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

Re: Hopefully - Some ITAR Clarifications.
by Tony Langdon 29 Oct '09

29 Oct '09

At 08:37 AM 10/27/2009, Samudra Haque wrote: >Yes, I usually take care to divide my correspondence amongst the >particular groups I am working with, and this is also the basis in >which I recently proposed moving to (a) moderated forum (such as >phpBB) or (b) sub-dividing the amsat-bb list into amsat-engineering If AMSAT goes to a forum, I'm out of here, I can't cope with the volume of messages on a forum, much easier in email. Email lists can be moderated too, but the separation might be a good way to simplify ITAR compliance. 73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com

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using a microsat as a potential high altitude VHF reflector
by Samudra Haque 29 Oct '09

29 Oct '09

Hi all, I read with interest an article on the web "ECHO - America's First Communications Satellite" By John R. Pierce which is available here: http://www.smecc.org/john_pierce___echoredo.htm I know ham radio operators love using their hand helds to communicate using active transponders or active repeaters in space... no issue with that. were there any ham radio projects (either through amsat-na or abroad) that implemented a passive reflector on an orbital vehicle like Project Echo I quote from http://www.satmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=490218137 The Echo-1 Balloon Satellite as it sits, fully inflated, at a Navy hangar in Weeksville, North Carolina. The spacecraft measured 100 feet across when deployed, and was nicknamed a ‘satelloon’ by those involved in the project. The mylar film balloon acted as a passive communications reflector for transcontinental and intercontinental telephone (voice), radio and television signals. Echo 1 re-entered the atmosphere May 24, 1968. What strikes me is the implications of a large large very large antenna (reflector), if only it could be reflective on one side of the sphere only .... (any ideas?) The Echo 2 was a 135-foot rigidized inflatable balloon satellite. The satellite is shown undergoing tensile stress test in a dirigible hanger at Weekesville. The satellite, 50 times more rigidized than Echo I. When folded, the satellite is packed into the 41-inch diameter canister shown in the foreground. Did early amsat folks consider duplicating / adding to any of these projects or launch their own 'satelloon' that did not carry an active RF payload ? Could we outfit one of our future microsats to provide a reflector to aid in Earth-LEO DXing like meteor-scatter ? 73 de Samudra, N3RDX

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Centerfire Yagi antennas
by Michael Tondee 29 Oct '09

29 Oct '09

Anyone had any experience with these? http://www.centerfireantenna.com/vhf2myagi.html They look to be a good buy and I was thinking of maybe getting one for LEO use. 73, Michael, W4HIJ

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Survey: Top 250 grids
by Jeff Yanko 28 Oct '09

28 Oct '09

Hi all! After recently working a number of rare grids activated by our fellow satellite ops, (again THANK YOU!!) I've been looking over the grid map and wondered what grids are most needed. I, like most, have grids that others may dream of working and confirming and vice versa. Then, there are those grids that are so common, most everybody has worked and confirmed them. Since there are no HEO's and only the FM birds with a couple of linear birds, this survey will be focused on the North American area. I am undertaking a task to get a better reading on what grids are "outstanding" in need of activation. I am looking at obtaining the top 25 grids from the predominately 10 grid fields covering the U.S., Canada and Mexico, for the total of 250 grids. Yes, most of these grids will be in the U.S., however, I'm sure there will be some mention of VE and XE grids as well. What I would like everybody to do is take some time and look at your grid map and write down 25 grids from each of the grid fields that cover the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Those grid fields are: CN, DN, EN, FN, CM, DM, EM, FM, DL, EL. If you don't need at least 25 grids from a particular grid field, no problem, just enter those you still need. Example. Let's say you only need three grids from DM, they are DM74, 75, 76. Just enter those three. To make things simple and easy I will give an example of how the data can be entered and e-mailed to me. Here is an example. CN 79, 82, 93, 95, 99 DN 02, 03, 07, 13, 15, 17, 19, 22, 24, 25, 34, 37, 38 As you can see, it's relatively easy, and very easy if you've kept up on your grid map. :) A couple of notices. 1. Please, do not send any "water grids" since any operation from them is sporadic and most cases, impracticle to activate for most of us. 2. Please send your data to me via e-mail, attaching it to this e-mail will be fine. The cutoff date is November 14, 2009. This will give all plenty of time to look over their maps and data. Questions, comments or just sending the data, please send an e-mail. Looking forward to receiving your replies! 73, Jeff WB3JFS Las Vegas, NV DM26

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Re: FS item (Arrow)
by Mark L. Hammond 28 Oct '09

