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

DN00/01 October 17
by Mark Spencer 09 Oct '09

09 Oct '09

When I was an Air Force pilot, and the XYL would go on a trip, I'd hit as many bars and carouse as much as the law would allow (remember those days Leo?). What do I do now?..Grid-pedition! I'll be taking a trip to the middle-of-nowhere Nevada on October 17th to the boundary of grids DN00 and DN01 so you can cross them off your grid maps. Look for me on the AO27 pass around 2054Z. Give me a call, and give my 5 watts and ARROW a break. No QSL or SASE required, just a quick e-mail note to check my log and QSLs will be in the mail to you. 73, Mark Mark Spencer, WA8SME ARRL, the national association for Amateur RadioT Education and Technology Program Coordinator mspencer(a)arrl.org http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/ 530-495-9150

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Worldwide Linking
by Clint Bradford 09 Oct '09

09 Oct '09

An inquiry during my EchoLink presentation last night ... "Clint, we know the orbit of a specific satellite, we know its projected footprint, and we know its expected time over that footprint. Now if we had “X” amount of ham stations, RF equipped to talk with this satellite, and these hams were also equipped to communicate via VOIP EchoLink or IRLP and enough of these stations were lined up around the world within the orbital path, we would have continuous 24 hour, 7 day a week coverage around the world with this bird. "The EchoLink or IRLP stations would all be tied together via connection to a main conference server such as *SCARS*. This would mean that anyone worldwide could access the satellite day or night by transmitting and listening to the earth station that was in the footprint at that particular time. "I would see some things needing to be understood by the users, such as timing in regards to internet latency, repeater and or link delays, and the need to understand a pause would be necessary before transmitting, etc. .... " I have thought of this on a much smaller scale ... I welcome your comments. I do not want to completely discourage this gentleman from "thinking globally" (grin). Clint Bradford http://www.work-sat.com

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Cubesat RFI
by Jim White 09 Oct '09

09 Oct '09

The US Air Force Academy has released a request for information (RFI) on cubesat systems, subsystems and components. The AFA intends to release up to 4 cubesat size sensors from its Falconsat-6 spacecraft now in the design phase. I've put this RFI "Falconsat 6 Cubesat RFI.pdf" on my server at www.eyassat.com Log in as id = eyassatdocs pw = eyassatuser You will be placed in the folder where the RFI doc resides. The AFA invites all vendors who are making devices for cubesats to respond to the RFI. The response information is in the document. Jim Jim White Colorado Satellite Services, LLC jim(a)coloradosatellite.com wd0e(a)amsat.org

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Fw: [W1GHZ]Interest in a group buy of W1GHZ transverter boards and parts?
by WILLIAMS MICHAEL 09 Oct '09

09 Oct '09

This is somewhat satellite related, and I know there are members who like to home brew and may be interested in building something for L band. Read Microwavelenths in the October QST page 97. This will give you some background on what this project is about. Mike (K9QHO) AMSAT 33589 -------------START------------------------ Copy of posting announcing that the webpage has been opened below: Well, I have finally posted information about boards and part kits being offered along with a price breakdown for each item for a group purchase of W1GHZ transverters at: http://w8iss.no-ip.org The first page tells what I am 'planning' to offer and how its broken down. Then follow the link at the bottom of that page to the price list and ordering instructions. Be aware that I have seperated the boards and parts kits as I had some interest in just parts kits and boards alone. PLEASE oreder accordingly for each band you want to operate on. I wish to have all orders in by November 7th, 2009 so that I can TRY to have everything mailed BEFORE the Christmas mail rush. I have also requested that all purchases be done using a USPS money order so as to speed things up. I am not using Paypal as I am trying to keep the cost down. Thanks, James W8ISS

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Attn: FT-897D Owners & Brainiacs
by Randy 09 Oct '09

