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

Successful G-5500 AZ repair
by Mark L. Hammond 06 Dec '09

06 Dec '09

Hi All, In recent weeks I asked about the AZ resistor pot for my G-5500. The unit is 9 years old. The observation was a "bad spot" that appeared to be in the area of 150-220 degs. But it was sporadic...not the same all the time. I suspected a worn spot on the wire contact of the resistor pot...I was wrong! This weekend I opened it up (azimuth) and was "pleased" to see that the "only" problem was a broken black wire that runs from the center/back of the pot to the middle contact/red wire. Such a simple problem that makes your $600 rotor system basically worthless! The wire contacts in the pot looked like new. At first glance I didn't even realize the wire was supposed to be connected to anything, since the break was so clean. Thanks to KD4APP for posting the a picture of his setup: http://www.sunsunsun.net/kd4app/amsat/g5500.htm and http://www.sunsunsun.net/kd4app/images/g5500-pot.JPG After I soldered the black wire, I put some electrical tape around the pot to give some strain relief to the wire. It was amazingly clean inside, but North Carolina weather is pretty decent year round. Of course I cleaned/regreased the bearings (I should have used a bucket as suggested by Alan WA4SCA :) ) with some marine trailer bearing grease; it's thick and sticky enough to help hold them onto the races during reassembly. Only the "bottom" bearings showed any rust, and it was light. A rub with a rag and they were clean. Hint for next time--do NOT stop the unit at 0 deg AZ before taking it apart. Rather, use 90 or 180 or 360 deg (since the unit does 450 deg, avoid 0 and 450). You'll want to avoid the "end stops" since the little lever gets in the way and won't let you put it back together quite right... In the end, a satisfying repair. 73, Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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ao-51 bbs
by Pedro Cruz 06 Dec '09

06 Dec '09

Hello Any one know how to acess to Ao-51 BBS . Any spetial soft.? Best 73 ! Pedro Cruz - CU2JX

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G5400 Elevation Rotor Opened up
by John 06 Dec '09

06 Dec '09

I opened up the G5400 elevation rotor. All the bearings and gears look good. Problem found is the motor shaft spins free inside the first, small nylon gear on the end of the shaft. Any advice on how to replace or repair that gear? Thx. John KE5GFJ

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WTB: Kenwood TS-711A
by w6zkh＠comcast.net 06 Dec '09

06 Dec '09

Am looking for a Kenwood TS-711A to go with my TS-811A I got the other day, to complete my SSB /CW linear setup. Must have TU-5 Encode Tone board. Anyone have such a critter that they would part with at a reasonable price? Also other rigs like Icom IC-271A/H if need be. Please respond by email. Thanks, John W6ZKH

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AO-51 report
by Luc Leblanc 06 Dec '09

06 Dec '09

On the 1210 UTC last western pass i found similar signal but a steady 18 seconds (aprox) cycle one deep fade with a couple of small ones. The western pass are usually not my best ones but i was able to work the satellite from AOS to LOS with some part of the pass with no signal but i was able to hear something just at the noise floor. It will be interresting to check the S and L band in this attitude reversal? Rig here: Yaesu ft-847 with with KLM-14C VHF and 25 elements UHF K1FO style linear yagi plus RX Icom ag preamp "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe DSTAR urcall VE2DWE WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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AO-51 reception report
by w4upd 06 Dec '09

06 Dec '09

Since the changes made to AO-51 the other day, it appears I am having more difficulty in copying the bird than others on this list server. Tonight during the 22:22UTC pass which was at an maximum elevation of 60 degress I was not able to hear the bird as well as I have in the past. The signals had more fade and were about 1/3 of what they use to be. Again, my present antennas have a lot to be desired as I am using a 2 meter homebrew ground plane for the 435.300 reception. Before the changes, this worked reasonable well, now it appears I'll need to do something different and improve the reception antenna. I am assuming the downlink power is still reasonable. Just a report of how I seem to fair (or not) with the recent orientation changes of AO-51. Reid, W4UPD

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SO-67 audio record
by Jean-François Ménard 05 Dec '09

05 Dec '09

Hi, John K8YSE, did you record the 2 passes this morning ??? If so, I would like to have the last pass... 14:24UTC... I missed someone when writing my log and I would like to hear my self again this time.... to make sure my mic gain is adjusted properly... Hi !! 73 -- Jean-François Ménard VA2SS =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= AMSAT www.amsat.org / Member #37102 ARRL www.arrl.org =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

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Status DelfiC3
by PE0SAT 05 Dec '09

05 Dec '09

Hi All, I haven't heard DelfiC3 for quite a while, other amateurs have other experience this last weeks ? 73's PE0SAT

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ao 51
by Nick Pugh K5QXJ 05 Dec '09

05 Dec '09

Hi AMSATERS Since the flip maneuver the polarization from my qth on the 435.3 MHz is RHCP with deep fades. My interpretation is that the satellite did not flip over and is now wobbling. Do I have the right assumption? Thanks nick

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3 passes of SO-67 today, Saturday over Europe
by OZ1MY 05 Dec '09

05 Dec '09

Hi all, SO-67 worked very well today with large downlink signal. The first pass was to the East of me - with SP5MG and myself on. This is the first time I have actualle seen the effect of the 3 second tail. The transmitter stayed up for those 3 seconds - very easy to see on the S-meter. The two next passes was the same as before. As Danni says in his e-mail, take the "tail" into account when working SO-67 :-) Please observe "good operating practice for FM repeater satellites" For SO-67 there is one more thing. Do not use a "normal" old deviation - use FM Narrow and turn down the mike gain. And perhaps even one more thing - when you have made a QSO on this new satellite - give way to others who have not :-) Have a nice weekend all. 73 OZ1MY Ib

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