant." Fortunately, Celestic does offer a re-fly guarantee. 73, Armando N8IGJ >Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2008 16:57:25 -0700 >From: Clint Bradford <clintbrad4d(a)earthlink.net> >Subject: [amsat-bb] More than Sats Lost Last Week >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Message-ID: <2D2B4E7F-7ED0-485F-A789-34D9B96FE235(a)earthlink.net> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes >Not only were three satellites lost in the SpaceX problem last week, >but so were ashes of 208 people... >http://www.boingboing.net/2008/08/04/unfulfilled-space-fu.html >Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 http://www.memorialspaceflights.com/process.asp

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OSCAR - Acronym for...?
by Clint Bradford 05 Aug '08

05 Aug '08

Some Web sites state that OSCAR is an acronym for "Orbital Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio." Or is it "Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio?" This is actually more important than it sounds...(grin) Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 909-241-7666

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Grids In MN
by w6gmt＠bak.rr.com 05 Aug '08

05 Aug '08

Hi All I will be working AO-51 and AO-27 from EM18,EM28,EM38, and EM48 for the next few days as I do a project for the Forest Service. HT and a Arrow. Most of the passes will be the PM passes. Please QSL to the MN address for contacts Thanks Brock W6GMT

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Doppler Shift Software
by Reicher, James 05 Aug '08

05 Aug '08

I'm trying to set up my station's Doppler shift control. I have an FT-847 and I've been working mostly with Satscape software because I love the graphics display and ease of use. But getting it to accept frequency changes thru the drop-down combo boxes (like changing AO7 from Mode A to Mode B) is next to impossible. Other software I've d/l'ed includes SatPC32, HRD, Nova for Windows, Orbitron, and Predict for DOS. I like HRD the best but the current build has a major defect in the 847 support. I've been less than successful in getting any of the others to control the radio. I'd like to hear from users of each package about how to interface with the radio. And please, no lectures about using Linux instead of Windows. It's not an option. 73 de W0HV, Jim in Raymore, MO Light travels faster than sound... This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

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Delfi-C3 PSK
by Mineo Wakita 05 Aug '08

05 Aug '08

Satellite No. Uplink Downlink Beacon Mode DO-64 (DELFI-C3) 32789 435.570-530 145.880-920 145.870 SSB,CW I recorded a wav file when I succeeded in testing a loop by PSK signal, then Up 435.566 LSB / Down 145.900 USB in TCA. http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/80805de2.wav JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

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Request for Pictures of AMSAT-UK Colloquium
by Trevor 05 Aug '08

05 Aug '08

If anyone has any pictures of the recent AMSAT-UK Colloquium can they upload them to the Photo Gallery on the AMSAT-UK website at http://www.uk.amsat.org/gallery2/ To use the upload facility you may first need to click on the "Register" option (top right). 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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which is best software for DOPPLER in an FT-847
by Raul Romero CA3SOC 05 Aug '08

05 Aug '08

which is best software for DOPPLER in an FT-847 just look for software that is 847 layers of schedule when a satellite pass and that he order the radio frequency that is due to schedule tested with HRD but every time something happens oneself must change frequently in the software Some friends that I can made a hand in this issue Greetings Raul --------------------------------------------------------------------- "Are you still wasting your time with spam?... There is a solution!" Protected by GIANT Company's Spam Inspector The most powerful anti-spam software available. http://mail.spaminspector.com

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