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

Re: Yaesu G-5400B computer control
by Ronald G. Parsons 13 Sep '08

13 Sep '08

An inexpensive solution is the FD ST1 kit. See my mini-review here in the archives and also http://www.foxdelta.com/products/st1.htm It uses the EasyComm interface. Ron W5RKN ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:03:53 -0400 From: Sebastian <w4as(a)bellsouth.net> Subject: [amsat-bb] Yaesu G-5400B computer control To: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <7E82BF3F-9A8A-445D-8BF9-CCBAAF5CB5C0(a)bellsouth.net> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes What do I need to connect my G-5400B to my computer in order to automate satellite antenna tracking? I'm current using Ham Radio Deluxe. I've heard of the LVB tracker, and the GS-232 but I wonder if there is a cheaper or easier solution, being that the software program now does a lot of the functions (or so I believe it does). 73 de W4AS Sebastian

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For K3SZH ...The Bitch is back.
by John Hackett 13 Sep '08

13 Sep '08

Hi Joe, Thanks for the mail. I kind of lost interest after the latest extended stay in hospital but I got back on AO-7 today ... to find some clown knocking six kinds of excrement out out of the transponder. Probably another 100w/10 element beam uplink and rusty six inch nail for a receive aerial. Have a good weekend mate. 73 John. <la2qaa(a)amsat.org>

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Re: satscape
by Stephen Davis 13 Sep '08

13 Sep '08

I don't use SatScape. instead I use Orbitron and in Orbitron, DO-64 is listed as Delfi-C3. Perhaps it's the same with SatScape? Is there a listing for Delfi-C3? 73, Steve - KJ4FEL ----- Original Message ---- From: "Cotejaune2(a)aol.com" <Cotejaune2(a)aol.com> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2008 12:12:54 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] satscape 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) _______________________________________________ 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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FOxx Satellite DXpedition Results
by Mark Saurman 13 Sep '08

13 Sep '08

Hello all, I've made it back safe and sound from my little road trip. After my last contacts on the FN08/18 border near Amos, Quebec I put the Arrow back in the car for the last time and concentrated on driving. I went through Val-D'or, Mount Laurier, Mount Tremblant and finally Montreal where I picked my wife up from the airport the next day and we visited the city and Ottawa before heading back home. The trip was a lot of fun. I didn't haul out the gear until I hit FO11, although in hindsight I should have paid more attention and got out in FO10 on the way up since the passes weren't very viable in FO10 on the way back. These first contacts were made from along side the Rupert River rapids. They're endangered as Hydro Quebec is going to dam off the river for another huge hydro project so I'm glad I got to see them. Most contacts were made pulled alongside the Route de la Baie James, a 2 lane paved road with a 100km/h speed limit that isn't patrolled from about km 6 to km 600. The road is very isolated, with a 375km stretch with no gas stations or services of any kind. Some were made in the community of Radisson, the furthest north you can drive on a paved road in the eastern half of North America, and the northern most non-native permanent community in Quebec. Some were made in Chisasibi, on the shores of James Bay and some along Quebec route 109 which leads to the James Bay Road. I had hoped to catch a boat to one of the islands in the bay of which there are numerous, uninhabited ones very close, as these count as Nunavut VY0, however between the weather not cooperating (wind) and those who I came across weren't coming back to be able to pick me up, I had to scratch that plan. If I had more time to work with, I would have worked something out. More money could have helped, too, as I could have booked a flight for about $500 to Sanikiluaq in the Belcher Islands, which is comparatively cheap to what it costs to get to anything Nunavut from down here! Although for you newly married OM's, you and your XYL can go with a 75% honeymooner discount, so start sweet talking her about how nice the Belcher Islands are this time of year! HI HI!!! So here's the results: 5-Sept-2008 1815Z through 7-Sept-2008 1938Z Total Satellite QSOs: 158 - AO-51: 81 - AO-27: 36 - SO-50: 41 Grids worked from: FN08, FN18, FN19, FO03, FO10, FO11, FO12, FO13 Here's a link to the log: http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pVYahBbb9c8aa3JJuIwiAOQ Working conditions: Antenna: Arrow Handheld Yagi, 3-elements for 2 meters, 7-elements for 70cm Uplink Radio: Radio Shack HTX-202 at 3 watts with 6 2500mAH NiMH AA's in the alkaline pack, still charged even after 158 QSO's! Downlink Radio: Yaesu VX-7R still charged as well ;-) Logging done via voice recorder built into my cell phone, as that was about all it was good for up in the wilderness hundreds of miles from a cell signal! I'm printing the cards this weekend. Thank you all for the many QSO's and the cards & stamps I've received! Hope that everyone picked up at least one new grid. QSL is via my N8TLV address, although if you sent it to my NL address I'll still get it, just will be delayed by a month hi hi. 73, Mark VO1ONE/N8TLV

