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

Re: Future scheduling of SO-67
by Tony Langdon 23 Nov '09

23 Nov '09

At 11:34 PM 11/23/2009, Jan-Albert Koekemoer wrote: >In an effort to make this as painless as possible, I would like to request >comments on the possible use of regional coordinators, which I believe worked >quite well for SO-35. Such coordinators would then be responsible for >setting up schedules in advance for their specific regions, taking into >account obviously the pool of possible satellite passes, as well as local >events / fairs etc. We would then simply load the schedules on a weekly >basis. I was the VK/ZL coordinator for SO-35, and drew up the schedule for the region for over a year. If I recall correctly, I was the first of several regional coordinators. The arrangement worked well, and I formed a close working relationship with the SO-35 team. The work wasn't particularly difficult, and having local knowledge, I could tweak the passes to suit the needs of the local satellite community. I also helped the SO-35 team test different transponder configurations (some worked better than others), by offering feedback about how well the different configurations worked, using my setup of known performance. Based on my experience, I would recommend and encourage the use of regional coordinators. It's not a particularly difficult job, it takes the load off the satellite operators, and it provides a local point of contact for satellite users to request passes for special events, or to cover areas that were missed out. 73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com

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TNC wiring URL
by Bruce 23 Nov '09

23 Nov '09

This was sent to our local ham club reflector. I thought it would be of interest to a few satellite hams. Although it is a commercial site that sells the ready made cables, the pinouts are all there for those that want to build their own. 73...bruce Comprehensive list TNC to radio list. http://66.49.139.252/radio/TNC_%20Diag.htm

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Re: OSCAR-11 Heard!
by Pughkeithd＠cs.com 23 Nov '09

23 Nov '09

In a message dated 11/23/2009 8:34:58 AM Central Standard Time, kb2m(a)comcast.net writes: > Subj: [amsat-bb] Re: OSCAR-11 Heard! > Date:11/23/2009 8:34:58 AM Central Standard Time > From:[email protected] > To:[email protected], clive(a)g3cwv.co.uk, amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Received from Internet: > > > > I'm going to try and collect some telemetry here in FM29 next pass, at > 14:50z. I still have my WinPack UO-11 config file, it is loaded up and my > DSP2232 is streaming 1200 baud ASCII, searching for a signal. Just like > old > times! I will report back here, and send the telemetry file(if any) to > Clive... > > 73 Jeff kb2m > > > -----Original Message----- > From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of Alan Cresswell > Sent: Monday, November 23, 2009 4:30 AM > To: clive(a)g3cwv.co.uk; amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: OSCAR-11 Heard! > > Hi > > Another very strong UO-11 pass here this evening. (0909 to 0922 utc, 60 > deg) The signal became noisy with rapid fading just after UO-11 went into > eclipse at around 0919 but signals continued but gradually became weaker > and > the fades deeper until I lost the signal in the noise about 1 minute > before > LOS. I recorded the pass. > > 73 > Alan > ZL2BX > > -----Original Message----- > From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of Clive Wallis > Sent: Sunday, 22 November 2009 17:41 > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] OSCAR-11 Heard! > > Hi, > > I have received two reports from Keith N4ZQ (EL88ob) that he has heard > UO-11 on 19 November at 13:33 - 13:43, and on 22 November at 13:02 UTC. > > He has sent me a WAV file of the second pass. Unfortunately, it's a > very low elevation pass, and probably will be difficult to decode, as it > contains a lot of noise. However it's definitely UO-11. > > I'll be interested in receiving any other reports. The frequency is > 145.826 MHz. Mode is FM. Further details are on my OLD website > www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew There is an audio clip to help identify > the satellite. > > Please e-mail me via the AMSAT reflector, or post to this bulletin board. > > 73 Clive G3CWV > > Hitchin, North Hertfordshire, UK > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > Hi! I'll add my "two cents worth." I heard the old familiar "buzz" loud and clear on a Yaesu FT-530 HT and a hand held three element Yagi on the 1453 UTC pass over Fort Worth, TX, this morning. It was certainly good to hear the old familiar "buzz" and it reached full scale on the FT-530 during a good part of the pass. 73 - Keith, W5IU

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OSCAR-11 Heard!
by Clive Wallis 23 Nov '09

23 Nov '09

Hi, I have received two reports from Keith N4ZQ (EL88ob) that he has heard UO-11 on 19 November at 13:33 - 13:43, and on 22 November at 13:02 UTC. He has sent me a WAV file of the second pass. Unfortunately, it's a very low elevation pass, and probably will be difficult to decode, as it contains a lot of noise. However it's definitely UO-11. I'll be interested in receiving any other reports. The frequency is 145.826 MHz. Mode is FM. Further details are on my OLD website www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew There is an audio clip to help identify the satellite. Please e-mail me via the AMSAT reflector, or post to this bulletin board. 73 Clive G3CWV Hitchin, North Hertfordshire, UK

