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

DM31 on AO-27, Monday 15 September
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 14 Sep '08

14 Sep '08

Hi! I am planning a quick road trip to a point near the Arizona/Mexico border tomorrow (Monday, 15 September). I will be in grid DM31 for at least the two AO-27 passes around 2046 and 2227 UTC, subject to local weather conditions and law enforcement (heavy police and Border Patrol presence in that area). I might stick around for an AO-51 pass Monday evening, around 0132 UTC, before making the 3-hour drive back to Phoenix. If there is a safe place to stop off the highway, I *might* be able to park on the DM31/DM32 grid boundary. Otherwise, it will be just DM31 for those passes. Grid DM31 is mostly in Mexico, except for the northeast corner of the grid that crosses into Arizona. A portion of a military bombing range, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, and the border town of Lukeville AZ in Pima County are in that corner. I've heard one station from that grid, on the Mexican side of the border, in June 2006 via AO-51. Others have told me it has been several years since other stations have tried the satellites from either side of the border in DM31. If we make a contact, I will send you a QSL. No worries! 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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AO-51 mode L/S
by Rob Hardenberg PE1ITR 14 Sep '08

14 Sep '08

Hi, Today I mounted my S-band downlink antenna. I will be qrv on AO-51 mode LS during the 17:17 and 18:57UTC pass over europe. It would be nice to meet some stations on s-band. 73 Rob PE1ITR http://www.pe1itr.com

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Double leo satellites
by Håkan Harrysson 14 Sep '08

14 Sep '08

Hello, I was just wondering. Should it be possible to launch two Leo satellites with transponders who are connected to eatch other? I am not sure i can explain exactly what i mean, but if we imagine one of them (satellite A) are heading my direction in a west pass and retransmitts that on the ordinary way and then also retransmitts what it hears to the other Leo satellite (Satellite B) who is in sight of satellite A but just more west then i am located. I think in that way i could work NA every day? It feels like with new SDR transponders and the problem to get satellites in higher orbits this could be a way to go? This is no HEO/LEO discussion, just some thinking that maybe have gone wrong HI! 73 de Hakan SM7WSJ Who is also pulling for P3E

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ANS-258 AMSAT Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 14 Sep '08

