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

Re: Cheap Auto Trackin Rotator Controlle r
by andy thomas 13 Jan '09

13 Jan '09

Just a quick posting to say thanks, Kim,for this: I have saved the URL and will revisit it in the future when I finally implement full az/el control. looks good!! 73 de andy G0SFJ

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AO-16
by Leroy Stenzel 13 Jan '09

13 Jan '09

Just worked KB2M on AO-16. It was a 15-degree pass for me. ERP was about 20 watts - was able to hear my own signal down to less than one degree. Sincere thanks to Mark (N8MH) and other control ops who are keeping this grand old bird going! Leroy, W5VG AMSAT #2916

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AO51: mode LU: lot of fun !
by Henk, PA3GUO 13 Jan '09

13 Jan '09

Report out on AO51, mode LU (23cm up, 70cm downlink) Uplink: Kenwood TS2000X, 10W, 35 element TONNA Downlink: Kenwood TS2000X, 2x7 elements Cushcraft Need to switch polarization during the pass (LHCP, RHCP, H, L) on the downlink for strongest signal. Lots of QSB on the uplink, signal varying from noise free to not at all able to copy. Used HRD for automatic doppler correction / control. mp3 clip of QSO with IK1SOW, IW4DVZ and EA2BJM (Jan 12) http://www.pa3guo.com/ao51_modeLU_12jan09_ik1sow_iw4dvz_ea2bjm.mp3 Picture of the antennas used: http://www.pa3guo.com/ant_jun_2008.jpg This evening I also had a 50% complete QSO with Ib, OZ1MY. 73, Henk, PA3GUO http://www.pa3guo.com

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Outstanding ops on AO51
by Mark Lunday, WD4ELG 13 Jan '09

13 Jan '09

Working from home this week, so I wanted to hit some passes. This morning on the 1230 UTC pass for AO51, it reminded me of a military radio net. Patience, professionalism, no one talking over anyone else. It truly was an excellent example of the best of ham radio. N3TL - Tim WA5KBH - George WA4NVM - Rick KU8L - Curt A couple of others I missed because of a phone call I received during mid-pass. FB, OM's! Mark Lunday WD4ELG wd4elg(a)arrl.net http://wd4elg.net

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DO-64 Telemetry.
by Dave Aitch 13 Jan '09

13 Jan '09

Hi Wouter. I have listened several times for the data as per your last message but I am not receiving any data. Is DO-64 still working OK ? Do you still require telemetry ? 73, Dave. G1OCN AMSAT UK 5766 IO80SM Portland. Dorset. ================ I did send this note direct on the 10th Jan, but guess it got lost in the byte bucket.

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Nov/Dec Journal
by Ed Long 13 Jan '09

13 Jan '09

Everyone, This issue has been uploaded to the printer moments ago. You should have it in your mailbox soon. Thanks to our new associate editors we are getting more articles. We hope to get the Journal back on schedule within a couple of issues. Thanks for your support and patience! 73,Ed Long WA4SWJ Editor, The AMSAT Journal ----

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Unable to hear AO-7
by Mark Lunday, WD4ELG 13 Jan '09

13 Jan '09

Maybe I am doing something wrong on Mode A. Over the summer I had a couple of successes. Since then, nothing. Station works all the other birds with ease. I recall AO7 has no battery so it must be illuminated. So I only try when the bird is in sunlight. I cannot seem to find my signal on the downlink. I am using dipole, vertical, end fed, every possible combination. Last evening, I thought I may have heard my CW note, but I am not sure. I typically can hear K3SZH calling CQ on the downlink, but just barely. AO7 has low power, but I have worked it before. Certainly it is me who is missing something. Mark Lunday WD4ELG wd4elg(a)arrl.net http://wd4elg.net

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demo
by Nick Pugh 13 Jan '09

13 Jan '09

I ran this request Sunday and got no response so I am asking once more. I have a demo for 12 year old kids Thursday at about 1600 gmt. I would like to demo Echo link with some ham outside of the USA. If you have the time to come up on Echo link and talk about ham radio and satellites please get email me. Thanks Nick k5qxj

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Computer Control IC-1271
by Gary "Joe" Mayfield 13 Jan '09

13 Jan '09

I'm having a snow day! One of the joys of life in South Dakota! Don't worry it costs me a day of vacation time. I knocked the dust off my ic-1271 and worked myself on AO-51 as she went by. Has anyone played with computer controlling and IC-1271? My radio does not have the IC-EX309 interface unit. I believe that means it will not even accept (CI-V) /TTL level commands in its current state as there is no connection for them. Has anyone gone down this road, and solved computer control of an IC-1271? Thanks and 73, Joe kk0sd

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ISS Crossband Repeater
by Andrew Koenig 12 Jan '09

12 Jan '09

Tonight I had one of the best times I have ever had on the satellites. I'm not too sure you all would enjoy it for the same reasons, but I thought it was amazing. I was starting to receive the bird, and I tried TX'ing into it, but for some reason the tone didn't stay programmed into my FT-60. So with one hand I'm trying not to loose the satellite with my arrow antenna, while with the other hand I am trying to program the radio. Eventually I give up on programming it so it automatically does the split, so I program in 145.99/67hz tone on one channel, and then 437.805-437.790 (in 5khz steps) in the other channels. Once I got it all programmed enough so it will work, the ISS is at the peak, and I was literally recieving it at full strength, where all of the bars in my HT are lit up. At this point in the pass, it seemed like I was doing pretty well between the 5 different tasks, aiming the antenna, polorization, doppler, switching between TX/RX channels, and making contacts. I really enjoyed this part because it worked, despite the severe improvisions I had to make to get it to work. Although I only made three contacts (W5KUB, W5VG, WA4NVM), I would still consider this a very successful pass. -- Andrew Koenig KE5GDB The 15 year old ham

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