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

Re: AO-51 magnet reversal tonight
by w6zkh＠comcast.net 03 Dec '09

03 Dec '09

Drew, the only difference I detected in the 0029 utc pass over Western US was the polarity changes. Almost thought I was on SO-50 instead of AO-51. Had to keep the hand on the reversal switch. Heard acouple of other comments about it too during the pass. Signal strength here on the West Coast seemed to be the same as before. John W6ZKH

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AMSAT-Florida net issues
by Andrew Glasbrenner 03 Dec '09

03 Dec '09

To all AMSAT-Florida net participants: Recently, the KG4YZY repeater that provided the Echolink connection into the wide area NI4CE repeater system was permanently disconnected from the network, and temporarily removed from service. As the AMSAT-Florida net relied on that Echolink connection as the hub for all our participating repeaters from Miami to Gainesville, as well as worldwide individual participants, we are left in quite a jam until we reestablish a hub system. Further complicating the situation is that the three active net control stations rely on being able to use a real RF connection to run the net, assisted by Echolink in the background. For tonight's net I propose that Echolink users connect to K4ZPZ-R 44310 in Orlando, 443.100 on RF. Our Orlando NCS is unavailable tonight, so depending on conditions I will attempt to be NCS either via RF or Echolink. This might get very "interesting", and the net will likely be more informal than usual. We can reevaluate and reintegrate NI4CE when they restore Echolink connectivity. What I do not think should happen is the net splitting into two entities. That, IMO, is a recipe for failure and burnout. So, please join us on K4ZPZ-R tonight for the AMSAT-Florida net, Echolink node # 44310, RF 443.100 MHz. 73, Drew KO4MA

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congrats F2IL
by Ulip Željko 03 Dec '09

03 Dec '09

F2IL Jean-Marie! Congratulations for the 10.000+ contacts via AO-7 !!! You have always good signal and good ear. Best regards; Zeljko 9A2EY

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AO-51 magnet reversal tonight
by Andrew Glasbrenner 03 Dec '09

03 Dec '09

On the 2242UTC pass of AO-51 tonight, we will try for the first time to reverse the magnet and "flip" the orientation of the satellite. While we do this, the 435.300 transmitter will be shut off for about 10 minutes. If the reversal is successful, we should see some changes in signal levels and patterns. This particular maneuver has not attempted since launch. I'd appreciate any signal reports or observations from this evening and the next few days be emailed to ao51-modes(a)amsat.org or ko4ma(a)amsat.org. In related news, as the spacecraft spin inexplicably continues to slow, we are seeing increasingly larger dips in the spacecraft voltage when the panels are poorly aligned to the sun. The immediate result of this is that we have had to decrease the power on both transmitters to prevent discharging the batteries too deeply. We'll be working on mitigating strategies this coming month. This may include using existing software routines to automatically lower the downlink power during these dips in power production, or resolving to run one transmitter at a time instead of simultaneous digital and repeater downlinks. 73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT-NA VP Operations

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I: Re: AO-51 magnet reversal tonight
by Francesco Grappi 03 Dec '09

03 Dec '09

Hi Drew, I worked Ao-51 this morning, and I had a contact with EI8JB portable during 07,33 utc orbit. For me nothing changed, I received from Ao-51 the same strong signal as usual. My downlink set-up : 738xb cross yagi antenna 38 elements cross yagi sp-7000 preamp. My locator JN54IL I received repeater transponder s.9+20 on RHCP polarization I received telemetry s.9 on LHCP polarization Transceiver TS 790E (only a little bit qsb on both transponder, but normal for me) Ao-51 range = 2650 Km. Max. elevation 8° Thank you to you and all commander team for your effort, to keep Ao-51 ever on a good shape. 73" Frank IW4DVZ -----Messaggio originale----- Da: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] Per conto di Andrew Glasbrenner Inviato: giovedì 3 dicembre 2009 0.03 A: Amsat-BB Oggetto: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-51 magnet reversal tonight The commands were executed to reverse the magnet, and there did seem to be a change in signal strength by the end of the pass. I'm particularly interested in any signal reports from the Southern Hemisphere. Does AO-51 sound stronger than normal? 73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT-NA VP Operations _______________________________________________ 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

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WD9EWK from DM32, Saturday (5 December) afternoon
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 03 Dec '09