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Re: DO-64
by WILLIAMS MICHAEL 13 Sep '08

13 Sep '08

Mark, Lately, I have not been able to get a signal through DO-64. I hear the beacon but no transponder activity. To check on DO-64, go to http://oscar.dcarr.org/index.php . I sent the Delfi team an email but got no response. I'll continue to try it when I'm in the shack and a pass occurs. When the transponder is on, activity is sparse. DO-64 is a challenge. My impressions of DO-64: Don't go spending a lot of money because of DO-64. When DO-64 was first released for amateur radio use, I was able the hear myself (CW) at very low elevation passes (<10 degs). My antennas are only 8 feet off the ground so I was shooting a signal through trees and buildings. When the sat got above 30 degrees, I was able to use the transponder for good CW QSOs. I think the transponder output is only 200mW. The circular polarity of the down link seems to be left hand in the north to south passes and right hand in the south to north passes. Since my down link antenna is LHCP, I can only work DO-64 in the morning ( north to south passes). The evening south to north RHCP passes across the US are currently not in the sun so the sat is off. I also notice down link signal strength is best on the first half of the pass then drops off in the last half. This makes it best to establish a QSO on the first half of the pass. The beacon always seems to be there and always at good signal strength. The transponder will have signal strength above the beacon at times when I have a good signal path at good elevations. At that point, I can reduce my 847s output to about 2 watts and still hear my down link pretty well. At this time, the transponder seems to be off. I will continue to try working DO-64. If I can help you any further, please email me. All the best in your satellite quests. Mike Williams K9QHO AMSAT 33589

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AO-51 L/S mode
by Luc Leblanc 13 Sep '08

13 Sep '08

I just ending a near complete pass QSO with Michael KC9ELU on L/S. This western pass was much better than the east one?. Always manually tracking the uplink i found a way to control the doppler on the downlink using the AFC button on the PCR-1000 that i used to received the output of the AIDC downconverter on 123mhz. There is no need to have a PC tracking program just tune the downlink and let the AFC doing the job!! It works and if you loose the downlink for few minutes the AFC is quite agile and he will retune by himself right on the center of the downlink. You can always fine tune the frequency manually. The scope feature is also usefull if you drift too far away from the downlink you can see where the signal is without tuning up and down. I don't know if this will work for other type of receiver but the FT-847 does not have this feature? "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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DO-64
by WILLIAMS MICHAEL 13 Sep '08

13 Sep '08

Anyone hear DO-64 lately? I hear a beacon but the transponder seems to be off. Mike K9QHO AMSAT 33589

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SatPC32 Interface to Yaesu G 5400B - More
by Ralph Milnes 12 Sep '08

12 Sep '08

I forgot to mention that he's currently using the Unitrac interface to the G 5400. That's not supported by SatPC32. Any recommendations on an interface to use, preferably one with a direct USB connection (if such an animal exists). ---------------- 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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Re: p3e
by Grant Hodgson 12 Sep '08

12 Sep '08

Keith There was an update on P3E at the Amsat-UK Colloquium in July 2008. This was filmed and archived at www.batc.tv > film archive > Lecture 9. Lecture 10 gives an update on P5A. In a nutshell :- Amsat-DL are treating P5A as the primary mission, with P3E being a 'test bed' for P5A carrying some of the P5A communication systems, along with some rather useful transponders of course. The rationale being that P3E flies first to prove the various systems required for P5A, thus de-risking the latter. Amsat-DL are seeking funding for the combined P5A/P3E project. Full details in the presentations - recommended viewing. regards Grant G8UBN >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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YAESU 5500/Ars rotor controller
by Pedro Cruz 12 Sep '08

12 Sep '08

Hi to all Any one knows how to calibrate the rotor yaesy 5500 ( 360 + 90dgr rotation) with the ARS rotor controller . Best 73 ! Pedro Cruz - CU2JX

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