14 Sep '08

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-258 ************************************************************** *** 2008 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting *** *** October 24-26 in Atlanta, Georgia *** ************************************************************** ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor(a)amsat.org In this edition: * AMSAT Board of Directors to Conduct Presidential Search * Worldwide Amateur Radio Effort Saves COMPASS Cubesat * College Satellite Nite - 18 September 2008 * AO-51 Schedule - September 2008 * ARISS Status - 18 August 2008 SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-258.01 AMSAT Board of Directors to Conduct Presidential Search AMSAT News Service Bulletin 258.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 14, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-258.01 AMSAT President Rick Hambly, W2GPS notified the AMSAT Board of Directors on Thursday, September 11 that he is not a candidate for President of AMSAT for the upcoming year. "After careful consideration, I have decided that I am not able to continue as AMSAT President beyond the next Board meeting and so I will not offer my name for consideration, and if nominated by others I will not accept the nomination for President. While I will be focusing most of my efforts on business activities, I will do my best to make the transition seamless", stated Rick in an e-mail to the current members of the AMSAT Board of Directors. Rick has served as President of AMSAT since October 2004. The current Board of Directors election concludes on Monday, September 15, when results of the balloting will be announced. Members of the new Board will then begin a formal search process to recruit and select a new President. This process is expected to take several weeks with the goal of having a new President identified prior to the AMSAT Board of Directors meeting on October 23, prior to the AMSAT Symposium in Atlanta. The search process starts immediately with an invitation to current AMSAT members (including BOD members, Senior Advisors, Officers, and the AMSAT general membership) to suggest current AMSAT members that they would recommend for consideration. Recommendations are requested by 1900 EDT Tuesday evening, September 16 to the AMSAT Corporate Secretary (Barry Baines, WD4ASW; e-mail: wd4asw(a)amsat.org). Names that are submitted will be initially reviewed by the BOD and those candidates that the Board would like to follow up with will be contacted concerning the interview/selection process. Rick Hambly, W2GPS will continue to fulfill his duties as President until the Board meeting in October. His current term on the Board of Directors expires in September 2009. [ANS thanks the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-258.02 Worldwide Amateur Radio Effort Saves COMPASS Cubesat AMSAT News Service Bulletin 258.02 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 14, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-258.02 Mike, DK3WN said this week that a worldwide amateur radio effort saved the COMPASS cubesat. Mike reports receiving reports of good COMPASS beacons from Japan. The COMPASS cubesat has not reset over several eclipse periods and remains operational. The problem that depleted the batteries aboard COMPASS had its heater remain on constantly. Amateur radio stations around the world successfully transmitted the command to turn off the heater and allowed the batteries to recover. After the heater was turned off Mike wrote, "The only thing we can do is WAIT. Wait for longer sun periods and voltages over 3.47 Volts. That's the standard threshold value in emergency mode to switch into powersafe mode. Only in this mode we can change the threshold values. As of September 8, COMPASS was back in its powersafe mode of oper- ation. As of September 10 COMPASS was back in NORMAL mode. Mike had gained control of the satellite and could successfully command the satellite. Mike summarized, "Thanks to all - this is truly a worldwide ham radio effort - thanks so much for your help. Also, PLEASE do NOT send any commands to COMPASS until further notice. If you send any commands you overwrite the current settings and COMPASS may fall back into emergency mode. We almost lost a cubesat, but we've definitely gained some new friends. Thank you all for your efforts!" Meanwhile please listen to the beacon and keep your fingers crossed that COMPASS will remain in its normal mode. [ANS thanks Mike, DK3WN, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-258.03 College Satellite Nite - 18 September 2008 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 258.03 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 14, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-258.03 A college Satellite night will be held Thursday, September 18, 2008 (local time). This event is a great opportunity for hams that are satellite active to interact with college students and elmer a new generation! Do you know a college student who would find amateur satellites interesting and intellectually challenging? Have them as a guest at your station and introduce them to amateur radio in a way they will never forget. Look for college stations and students on all the birds that evening and please give them preference for operation. With the new school year just starting, new student guests and thus potential young hams will be present in college shacks around the country. They look forward to meeting you through the exciting venue of Orbiting Satellites carrying Amateur Radio! 73, Hope to see you on the birds! Dr. Jay Garlitz, AA4FL [ANS thanks Jay, AA4FL, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-258.04 AO-51 Schedule - September 2008 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 258.04 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 14, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-258.04 September 8 - September 14 FM Repeater, L/S Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM Downlink: 2401.200 MHz FM FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.880 MHz FM Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM September 15 - September 21 College Radio Night is September 18! FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM 9k6 BBS and Telemetry Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM September 22 - September 24 FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.920 Mhz FM Downlink: 435.300 Mhz FM FM Repeater, L/U Uplink: 1268.700 Mhz USB Downlink: 435.150 Mhz FM September 25 - September 28 FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.920 Mhz FM Downlink: 435.300 Mhz FM FM Repeater, L/U Uplink: 1268.700 Mhz FM Downlink: 435.150 Mhz FM September 29 - October 5 FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM 9k6 BBS and Telemetry Uplink: 1268.700 MHz FM Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM [ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-258.05 ARISS Status - 8 September 2008 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 258.05 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. September 14, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-258.05 1. Successful Contact with Challenger Learning Center On Monday, September 1, ten students visiting the Challenger Learning Center of Lucas County in Oregon, Ohio participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact. The students posed ten questions to Greg Chamitoff, KD5PKZ, in front of an audience of 80. News 24 TV was present and interviewed the students. The audio was fed into the EchoLink AMSAT server and IRLP (Internet Radio Linking Project) Reflector 9010. 2. NZZ Article on Swiss Contact On Saturday, August 30, students attending Schulehaus Feld 1 in Richterswil, Switzerland participated in a successful Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact. Neue Zürcher Zeitung NZZ posted an article (in German) on the contact. See: http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/zuerich/telefonkonferenz_mit_der_raumstation_… .820665.html 3. ARISS Presentations Posted On Thursday, August 28, an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) member gave a talk to Rockwell Collins Amateur Radio Club in Richardson, Texas. His talk covered Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) satellites and ARISS projects. The presentation has been posted to the AMSAT Web site. See: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/Presentations/AMSAT%20for%20RCARC.ppt The ARISS presentation given at the Challenger Learning Center (CLC) Lead Flight Directors Conference on August 27 has also been posted. See: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/Presentations/Challenger%20National% 20Convention%202008.ppt [ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI, for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Lee McLamb, KU4OS ku4os at amsat dot org

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Static Discharge Protection - location
by Alan 13 Sep '08

