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

Re: Icom 910H vs Kenwood TS2000
by Mark L. Hammond 30 Nov '09

30 Nov '09

Hi Tom, I own a TS-2000X and thanks to the AMSAT Symposium :) an IC-910. I do more digital than voice, so my perspective is biased in that direction. Here are some of my thoughts: The CAT control of the TS-2000X is amazing. All menu options are available remotely via CAT. No so with the 910. The TS-2000X allows adjustments of modem/TNC levels in/out of the rig, 910 does not. The TS-2000X has built-in TXCO and DSP, 910 does not (yes, they are expen$ive options). The TS-2000X lets you work mode A, 910 does not. The TS-2000X gives me the full rated power output on both 2M and 70cm, the 910 does not (same antennas, feedlines, etc.)---does anybody have the solution to this? Even with flat SWR the 910 cuts back output to about 70-75W on 2M and 40-50W on 70cm!! Bummer The 910 receiver is much better on 2M than my TS-2000X, which is actually pretty deaf on 2M(even after doing the "resistor mod" to improve receive). The 910 does not have the AO-27/SO-50 birdy, while the TS-2000X does--this is my single biggest disappointment with this radio!!!! Tuning the TS-2000X "off frequency" by 5-7kHz above and below the real frequency helps a bit, but it's still a pain. In spite of the short comings of the TS-2000X, I don't think I'd trade it even up for an IC-910H with a the 1.2 gig module installed... 73, Mark N8MH > Date: Mon, 30 Nov 2009 06:02:24 -0700 > From: "Tom" <k0tw(a)cox.net> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Icom 910H vs Kenwood TS2000 > To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Message-ID: <A3C3147B82D84BB49AE0E4EB26ADF21A@K0TWHOME> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > I plan to purchase a new home transceiver in the next few months and I've > narrowed my choices between a 910H and a TS2000. Thinking only of satellite > operation (ignoring the HF capability of the TS2000), is there a general > preference in the Amsat community of one over the other? Reasons? > > Thanks for your opinions. > Tom, K?TW

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XW-1 launch date?
by Masahiro Arai 30 Nov '09

30 Nov '09

ANS-333 shows XW-1 expected launch date is middle December. I heard XW-1 will launch with HJ-1C by CZ-C2 launcher. If this is true, NASA Space Calender http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/calendar/calendar.html shows its launch date is March 2010. When will XW-1 launch?? Masa JN1GKZ Tokyo Japan

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Re: Satellite QSO distance record attempt
by Kevin Groth 30 Nov '09

30 Nov '09

So far, my record is 3019 miles on AO51. I caught KL4E, Craig, up in Alaska. My furthest contact south is 2484 miles to YV5DSL, Jose, in Caracas, Venezuela. I work days so I can't usually get on in the mornings during the week but later in the evenings around 10pm-1am CST, I usually have SO50 all to myself or maybe one other station- which is absolutely no good at all, but I always try to CQ South America in hopes of going further south. This morning, I had a scheduled contact with NH7WN, Robert, in Honolulu- which would have been a 3753.190 mile contact. He was on an HT and an Arrow standing in 40 mph winds and rain at 4:40am his time!! Sawson, KG6NUB, set everything up and did a great job of coordinating the attempted QSO. Thanks Sawson! Apparently we just missed the QSO. Robert heard me but I did not hear him. I believe I waited just a moment too long to transmit and lost the window. Seconds counted there! I also appreciate the courtesy of VE6AB, Jerry, and K6CDW, David, for clearing during the attempt. All in all, it was a great attempt and we plan on trying again as soon as possible. Kevin N9EME -----Original Message----- From: Daniel Nick Kucij [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, November 30, 2009 9:18 AM To: hislens(a)gmail.com Subject: [amsat-bb] Satellite QSO distance records Hi Kevin, I was surprised your post did not attract more discussion than it did, as it seems we all love the DX. I've also searched online before and could not find anything except for the AO-7 references. I've never found the actual footprint dimensions for AO-51/AO-27 either. This summer while on the coast of Maine, I tried some trans-atlantic DX on AO-51 and AO-27 for the first time. I was using a handheld and homebrew yagi (2up, 5down) pictured on my QRZ page. To my amazement, I worked the Canary Is. and Spain on my first try from the top of Cadillac Mt. in Acadia National Park.. Since returning home to Vermont, I've kept at it, sometimes using a small amp and/or preamp. I've been quite successful with confirmed contacts from the Azores, Canary Is, Spain, England, Ireland, Scotland, and Iceland. All of these have been on LEO FM birds ay DX in the +/- 3000 mile range. Some of them were made completely barefoot on the HTs, some were two way HT with no amp either side! I've heard Wales, but he didn't hear me. My best DX QSO on AO-27 is England at 3203 Miles (5155 Km). My best DX contact on AO-51 is the Canary Is at 3339 miles (5374 km) It's always a thrill to do it even when I work the same station over again. My best North American continental DX is Inuvik, NWT at 2674 miles on AO-51. I see you have a great antenna set-up. How far south have you been able to work with it? 73 Nick KB1RVT

