January 2009 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

ISS V/U active and loud
by Bill Dzurilla 04 Jan '09

04 Jan '09

The ISS repeater will be in V/U mode through January 17, according to http://www.southgatearc.org/news/january2009/ariss_anniversary_update.htm . I just had a 20 degree pass and it was really loud, far louder than anything I've ever heard from AO-51 or any other bird. Quite a lot of activity, I worked 6Y5RA, N4QWZ, YV5MM, and KG4ZLB. Called N2EHG (good signal) several times but no answer. Note that this is NOT the usual ISS repeater configuration (used to be 70cm uplink, 2 meter downlink). The downlink is now on 437.8, and the uplink is on 145.99 (67hz PL tone needed). 73, Bill NZ5N

3 2

RH and LH CP simutaniously
by R. Chastain 04 Jan '09

04 Jan '09

Hi all, Has anyone ever considered the possibilty of using PIN diodes and a free running square wave oscillator to electronically switch between RHCP and LHCP? The switching frequency would have to be high enough so as to not introduce a tone to the signal. Just a thought I have had for awhile. RoD KD0XX

4 5

L band radio
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 03 Jan '09

03 Jan '09

Hello All With the latest interest in 1.2Ghz. I found this on Ebay http://cgi.ebay.com/Icom-IC-1271A-1-2-Gig-1296-All-mode-Transciever-IC_W0QQ… I do not know the fellow selling it. I do own one and find it an excellent radio. 73 Bob W7LRD -- "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it"

1 0

How to do 1.2ghz when sat radio is FT-847
by Michael J. Wolthuis 03 Jan '09

03 Jan '09

I am excited with all the late use of 1.2ghz and want to get involved. I have an FT-847, which doesn't have a 1.2ghz option. So what are others doing? Here were my thoughts.... 1) Add a 910 for 1.2ghz - expensive 2) Utilize my TS-2000 (currently HF) for 1.2ghz by adding UT-20 - not sure how hard the add-on is to do 3) Buy another radio (?????) for 1.2ghz use 4) Is there some way to use the FT-847? If there is references out there to this, Google did not do me well, please send links and pointers. Thanks and hopefully I'll be on 1.2ghz soon. I have an antenna and 50ft of inch and a quarter to the shack on the Sat rotator, but just never hooked it too anything. Mike kb8zgl

8 7

What would be a good radio ???
by racer5039 03 Jan '09

03 Jan '09

I have a TS-2000 that I am using now to work the birds but am you all know the Kenwood TS-2000 has a problem with the down link at or around 436.800. My question is...what would be a good radio to use on these birds? Maybe something that would cover the 1.2G stuff as well. Thansk to all those that helped me out with the SSB Sat tuning. It has really helped me out. Thanks again. Marv N0FJP

2 1

Re: How to do 1.2ghz when sat radio is FT-847
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 03 Jan '09

03 Jan '09

I forgot to include the link http://users.innercite.com/kj6ko/ 73 W7LRD -- "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it" -------------- Original message -------------- From: "Alan P. Biddle" <APBIDDLE(a)UNITED.NET> > Mike, > > The TS-2000 is a very capable satellite rig, and the 1.2 gig module will get > you on mode L. According to the sales sites, you need to have the module > installed by a dealer or from the factory. So in one sense, the > installation is easy. Let somebody else do it. ;) At about $500-600 plus > installation, it is probably comparable in cost to a good external > transverter and avoids all the quirks of interfacing and deciding which IF > to use. Note that 10 watts out is really marginal, and you need an > amplifier in the 50-100 watt range along with a good antenna to make > satellite operating more than a chore. > > The FT-847 works well with a transverter. I regularly operate AO-51 in the > various modes using mode L as an uplink, and with a little recabling worked > the ISS in mode LV about as well as could be done. There is a brief note in > the July/August AMSAT Journal about using TX transverters with 2 meter IFs > when you need to be able to RX on 2 meters. > > One thing to consider whether you are talking about amplifiers or > transverters, is that terrestrial communication centers around 1296 MHz, > while space communication centers around 1269 MHz. Almost all equipment is > designed for the higher and much more common frequency. The amps often need > retuning for the lower frequency, and are less efficient. Likewise, > transverters will require significantly different crystals to get the IF > where you can use it. > > Going with the TS-2000 and adding a brick amp is the easiest and cleanest > way, but if you are a good scrounger, not necessarily the cheapest. > > Alan > WA4SCA > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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

1 0

Re: How to do 1.2ghz when sat radio is FT-847
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 03 Jan '09

03 Jan '09

here's your amp. I have one tuned for the middle of 1268 & 1296. I get about 50-60 watts out. 73 Bob W7LRD -- "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it" -------------- Original message -------------- From: "Alan P. Biddle" <APBIDDLE(a)UNITED.NET> > Mike, > > The TS-2000 is a very capable satellite rig, and the 1.2 gig module will get > you on mode L. According to the sales sites, you need to have the module > installed by a dealer or from the factory. So in one sense, the > installation is easy. Let somebody else do it. ;) At about $500-600 plus > installation, it is probably comparable in cost to a good external > transverter and avoids all the quirks of interfacing and deciding which IF > to use. Note that 10 watts out is really marginal, and you need an > amplifier in the 50-100 watt range along with a good antenna to make > satellite operating more than a chore. > > The FT-847 works well with a transverter. I regularly operate AO-51 in the > various modes using mode L as an uplink, and with a little recabling worked > the ISS in mode LV about as well as could be done. There is a brief note in > the July/August AMSAT Journal about using TX transverters with 2 meter IFs > when you need to be able to RX on 2 meters. > > One thing to consider whether you are talking about amplifiers or > transverters, is that terrestrial communication centers around 1296 MHz, > while space communication centers around 1269 MHz. Almost all equipment is > designed for the higher and much more common frequency. The amps often need > retuning for the lower frequency, and are less efficient. Likewise, > transverters will require significantly different crystals to get the IF > where you can use it. > > Going with the TS-2000 and adding a brick amp is the easiest and cleanest > way, but if you are a good scrounger, not necessarily the cheapest. > > Alan > WA4SCA > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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

1 0

ISS L/V repeater attempt
by N1MIW 03 Jan '09

03 Jan '09

I will try to be QRV on the next pass for RI (~6:34UTC). I'm working my way back into satellites & need to get some use out of my 1.2GHz gear. Just listened to the 04:50UTC pass & heard a 2 and an 8 call, but didn't get the whole thing. It seemed like the squelch is set too high - hope my 45el loop yagi & 10 watts will make it! I'll be manually tuning the rig for now... If it works well, I'll connect the rig to a computer tomorrow! Anyone have an idea how long the ISS repeater will be in L/V mode? 73's from FN41 Larry N1MIW

4 4

Re: Meteor Pings Web Cast
by Michael Fletcher 03 Jan '09

03 Jan '09

Hi all, here is a very good live meteor scatter feed too: http://stream.ham.fi:8000/Meteor_Scatter.m3u 73's de Michael, OH2AUE -- "Life is too short for Sudoku"

1 0

Meteor Pings Web Cast
by JoAnne Maenpaa 03 Jan '09

03 Jan '09

Happy New Year everyone, While really not on-topic I hope other hams will enjoy this info ... http://spaceweatherradio.com/ is playing the audio from the space radar fence again for this weekend's meteor shower. Ping! -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org

1 0