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

Rotators
by Clint Bradford 04 Oct '09

04 Oct '09

Besides the Yaesu G-5500 and its GS-232A interface, what other rotator/ computer controllers are reliable performers? I am rotator-knowledge-clueless ... I only have expeience with the '5500. Clint, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com

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Symposium Schedules are on the AMSAT web site
by Gould Smith 04 Oct '09

04 Oct '09

The overall Symposium Schedule as well as the presentation schedule are now on the AMSAT web site. http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/2009/index.php Thanks to Frank, KA3HDO and Dan, N8FGV Looking forward to seein gany of you at BWI later this week, Gould, WA4SXM

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Re: Portable Tracking
by Clint Bradford 04 Oct '09

04 Oct '09

>> ... Looks like the cheap way to go is an old Palm and the high end would be the a Netbook of some type or iphone ... I missed the earlier posts on this thread. For Palm, the Palm TX model has a beautiful screen. And PocketSat+ works on it. And if you like the iPhone but don;t want the phone (grin), don't overlook the iPod touch models! And don't forget the free resources on the 'Net that you can print out ahead of time for your trip. At AMSAT.org you can plug in the vacation's grid squares, and print out the next up-to-50 pass predictions of your selected bird. Clint Bradford http://www.work-sat.com

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GENSO First Public Release
by Alan VE4YZ 04 Oct '09

04 Oct '09

The first public release was scheduled for September 2009 Search GENSO.ORG AMSAT UK and Google and there is no recent status changes nor has it been release. Anyone close to this project with an update for us? 73, Alan VE4YZ EN19kv AMSAT LM 2352 http://www.wincube.ca <http://www.wincube.ca/>

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Arrow Antennas - Horrible Performers
by Clint Bradford 04 Oct '09

04 Oct '09

>> ... from what I have read, a 2.65db loss of signal using Arrow's crappy duplexer ... Unless an Arrow Antenna performance report beings with, "My Motorola test equipment - certified within the last year - indicates ... [such- and-such performance characteristics] ... " - this that post is worthless to me. And should be worthless to anyone demanding the best-available information. And such mis-information shouldn't be passed on to anyone else. And messagegroup moderators should delete such undocumented tripe. Needless to say, I haven't read much of the recent "Arrow Performance" threads. Just aren't worth my time. Just my opinion, of course. I have been wrong. I couldn't ask for - nor imagine - better performance from my Arrow Antennas than what I am enjoying now. They prove themselves pass after pass, demo after demo .... Clint Bradford West coast curmudgeon http://www.work-sat.com

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Re: Solar Power - Solar Decathlon in Washington DC, and John Mather lecture Thursday night.
by Daniel Schultz 04 Oct '09

04 Oct '09

If you are coming to the Amsat symposium in Baltimore next weekend, and if you are interested in solar power, the US Department of Energy "Solar Decathlon" will be open to the public on the Washington DC Mall starting Friday October 9 and running until the 18th. If you are free on Sunday afternoon you might wish to stop by there on your way home. See http://www.solardecathlon.org Also, NASA Goddard's John Mather, winner of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on the Cosmic Microwave Background with the COBE and WMAP satellites, will be speaking at the Koshland Science Museum in downtown Washington DC on Thursday evening, see http://www.koshland-science-museum.org/events/upcomingevent.jsp?id=362 Dan Schultz N8FGV

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Sunday Morning AO-51 Pass
by Joel Black 04 Oct '09

04 Oct '09

I finally have my rotor and coax connected into the shack and just listening right now. Heard W7JPI this morning on AO-51, sounded great. 73, Joel, W4JBB No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.14.3/2412 - Release Date: 10/03/09 18:34:00

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Re: Latest Keps - Newest Birds
by Randy 04 Oct '09

04 Oct '09

Looking for The last several new ones .. Especially BEESAT .. Thanks .. Has Sumba been commissioned yet? Randy - N2CUA .. Slowly getting SAT PC32 to work for me .. Had my first AO-07 contact today .. :) -----Original Message----- From: Randy [mailto:RSwart1@twcny.rr.com] Sent: Saturday, October 03, 2009 11:04 PM To: 'amsat-bb(a)amsat.org' Subject: Latest Keps - Newest Birds Can someone email them to me? Thanks.. Randy - N2CUA

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Portable Tracking
by joe barkley 04 Oct '09

04 Oct '09

Hi All, I am looking for opinions and idea on a PDA or device and software or application I can take with me to show the satellite pass predictions when I travel. Thanks Joe KI4TZ

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Arrow Diplexer loss + Arrow v Elk
by KI6RRQ 04 Oct '09