13 Sep '08

Where do you suggest mounting discharge units such as the Diamond CA-23RS - on the mast between the antenna and preamps? and grounded to the mast which is well grounded? - on the mast below the preamps and before the feedline enters your house/shack etc? - at the radio in the house or shack? - grounded to your service panel ground cable or grounded to the outside where your tower is grounded to something like I use - a copper rod driven 5 or 6 feet into moist salty soil. Knock on wood - I've never had an issue with static discharge that emanated from the antenna that has effected any radio or other equipment. Antennas and mast/tower are well grounded to earth outside my house and not to any inside cold water pipe. I ground my radio chassis ground lug to a copper cable run to my electrical panel's ground cable. All the 120 VAC is 3 wire and grounded to the same electrical panel grounding. I support there could be a potential between the service panel ground and the ground for my mast, but, I've never bothered to check this. I am slightly amused that these units are referred to by the various manufactures as lighting protection or surge suppressors. Lighting runs down the outside of a conductor. However, I can see an antenna building up a charge with wind or if my neighbour got a direct hit by lightning I house probably get some residual EMP. I suppose the discharge created by shuffling across a carpet in socks with low humidity and touching a wall switch could be call lighting of a few orders of magnitude less than what is commonly understood a lightning. Am I over thinking all this grounding and static discharge stuff and unnecessarily worrying about which ground to use. If I get a direct hit with lightning, all bets are off. Thanks all... 73, Alan VE4YZ EN19kw AMSAT LM 2352

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p3e
by keith schaffrath 13 Sep '08

13 Sep '08

Is there anything going on with p3e, or is it a fantasy to think we will ever have another Heo? keith N6ORS

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Marvelous Mentoring in Mesa
by Clint Bradford 13 Sep '08

13 Sep '08

AMSAT sure is well represented at the ARRL Southwestern Division Convention in Mesa, Arizona! The AMSAT booth looks great...and I just attended WD9EWK Patrick's presentation entitled, "Typical Radio Gear for Satellite Communications." His room was darned near full...as was the crowd for W7LB Larry's earlier presentation, "Future Satellites..." Great job to all the AMSAT folks who made this happen. We looked first- class and appropriately professional! Clint Bradford, K6LCS 909-241-7666

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Alaska grids [was: Grid CO-45]
by John Mock KD6PAG 13 Sep '08

13 Sep '08

John K6YK wrote: > Randy, WI7P was just on AO-27 from Ketchikan, AK > CO-45. About 2245Z Thursday. Maybe he'll show up > on AO-51 tonight? If you need it, keep an ear peeled! Indeed, he was on one of the evening AO-51 passes. In addition, KL1WE & W6HF are also returning from Alaska to California; as well as AK, you can later look for YT and also uncommon-to-rare BC grid squares. So do not neglect Pacific passes on AO-51 and SO-50 for at least a week or so and also AO-27 (albeit in Alaska, one can't hit it before the telemetry if one is too far north). -- KD6PAG (Networking Old-Timer, Satellite QRPer) P.S. Remember, AO-51 is in mode J-FM on the 'QRP' side (435.15/145.88) this week.

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SatPC32 Interface to Yaesu G 5400B
by Ralph Milnes 13 Sep '08

13 Sep '08

Hi, Re: SatPC32 Interface to Yaesu G 5400B New to the group... I tried to access the archives but there isn't an easy way to search them, so forgive me if this question has come up and been answered before. I'm helping a friend migrate to a new USB-only XP computer where he wants to run SatPC32 and interface it to a Yaesu 847 radio and a Yaesu G 5400B Az/El rotor. Our first problem is coming up with USB-to-serial converters that will work with the serial feeds to the radio and rotor. I tried one brand of converter and that didn't work. I know such converters are finicky, so I'll try another brand and hope that works. If I'm successful, that should solve the CAT control of the radio via SatPC32. But I'm not sure how to interface to the rotor. SatPC32 does not have a rotor control choice for the G 5400B. Has anyone solved this problem? Comments and suggestions welcome. 73 Ralph KC2RLM

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satscape
by Cotejaune2＠aol.com 13 Sep '08

13 Sep '08

Can anyone tell me why I cant find D0-64 on satsacpe ? **************Psssst...Have you heard the news? There's a new fashion blog, plus the latest fall trends and hair styles at StyleList.com. (http://www.stylelist.com/trends?ncid=aolsty00050000000014)

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