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Future scheduling of SO-67
by Jan-Albert Koekemoer 23 Nov '09

23 Nov '09

Hello Given that the SA-AMSAT payload on SO-67 is shared with the satellite back-up TT&C transponder, there is unfortunately not a way to keep the payload switched on permanently, or even semi-permanently. For the lifetime of the satellite we will therefore have to do with active scheduling. In an effort to make this as painless as possible, I would like to request comments on the possible use of regional coordinators, which I believe worked quite well for SO-35. Such coordinators would then be responsible for setting up schedules in advance for their specific regions, taking into account obviously the pool of possible satellite passes, as well as local events / fairs etc. We would then simply load the schedules on a weekly basis. Up 'till now I have mainly focused on Europe, RSA, South America, North America / Canada, Japan and Australia / NZ. I would like to invite suggestions for use of the payload over other regions as well. This adds to the previous point. Regarding possible activation at night: this is entirely possible, but would have to be planned / managed more actively, given the power limitations in eclipse. We have yet to experiment with this and see what the available capacity would be. Please mail responses to this bulletin board, or if you prefer, to my work address: jak "at" sunspace "dot" co "dot" za Best regards Jan-Albert (ZR1JAK) E-mail Disclaimer http://www.sunspace.co.za/emaildisclaimer.htm

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Help with Yaesu g5500
by wolthui3＠msu.edu 23 Nov '09

23 Nov '09

I bought a used Yaesu g5500 and it has a strange problem. The AZ works perfect, but when I push the EL button it seems to work (ie. Move up or down) about 1 out of 4 tries. I can regularly duplicate the issue where I can't get EL to change. If I wait 30mins and come back then it sometimes works right away. The rotor itself was into Yaesu and they said it was 100% perfectly fine. I have tried swapping the AZ/EL cables around and no difference. It has to be a controller issue I think. Any ideas before I box it up and ship it to Yaesu to check? When it works, it works fine and typically for 5-10mins straight, but then suddenly it will not change again. Mike kb8zgl

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Re: ISS Cross-band Repeater
by Clint Bradford 23 Nov '09

23 Nov '09

Thanks for the input. Sound like I'd be OK to publish ... ---------------------------------------------------------- The cross-band repeater aboard the ISS is, when operational, primarily in U/V mode. Uplink - 437.800 Downlink - 145.800 The site below shows current sat status, and, for the ISS, has links to both the AMSAT ARISS site and the ISS Fan Club site - http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/status.php --------------------------------------------------------- Clint

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ISS Cross-band Repeater
by Clint Bradford 22 Nov '09

22 Nov '09

The AMSAT status page for the ISS indicates ... Mode U/V (B) FM Voice Repeater (Worldwide): Operational Uplink: 437.8000 MHz FM Downlink 145.8000 MHz FM Mode V/U (J) FM Voice Repeater (Worldwide): Operational Uplink: 145.8000 MHz FM Downlink 437.8000 MHz FM Are there two independent cross-band repeaters on board? Confusingly yours, Clint Bradford

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SO-67 schedule: 21/22 Nov 2009
by Wayne Estes 22 Nov '09

22 Nov '09

ZR1JAK wrote: 21 Nov 00:19 Japan 00:36 Australia 03:33 India 06:55 RSA 09:45 Europe 11:35 Brazil 13:07 Brazil 14:30 Canada/USA 16:05 Canada/USA 17:38 Canada/USA 21:11 New Zealand 23:57 Japan 22 Nov 00:14 Australia 06:34 RSA 07:49 Europe 08:10 RSA 11:13 Brazil 12:46 Brazil 14:10 Canada/USA 15:43 Canada/USA 17:17 Canada/USA W9AE replies: I notice that all the passes are scheduled during the local mornings, and none of the passes are scheduled during local evenings. Is that because the satellite is in eclipse in the evening? Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, Cn83ik

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adding UX-910 to radio
by Jack Barbera 22 Nov '09

22 Nov '09

I've been thinking about adding the 1200 MHz band unit to my 910 radio. My dilemma is foremost that will this band be used on any of the new satellites? The rumor is that the 910 radio may be discontinued. The question I have is whether to quickly obtain the module in the event that this is also discontinued. I would really appreciate any thoughts on what action I should take. I do like ICOM products but find it difficult to get information about this type of situation. Thanks for any input. Jack WA1ZDV

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