03 Dec '09

Hi! After the hamfest on Saturday (5 December) morning, I plan on spending the afternoon somewhere in the rarely-heard grid DM32 south of Phoenix. I may park on the DM32/DM42 grid boundary, but definitely somewhere in the rarely-heard grid DM32, for a few passes: AO-27: 2100-2107 and 2240-2247 UTC AO-51: 0004-0018 and (possibly) 0144-0156 UTC It has been a few months since I last operated from DM32, and this was one of the grids I saw listed in response to my request for Arizona grids that satellite operators wanted for their logs. If you work WD9EWK on Saturday afternoon and want a QSL card for QSOs from DM32, please e-mail me the QSO details. If you're in the log, I'll be happy to send a QSL card. No SASE required. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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WD9EWK from Mesa AZ hamfest on Saturday (5 December)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 03 Dec '09

03 Dec '09

Hi! I will have an AMSAT table at the Superstition Amateur Radio Club's annual hamfest in Mesa, Arizona, on Saturday 5 December 2009. The hamfest will be in the southwest parking lot at Mesa Community College, along the east side of Dobson Road between Southern Avenue and the US-60 freeway (exit 177) in grid DM43bj. The hamfest starts at 0600 local time (1300 UTC) and officially runs until 1400 local time - although this hamfest typically shuts down between 1100 and 1200 local time. More information about the hamfest is available at: http://wb7tjd.org/hamfest/ During the hamfest, WD9EWK will be on several satellite passes for demonstrations: AO-51: 1254-1309 and 1434-1447 UTC AO- 7: 1448-1510 UTC VO-52: 1618-1630 and 1754-1806 UTC SO-50: 1730-1742 UTC On AO-7, look for me around 145.960-145.965 MHz USB. On the VO-52 passes, look for me around 145.910-145.915 MHz USB. Don't worry, these satellites work fine away from the center of the passband. :-) Satellite demonstrations using both FM and SSB have been great for attracting crowds for demonstrations at other hamfests in the past year. At some hamfests, VO-52 passes would attract the largest crowds. Using a pair of FT-817NDs with a handheld antenna, working the satellite at 5W, and not relying on computer control of radios or antennas helps to dispel the myths about how complex non-FM satellite operation has to be. I hope to hear many of you on these passes Saturday morning. If anyone working WD9EWK would like a QSL for contacts during these demonstrations, please e-mail me directly with the QSO details. If you're in the log, I'll gladly mail you a QSL card. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Ham Class demo Thursday Night
by Rick - WA4NVM 03 Dec '09

03 Dec '09

Hi All, I will be doing a satellite demo on S0-50 tomorrow night from Memphis for our current Tech. class. It will be on the Dec. 4th - 0250utc pass. I would appreciate a few contacts to show them how easy it is to work the "birds" with an HT and handheld antenna. Thanks in advance, Rick - WA4NVM

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AO-40 status
by "John Becker, WØJAB" 02 Dec '09

02 Dec '09

Is there any thing going on with AO-40 such as a change in it's status? It sure was fun working it. John, W0JAB

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"Frustration" Solved!
by Michael Tondee 02 Dec '09

02 Dec '09

Well, just got through listening to a pass of AO-51. As several have suggested, it was a pointing issue with the antenna. I can't believe my memory has gotten to the point where I couldn't remember where North was the last time I had the antennas up. Thing is, I actually took a compass reading the other day and compensated for declination but I must have misread something somewhere. I was only about 20 degrees off! Declination here is only 4 degrees so it couldn't have been that. That's what I get for working on stuff at dusk I guess. I'm slightly embarrassed! BTW, I didn't mean to make anyone think that an 11 element yagi was too narrow for LEO's. It's fine if you point the dang thing right! Also, the reason why I went this route with the more complex antenna and AZ/EL system is that I already had the stuff on hand from my last foray into satellites. Only the preamp was new and I knew that everything had worked before. I can certainly appreciate the suggestions on simplification and I was about to do just that if I didn't have any success today. Now I just have to work out some of my cable issues and get something going for transmit. My 2 meter "cheap yagi" has seen better days. Once I get that, I'll raise the mast and get the antennas up to their normal height. I'm just using HT's right now but I hope to have a new TS-2000X sometime after the first of the year. I've been quite interested in the TS-2000 vs. IC910H thread. I know that Icom has discontinued the 910 because of the 9100 but I was under the impression that Kenwood would release a new rig at Dayton this year and wonder if that will mean the demise of the TS-2000. Thanks everyone for the suggestions and also allowing me to "vent" a bit last night.I was getting pretty frustrated. 73, Michael, W4HIJ

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