09 Oct '09

Thanks to few kind and patient people, things are Progressing in my world with HAM SAT COMM. My SAT PC 32 is set to uplink only with the one simplex rig.. And that worked ok .. Until .... Heres an interesting thing.. I turn the rig on .. I select my satellite in SAT PC I click on the "C" to start software control of The transmit freq ( unless key down, as we have all learned recently, although you can still MANUALLY adjust the Tx freq with the main dial when transmitting ) anyways.. It adjust itself according to the interval settings and works fine. The RX freq stays put...if I adjust the receive, the transmit changes, I expect that... Have had CW contacts that way. ( THANKS K9QHO) NOW FOR THE FUN.... A few seconds AFTER I TURN ON THE CLARIFIER, the RX FREQ starts updating again with the software AND It doesn't do it at the interval setup in the software, it just does it about every 1.5 - 2 seconds. Its consistant, and repeatable. If I turn the clarifier OFF, it stops. ANYONE?? SHOW OF HANDS?? LOL Software quirk? Rig QUIRK? COMBO? Has anyone seen the programmer lately? LOL Seriously , if I can use the clarifier without this happening, I think I can have CW QSO's on VO-52 really well with the simplex rig.. THANKS ALL IN ADVANCE Randy - N2CUA

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10m (mode A) preamp for sale!
by KG4ZLB 08 Oct '09

08 Oct '09

For all you AO-7 mode A aficionado's, I have a mast mounted, Mirage KP-2, 10m preamp for sale. The preamp is in used condition, the control box looks fine; comes complete with 13.8v power cord and instructions. Pictures available upon request. Shipped to your door (lower 48) for the amazingly reasonable price of $45 (Paypal ok) 73 David KG4ZLB

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W6FOG will be Marine Mobile starting 10/19
by David Wing 08 Oct '09

08 Oct '09

QST QST QST W6FOG asked me to post a note that he will be sailing from San Francisco to Puerto Vallarta departing on 10/19/09. Neil will be working many of the ocean grids on the way so be sure to listen for W6FOG if you want some west coast ocean grids. 73, David K6CDW

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Road trip to FN56, FN57, FN66, FN67, etc.
by Richard Crow 08 Oct '09

08 Oct '09

While visiting Massachusetts from October 15th to 20th, I plan to make a side-trip to Maine for the express purpose of working from some rare grid squares. The "big unknown" right now is if the Maine weather will permit this. "Permit" means no rain, no snow, and temperatures above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. As a result, there's a "Plan A" and a "Plan B". Plan A is to leave for northern Maine on Saturday October 17th, come back on Sunday the 18th, and work from FN53, FN56, FN57, FN66, and FN67. Otherwise, Plan B is to leave for west-central Maine on October 17th, come back on the 18th, and work from FN53, FN45, and FN55. For additional flexibility, if the weather looks better for Monday October 19th, either plan could shift to the 18th and 19th. Since I'm attempting so many grid squares in such a short time, I'll be looking at working just about every favorable satellite pass on all available satellites, AO-27, SO-50, AO-51, and VO-52. Just before leaving for Massachusetts, I'll get a more accurate picture of the upcoming Maine weather, decide what I'm going to do, and post a specific schedule. 73, Richard, N2SPI

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Where in the World is ND9M?
by John Papay 08 Oct '09

08 Oct '09

ND9M/VQ9JC sent an email advising that he is deployed on a Navy ship heading for Sumatra on a humanitarian mission with fresh water for the victims of the recent earthquakes there. His shipboard internet connection is not very good and he can only use it sparingly. Jim reports that he has been active with his FT897 (TX) and the FT817 (RX) using an Arrow antenna and a UPS battery for power. He operates from the Helicopter Pad on the ship. He says that there isn't much activity in the Indian Ocean but he is working VU's and E21's and handing out rare water grids! Sure wish we had a satellite with a footprint that could reach him! Jim has been active as VQ9JC on CW. We had a 17m qso a few weeks ago. There were spots for him on 20 and 30m on 2 October. He says that the QSL cards are coming in by the bushel. Jim is looking forward to returning to the States and activating more grids here in the Spring. You may recall his activity this summer from many eastern US grids including all three grids in the State of Delaware. He also handed out many counties on HF for those chasing them. We wish him a safe journey and look forward to hearing him on the birds. 73, John K8YSE

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Cute 1.7 Re-Entry
by John Heath 08 Oct '09

08 Oct '09

Re-Entry Cute 1.7 Object # 28941 Update Space Track have revised their re-entry prediction from October 10th to the 14th. 73 John G7HIA

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