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

Sumbandilasat update posted
by Mark L. Hammond 15 Oct '09

15 Oct '09

Let's hope that future testing is more encouraging...keep the faith and keep trying, team! 73, Mark N8MH from: http://www.amsatsa.org.za/ STOP PRESS SumbandilaSat failed to switch on the amateur radio payload during the first test. Sunspace will be looking at the possible cause and reschedule further tests. Stay tuned!

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Icom R-75 Like New in the Box
by John Henderson N4NAB 15 Oct '09

15 Oct '09

R-75 receiver for sale. Selling for elderly Ham who moved into a assisted living unit and wanted something to listen to. the facility would not let him put up antenna or string a wire. Unit is in the box ( but opened and powered up by me) as new. $425 plus shipping from 28584 ( 17# packed). Thanks n4nab(a)amsat.org John John John Henderson N4NAB 212 Bayside Drive Cape Carteret, NC 28584

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L/U repeater back on
by Andrew Glasbrenner 15 Oct '09

15 Oct '09

L/U repeater is back on now. Sorry about switching back and forth twice, I had to go back and fix something. 435.150 is at 450mw, and 435.300 is at 630mw. Friday morning we'll probably switch back to digital for a pass, then to JOTA configuration that evening. 73, Drew KO4MA

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KLM 2M-14C...waterproof the polarity switch?
by David Wing 15 Oct '09

15 Oct '09

Anyone out there with KLM antennas with the polarity switch care to comment on whether you have put a housing on the switch to protect it from the elements? It looks like the relay has silicon around the base but it just grates me the wrong way to have a circuit board with a power connection and components exposed to the elements. Maybe it has not been an issue but I'd care to hear of anyone experiences. If anyone has built up a housing and have pictures or directions, please pass them along 73, David K6CDW

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Fresno CA Hamfest to have satellite talks 10/17
by w6zkh＠comcast.net 15 Oct '09

15 Oct '09

I noted when I looked at the flyer put out by the Fresno ARC that along with other speakers, etc., they are having a Satellite and LEO talk to be given by WA6WTF. Dont think I've ever worked him/her yet though. I will be attending, but just to observe and listen. I will have my portable gear with me, but AO-51 is out of question (too early AM) but may hit either SO-50 or AO-27 for at least one pass. This is from DM06 Grid. Later in day am headed for Madera for possible pass on AO-51 and that grid is DM07. Good Luck Patrick in your demo's. John W6ZKH DM06

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Tucson (AZ) hamfest - correction on the start time
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 15 Oct '09

15 Oct '09

Hi! A correction... the hamfest I will attend on Saturday in Tucson AZ will start at 0700 local (1400 UTC). Even with the later start, I plan on sticking to my schedule for working AO-51 at 1346 UTC from the hamfest site. The hamfest may not officially be open, but there will certainly be people around that will watch the demonstration at that time. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Tucson (AZ) hamfest on Saturday, 17 October
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 15 Oct '09

15 Oct '09

Hi! On Saturday (17 October), I will have an AMSAT table at the Old Pueblo Radio Club's annual hamfest in Tucson AZ. The hamfest is at the Kino Sports Complex, along Ajo Way east of I-10 and the Tucson Electric Park stadium. The hamfest starts around 0600 local time (1300 UTC), and should be done by noon. At my AMSAT table, I plan on doing demonstrations using 2 FM satellites (AO-51, SO-50) and a linear-transponder satellite (VO-52). This has been a successful way to show interested hams that a large station is not necessary to get started, either on FM or SSB. Subject to the availability of these satellites, WD9EWK will be on the following passes from the hamfest: AO-51: 1346 UTC SO-50: 1619 and 1759 UTC VO-52: 1537 and 1712 UTC I may be on the 1208 UTC AO-51 pass if I am up and about at that time, but probably not from the hamfest site. If you hear me on any of these passes, please feel free to give me a call. The hamfest is in grid DM42me, for those who may be interested in that. I will send QSL cards to all who work WD9EWK at the hamfest, in appreciation of your support of my demonstrations. After the hamfest, I do not plan on taking the direct route back to Phoenix. I may wander over to other grids in southern or southeastern Arizona before making the drive home. I do not know which grid or grids I will visit for those passes. I hope to be on the afternoon AO-27 and afternoon/evening AO-51 passes from somewhere - and somewhere could be DM31, DM32, DM41, DM51, DM52, DM53, or some combination of these grids. For the post-hamfest activity, you don't have to send me a QSL or SASE if you work me. Just e-mail me the QSO details, and I'll send out a QSL card if you are in the log. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Re: AMSAT Symposium News Posted to the Web
by G0MRF＠aol.com 15 Oct '09

15 Oct '09

Beware the troll. He speaks with zero knowledge but high opinions. "contribute or get out the way" In a message dated 14/10/2009 21:24:40 GMT Standard Time, orbitjet(a)hotmail.com writes: John. I was told by someone else that the problem was current use...but if ITAR is the problem, then it can be fixed. ITAR is a pain but it can be "dealt with" particularly in this case...where there is no dual use capability. As for AMSAT's ARISSsat transponder. Well we will see if it works. They are not exactly burning up the track record with success. We have had this argument and I am willing to sit back and see if it goes, but it is far to much project for the program. Most of the folks I know at JSC give it less then 20 percent chance of working...In fact it was a source of mirth at a recent BDAY party.