04 Oct '09

Jeff, you said; "The antenna and coax remain the same, the difference, the diplexer." My Arrow diplexer has three factory fixed wires coming out of it, one for the radio and two that go to BNC connectors on the Arrow antenna. So, you cannot say; the coax remains the same! The coax on your diplexer or the connections to it, can be at fault as well. These coax wires and how well they are connected to the Arrow diplexer, are another variable that you have not considered in your statement because they are removed from the mix when using the Elk, unless you are trying to use the Arrow diplexer on the Elk Log Periodic antenna, Which I doubt because I am assuming you used the same one radio configuration on the Elk as you did the Arrow with your diplexer but if you are that could be presenting some other variables to produce the results your experiencing. You have to use different cables for your Comet Duplexer on the Arrow, from the Comet, to the antenna connection. Although, I agree that the Arrow seems to pick up the signal a little later then my Elk antenna, both antennas work pretty darn good, IMO. I like them both and recommend them both. I do not have a technical background so my comments here, are all anecdotal in nature but the other thing I have noticed between the two antennas, is that when I make terrestrial contacts with them, the Elk appears to radiate almost as well toward the back, as toward the front. I have been told this is called front to back ratio. If I point north, a guy from the south calls back and I tell him, wow I am pointed north, let me turn and point it toward you.......any better.... And usually there is little if any improvement, while on the Elk and what blows my mind is, there is also a fair bit of response from people even 90 degrees from the business end of the Elk. I have tried the same with the Arrow and gotten much different reports. This is only a general statement; I think the Arrow has a better front to back ratio, more energy going out the front end but I know there are other variables such as; hand held or up on the tripod I use to hold them each up (at times) and perhaps the ground under me, or the moisture in the ground during the different attempts, etc. (4-5' above the ground on tripod and me not always right behind it, so plenty of variables but in general, that is my experience in the field) Nevertheless, I have mentioned this to several on the board who have the Elk's and no one has responded that they have tested there's in this regard, so take this with a grain of salt for now. To others, I would love to hear your experience in this regard. I have asked a capable HAM friend to help me figure this out, properly, so one day I will have more then anecdotal info. I think both antennas are very well built and work well for satellite and emergency communications! I have often pulled one of them out, with success, when band conditions would not allow an Omni to get the job done on my VX-7R. I found the Elk a little cheaper to buy unless you do not purchase the Arrow diplexer. For others I will point out that, you can use the Arrow with two radios without a duplexer, with same two radio configuration, you will need a duplexer for the Elk and of course the reverse is true if you are using one radio for dual band work, as I do, the Arrow will require a duplexer and the Elk will not. Also as many of you know the Arrow diplexer is only rated for 10 watts but without it both antennas will handle much more. 73 de Rich KI6RRQ Message: 15 Date: Fri, 2 Oct 2009 23:26:38 -0700 From: "Jeff Yanko" <wb3jfs(a)cox.net> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Arrow antenna reconfiguration results - UPDATE To: "Gary \"Joe\" Mayfield" <gary_mayfield(a)hotmail.com>, "'Charles Suprin'" <hamaa1vs(a)gmail.com> Could very well be. 73, Jeff WB3JFS ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gary "Joe" Mayfield" <gary_mayfield(a)hotmail.com> To: "'Jeff Yanko'" <wb3jfs(a)cox.net>; "'Charles Suprin'" <hamaa1vs(a)gmail.com> Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Re: Arrow antenna reconfiguration results - UPDATE > We are missing the easy answer. He had diplexer that was off spec. It > happens. > > 73, > Joe kk0sd > > -----Original Message----- > From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)AMSAT.Org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@AMSAT.Org] On > Behalf Of Jeff Yanko > Sent: Thursday, October 01, 2009 4:28 PM > To: Charles Suprin > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Arrow antenna reconfiguration results - UPDATE > > Hi Charles and the group, > > FB on the numbers. Interesting to say the least and thanks for taking the > time to look further into this topic. > > Questions? I have a few after looking at these numbers and performing > more > observations. > > First, are you testing just the diplexer and not the diplexer and the > antenna combined? This could result in an overall number and not just the > diplexer alone. How could there be a large discrepency between > preliminary > reports, 2.65dB and .5dB now. Could be equipment calibration, human > error, > etc. from previously tested, or attempted testing of the device. I don't > believe any improvements have been made to the Arrow diplexer, but who > knows? > > Second, I switched back to the Arrow diplexer and made another comparison > with the Comet diplexer. Again, no comparison, the Comet outperformed. > Why > would this happen if the two are pretty close to one another in numbers. > The Comet has .25db loss at VHF and .26 at UHF. > > Third, with the Arrow diplexer I wouldn't begin to receive the birds until > almost 3 minutes after AOS, with the Comet diplexer a minute to 1.5 > minutes > after AOS. Yes, watch calibrated to WWV and multiple times of acquiring > the > birds. I've tried both setups with the HT and D710 and they both show the > same results respectively, Arrow diplexer vs. Comet diplexer. The antenna > and coax remain the same, the difference, the diplexer. May not be test > lab > quality but something is proving itself. What is it? > > Finally, is it just my Arrow diplexer? Doesn't appear to be shorted or > any > defects to it. Actually looks great and assembled very well. I've > encountered others saying the same thing. However, a very noticable > difference to the overall performance. > > > 73, > > Jeff WB3JFS >

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