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New member and a question
by Jon Knodel 30 Nov '09

30 Nov '09

Hello, I'm new to this group and have just started working some of the 'easy' satellites. I've already made some great contacts and received help from the more experienced satellite operators. Unfortunately, I don't think I got the call or grid correct of the very first satellite contact I made and would like to try to find out who it was for sure. The contact was on AO-51 at about 0035 UTC Nov 28, 2009. I thought the other station's call was KG6CMU in Grid CM86. I really don't think I got the call or grid correct. Can anyone confirm this contact with N7XW in CN76? I'd certainly appreciate it. Since this first contact, I now record my QSO's so that I get the information correct (I'm operating with a handheld and portable yagi). Thanks for the help. 73, N7XW

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Auto-Tune
by RFI-EMI-GUY 30 Nov '09

30 Nov '09

I have been having a debate with my son about the overuse of Auto-Tune in music. Personally, I find it irritating. Then it occurred to me that I had proposed on this BB a long time ago that it would be nifty to have a DSP (Like Timewave DSP-599) that would correct for doppler. Has anyone tried Auto-Tune to correct doppler on a linear transponder? -- Joe Leikhim K4SAT "The RFI-EMI-GUY"© "Use only Genuine Interocitor Parts" Tom Servo ;-P

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Re: Icom 910H vs. Kenwood TS2000
by Mike McConnell 30 Nov '09

30 Nov '09

I own them both and love them both. I discovered the birdies in the TS2000 and that was real disappointment. For sat use, I would go with the 910 if you can. Mike McConnell W0PD Horizon City, TX Mike McConnell, Ph.D. W0PD w0pd(a)elp.rr.com AMSAT #36792 ARRL#0001168388

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Yubileiniy-2
by Trevor . 30 Nov '09

30 Nov '09

Can't remember if this link has been posted before http://www.iss-reshetnev.com/?cid=news&nid=136 It's concerning Yubileiniy-2 which is slated for a December 28 launch into a 1400 km orbit. It mentions Aerospace Vehicle Laboratory ROSTO providing the radio system, didn't they also do RS-15 ? The first Yubileiniy used 435 MHz. 73 Trevor M5AKA

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New member and a question
by n8bbq＠roadrunner.com 30 Nov '09

30 Nov '09

Jon, Welcome! A quick check of QRZ.com shows a listing for KG6CMU in grid CM87. Perhaps you got the call right? http://www.qrz.com/ '73 de Ed - N8BBQ Subject: [amsat-bb] New member and a question From: Jon Knodel <jknodel@xxxxxxx> Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:32:34 -0800 Hello, I'm new to this group and have just started working some of the 'easy' satellites. I've already made some great contacts and received help from the more experienced satellite operators. Unfortunately, I don't think I got the call or grid correct of the very first satellite contact I made and would like to try to find out who it was for sure. The contact was on AO-51 at about 0035 UTC Nov 28, 2009. I thought the other station's call was KG6CMU in Grid CM86. I really don't think I got the call or grid correct. Can anyone confirm this contact with N7XW in CN76? I'd certainly appreciate it. Since this first contact, I now record my QSO's so that I get the information correct (I'm operating with a handheld and portable yagi). Thanks for the help. 73, N7XW

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IC-32A/Arrow antenna with duplexer
by Mike 29 Nov '09

29 Nov '09

IC-32A/battery/desk charger/HM-54 speaker mike/antenna/manual/Arrow II antenna with duplexer. $300.00 firm and includes shipping

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Stand alone real time tracker
by William Leijenaar 29 Nov '09

29 Nov '09

Hi AMSATs, For some longer time I have been looking for a way to get a stand-alone real-time satellite tracking system, without the use of a dual-core, GHz speed power consuming computer :o) To my suprise I didn't found much, only one design called trakbox which can be found E.g at the following tapr website: http://www.tapr.org/kits_trakbox.html Unfortunatly it is not available anymore, and the mean reason I guess is the outdated components. I found out that the design originates from JAMSAT. Maybe someone has data (schematic, PCB layout, source code) of this design ? I wonder with todays highly integrated microcontrollers if there is some modern kind of real-time-tracker available ? I am looking for a system that works just seconds after switching on the power supply and not something that first has to boat 15min and needs a mouse to work. 73, PE1RAH William Leijenaar www.leijenaarelectronics.nl --- Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

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