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Re: AMSAT Symposium News Posted to the Web
by WILLIAMS MICHAEL 14 Oct '09

14 Oct '09

Tim N3TL said: "I also don't share your view of?satellite operation using a handheld or otherwise portable station, which is less than positive. Again, I mean no disrespect - but I find very little challenge and even less satisfaction in making a satellite contact running 50-100 watts into?a pair of long, multi-element yagis being controlled for az/el by computers - and using a radio being computer controlled for Doppler.? Of course, many more satellite operators share views closer to yours than mine - or, at least, it seems that way." Point taken, but there are two ways to enter the satellite section of this hobby. 1. The linear satellite way (FO-29, AO7 and VO-52). This was the way I selected. My early goal was to operate AO-40, and the station was constructed for this AMSAT project. 2. The second way is via the FM satellites. Both ways are valid. It all depends which way a person came to make that first satellite contact. It's still a thrill either way. Respectively Mike (K9QHO) AMSAT 33589

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Re: AMSAT Symposium News Posted to the Web
by Mark VandeWettering 14 Oct '09

14 Oct '09

> The funding solution will go by an international funding campaign and by a fixed minimal contribution per amateur who want's to have an > HEO. I am member of a local marina and each new member should pay a one time Dredging Fee of 250$. The marina is open here from May 15 to > October 4 about 5 months. I can used a satellite 12 months am i willing to pay 250$ a year YES and could be more if a sound international > structure with well defined planning and objectives can demonstrate a serious will towards the next HEO. Well, it's nice that you have an amount in mind for how much you would pay. Frankly, I'd probably be willing to spend 4x as that much. It probably would take that level of funding to get purchase a launch. As far as I know, the terms of the bid that Arianspace quoted AMSAT-DL were never released, but we get hints of the it in presentations like: http://mstl.atl.calpoly.edu/~bklofas/Presentations/AMSATUK2009/3b_Gulzow-P3… which suggests that 20,000 euros per kilogram isn't absurd, and they'd be lucky to get a launch for half that price. This would yield a price for P3E of only (!) 1.7 million euros, or 2.5 million dollars U.S. AMSAT-DL didn't think such a launch was feasible, and claims that the costs were (in ttheir words) "one order of magnitude too expensive". As they say, "bitter" reality of their funding efforts is that the attractiveness of amateur radio has dropped significantly, and that funding a P3 satellite from amateur resources alone "seems not to work now and probably never again?". In light of this, AMSAT-DL has pursued tax money from their covernment to pursue a 20M euro effort to fund launches for P5A and P3E. I wish them luck, but in the current economic environment, as well as past experience, I think there is some reason for skepticism, or at least, no expectation for a quick resolution to this issue. > There is already a lot of dedicated peoples around the amateurs radio satellite business who are only making their own small things in > their small backyard. Why not regrouping their energies and money towards "ONLY ONE SINGLE" big project? In the amateur satellite world we > called that a HEO satellite as AO-40 and as AO-07 AO-10 AO-13 generation who where the first steps towards AO-40. I think the reason against such a strategy is quite simple, and it is absolutely personified in AO-40. Yes, AO-40 was a remarkable, amazing, revolutionary amateur satellite. But radio amateurs put all their eggs in one basket, and that basket had a hole in it, and all the eggs tumbled out, and now we are left not only with no eggs, but with an environment where people might (reasonably in fact) ask why they should put all their eggs in one basket again, particularly because these baskets have rocket motors filled with hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide inside. Even if we could fund an HEO launch, I still think it is a matter of debate as to whether launching these kinds of expensive, heavy satellites is a project which provides the greatest utility toward the amateur service. > Just to be clear my opinion is not against the collective effort and people works but against some of the objectives they carry. Volunteers > motivation should be the best interest of all not the few. I find this statement a bit disingenous. The simple truth is that satellites in HEO are usable by fewer, not more hams. If we really were trying to provide a satellite which benefitted most hams, it seems pursuing a strategy which minimizes their personal investment in ground stations is entirely reasonable. Despite your assertion that AO-51 is a mistake, I would counter that it's been enormously successful: a long-lived versatile satellite that provides interesting opportunities for people not just on VU but on L and S band. Bruce (I think it was Bruce) suggested that the cost ratio between a cubesat launch and an heo launch was around 125/1. To compare apples to apples, we'd have to compare the benefits of having 125 cubesats (perhaps carrying full V/U transponders like the ones designed by PE1RAH) versus one satellite in HEO. AMSAT's strategy is I think an entirely reasonable strategy. Cubesats are a reality: they will continue to be launched. As yet, they have not been of enormous utility to radio amateurs because they carry only the kind of radio payloads that they need to support their scientific objectives. But miniaturization has resulted in the possibility for a solar cell carrying cubesat to carry a full V/U transponder. The trick is getting these university and scientific projects to carry them for us into space, so we can make use of them when their scientific missions are over. We can do that by providing them with a tested radio module that integrates the functions they use as a standardized item. This allows them to concentrate on their mission and not have to design custom radio modules for their cubesat. This allows them to get to orbit cheaper and quicker. And, it puts hardware we can use in orbit. And here's the best part: we don't pay for it, they do (modulo our one time costs for developing the hardware in the first place, which is very minimal compared to the launch costs). We'd all like an HEO launch. But until you can figure out how to raise several million euros to accomplish the goal, it doesn't seem to be a worthwhile endeavor to complain about spending a few tens of thousands on this project. 73 Mark K6HX

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