28 Oct '09

The PCR-1000 and the UT-10 L-band module have been sold. The Arrow antenna is still available! Keep in mind the current new/retail price for this antenna is $139 (plus shipping). That makes this one "better than new" ;-) 1) Arrow II Antenna 146/437-10WBP Satellite version with built-in diplexer and split boom. Condition: nearly new, only assembled about 5 times. Elements/boom neatly numbered via label-maker tape. $100 + shipping/insurance. 73, Mark N8MH >>Date: Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:51:50 -0400 >>Delivered-To: marklhammond(a)gmail.com >>Subject: FS items (Arrow, PCR-1000, 1.2 GHz module for TS-790). >>From: "Mark L. Hammond" <marklhammond(a)gmail.com> >>To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >> >>Hello AMSAT-BB, >> >>I need to pursue a tower/rotor/antenna project. Therefore, I am >>selling some items in the shack to help fund the project. The prices >>are "fair" and therefore "firm". I'm giving the BB a shot before I >>take these to a local hamfest or eBay. Prices do not include >>shipping/insurance. >> >> >> >>SOLD 2) Icom PCR-1000 receiver. Includes receiver, serial cable, and >>power supply. Condition: few minor scuffs/scratches, perfect working >>condition. (The variable bandwidth permits reception of 38k4 packet >>signals!) $250 + shipping/insurance. >> >>SOLD 3) UT-10 1.2 GHz L-band module for Kenwood TS-790. This is a >>plug-n-play module, about a 5-10 min. no-tuning install. Includes >>screws. Condition: Perfect working order, low transmit time, full >>10W output. Price: $475 + shipping/insurance. >> >>Please contact me directly offlist at: marklhammond AT gmail DOT com >> Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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W6FOG Schedule
by w6zkh＠comcast.net 28 Oct '09

28 Oct '09

Talk to Neal, W6FOG on the 2225z pass of AO-27, and he advised me he will be leaving San Francisco Bay on Friday, Oct 30th, hoping for 4 good days for a sail to La Paz, Mexico. So, starting that date, be on the lookout for him out in the water. John W6ZKH

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Sat status update
by Andrew Rich 28 Oct '09

28 Oct '09

Hello I have tidied things up a bit and added a graph for ISS Please let me know if you would like to see a satellite added http://vk4tec.no-ip.org/sat_status/ Andrew VK4TEC

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AO-51 S band will be off 2235-2250 10/28
by Andrew Glasbrenner 28 Oct '09

28 Oct '09

AO-51 S band will be off 2235-2250 10/28 for some telemetry collection on 435.150. 73, Drew KO4MA

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Re: Portable satellite terminals for disaster relief
by Daniel Schultz 28 Oct '09

28 Oct '09

JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM, wrote: >I guess you're observing that AMSAT's GEO proposal has to fit into the GEO satellite commodity market. Should Amsat be working with NetHope to design a better terminal? How do we work with these guys to convince them that they should be using a ham satellite instead of a commercial service? One big advantage of the commercial service is that it exists now. How do we get the money from funding agencies, either government, corporate, or non-profit? Where does Amsat fit in to this world? Have they even heard of us, our history and our capabilities? >I've maintained that a GEO satellite is best suited to link widely deployed sectors of the Incident Command System. I think most government-based emergency authorities are not going to be interested in building or funding a system that they do not design and control. They consider amateur radio to be a last-ditch thing that they would rather not count on, they would rather have an in-house system that fits in to their chain of command and shows their funding authorities that they are fully on top of emergency communications and don't need to rely on amateur volunteers coming forward in time of need. A non-governmental organization like NetHope might be more receptive to our proposals. We need to think hard and come up with new ideas. Dan Schultz N8FGV

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Cute competition winners
by John Heath 28 Oct '09

28 Oct '09

Cute Re-entry Competition Winners Declared It seems that when a satellites, reache an altitude as low as about 170km they will be down very quickly. According to Space Track elements, and InstanTrak tracking software Cute was still orbiting when the perigee was below 150 Km. My theory is that cubesats stay in orbit longer because they have a large mass relative to their very small cross section and so experience far drag than bulkier objects. Using that idea I ran the last element set for several orbits and made an arbitrary decision that re-entry probably took place at a perigee of 130Km or so thus putting re-entry pretty much dead centre between two competition entries. I therefore declare Ib OZ1MY and David G0MRF as joint winners !!! On receipt of current postal addresses I will mail out a patch kit to each of the lucky winners. Thanks to Ib, David and everyone else who took part, it was fun to plot the curves and I learned a bit about atmospheric density and solar flux. 73 John G7HIA PS IPS Radio and Space Services, have a useful paper on satellite orbital decay calculations. Thanks to Ken GW1FKY for sending me a copy.

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